Healthy home healthy you
Let us help you navigate your health living in mould!
Who We Are
A trusted source of help
Mould HQ exists to support individuals and families affected by indoor mould exposure who are struggling to access appropriate help, information, or support.
Many people living with mould-related health and housing issues face disbelief, financial barriers, and fragmented systems. Mould HQ aims to reduce harm by improving access, understanding, and navigation — particularly for those who would otherwise be excluded.
Did you know?
- Around 2 million people in England live in homes with significant damp and/or mould (around 3–4% of housing stock)
- Broader surveys suggest up to 26–31% of UK adults report mould in their home frequently or occasionally in the past year, particularly in colder months
- An estimated 15 million people (28% of the UK population) live in homes affected by damp, mould, or excessive cold
- Mould is not always visible
- Mould releases microscopic spores into the air
- The UK is a cold, damp country - mould is an ongoing perplexing problem that affects many.
You are not alone!
Getting to the nitty gritty of mould...
Who does it affect?
- Around 5% of the population have a true mould allergy, but many more experience sensitivity, especially those with:
- asthma or respiratory conditions
- allergies
- eczema
- immune vulnerability
- chronic inflammatory or fatigue-type illnesses
- Sensitivity does not require visible mould or a formal allergy diagnosis.
Mould is often invisible
It can exist:
- behind furniture
- inside walls or ceilings
- under flooring
- behind cupboards
- around windows and insulation
- as airborne spores only
A home can feel “damp”, musty, or trigger symptoms before mould is visible.
TAKING ACTION..
Simple steps to reduce mould risk at home (steps that are supported by UK housing and public-health)
1. Ventilate little and often
- Open windows 5–10 minutes, once or twice a day, even in winter (known as “cross-ventilation”)
- Always ventilate after:
- showering
- cooking
- drying clothes indoors
Short bursts of ventilation reduce moisture without significantly cooling the home
2. Keep a consistent indoor temperature
- Aim to keep your home at 18–21°C
- Cold surfaces + warm air = condensation
- Consistent heating helps walls stay warm and reduces moisture settling
3. Manage indoor humidity
- Ideal indoor relative humidity: 40–55%
- Regularly above 60% = high mould risk
A simple digital humidity monitor can be very helpful
4. Avoid trapping moisture
- Don’t push large furniture hard against external walls
- Leave a gap of 5–10 cm for air circulation
- Avoid heavy curtains touching cold walls
- Open trickle vents if your windows have them
5. Be careful drying clothes indoors
- Only dry washing indoors if:
- the room is well ventilated
- a window or extractor is open / on
- Never dry clothes on radiators without ventilation
Indoor laundry releases litres of moisture into the air.
6. Use extractors properly
- Use kitchen and bathroom extractor fans during and after use
- Keep doors closed so moisture doesn’t spread through the house
- If fans are noisy or ineffective, they may not be working properly
7. Deal with condensation early
- Wipe down wet windows and surfaces daily in winter
- Don’t ignore recurring condensation — it’s an early warning sign
Mould can begin to grow within 24–48 hours on persistently damp surfaces
A direct link to health
Why does it matter?
Living in damp or mouldy homes is linked to:
- worsened asthma and breathing problems
- chronic cough
- sinus issues
- skin irritation
- fatigue and inflammatory symptoms
- depression and mental health issues
This has led to major legal and public-health action in the UK, including Awaab’s Law, which now requires landlords to act quickly on damp and mould hazards
Why it's important to take action now
You don’t need to panic — but mould is not harmless, and it’s not just about what you can see.
Small, practical changes can make a meaningful difference — and if symptoms persist, it’s reasonable to look deeper.
Simple and effective measures to help you
Monitor moisture levels in your home
Monitor moisture levels in your home
Monitor moisture levels in your home
Every home should have a rechargeable hand held moisture meter. Check known damp spots on floors and walls to quickly identify problem areas. Once damp is identified, address the cause, and deploy de-humidifiers promptly to help prevent mould growth.
Quick, easy to use and rechargeable. We have tested this model ourselves (around £25):
Screen for airborne mould
Monitor moisture levels in your home
Monitor moisture levels in your home
If you are concerned about invisible mould, simple Agar plates can be used as a basic environmental screening tool - plenty are available on Ebay (approx £12 for 6). Windows must be shut for 2 days before the test, the plates are left out for an hour, sealed and left to culture in a warm dark place for 5 days to give an indication of airborne mould presence. For full instructions, send us a message.
NB: This is an indicative screening tool — not a measure of health risk
Explore environmental exposure
Monitor moisture levels in your home
Explore how mould may affect the body
Concerned that mould may be contributing to your symptoms?
Hair is often used in toxicology testing because it can reflect cumulative exposure to substances in the environment. So hair testing may offer useful contextual information when considering environmental factors, including mould.
(Less than £20)
NB: This test is not diagnostic.
Explore how mould may affect the body
Explore how mould may affect the body
Explore how mould may affect the body
Buy an Organic Acid Test (OAT) from our partner Functional Nutritionist company: Gut HQ. A simple non invasive test through urine to check for markers associated with mould or yeast overgrowth and their impact on your metabolic systems. Useful when there is no visible mould and mould may not be an obvious cause of chronic health problems. Also checks overall health. Quick turnaround (10 days)
For full details click here (£329):
https://guthq.com/shop/ols/products/organic-acid-test-oat
Explore potential mycotoxin exposure
Explore how mould may affect the body
Explore potential mycotoxin exposure
Buy a Mycotoxin test to explore potential exposure to mycotoxins from mould - particularly useful if you've already completed an Organic Acid Test - or have visible mould and want further context.
Simple non invasive urine test, quick turnaround.
For full details click here (£410):
https://guthq.com/shop/ols/products/mycotoxin-test-mosaic-diagnostics
Combined body & mould assessment
Explore how mould may affect the body
Explore potential mycotoxin exposure
But the OAT + Mycotoxin test, at a cost saving.
When there is visible mould and you're experiencing ongoing symptoms, this combined test can help build a clearer picture of how yeast and mould overgrowth, and mycotoxins may be affecting yoiur body.
Because mycotoxins have a half life, results from the Mycotoxin test may also offer useful timing context around exposure.
For full details click here (£624):
How does mould grow?
Mould grows in a similar way to a plant
Mould propagates with its own seed, or 'spores'
Mould grows in a similar way to a plant
To grow and flourish, mould is similar to a plant it needs:
- a medium to grow in
- a means to propagate or reproduce (spores)
- the right conditions to thrive
Mould's favourite growing medium
Mould propagates with its own seed, or 'spores'
Mould grows in a similar way to a plant
Mould needs a medium to grow in and send out its roots or 'mycelium'. It loves insulation, plasterboard and certain types of wallpaper on the wall, and underlay, vinyl, carpet and wood on the floor.
Mould propagates with its own seed, or 'spores'
Mould propagates with its own seed, or 'spores'
Mould propagates with its own seed, or 'spores'
Mould is one of the oldest, most basic fungal life systems there is. It propagates by sending out spores. These spores are invisible - it can send out thousands when it feels threatened, when it is attacked or sprayed. It has a very sensitive survival mechanism which enables it to survive and flourish in the right conditions.
Mould loves damp or moist growing medium
Mould propagates with its own seed, or 'spores'
Mould is often found after a leak - pipes / external gutters / failed roof - or just poor air circulation and damp conditions.
Mould is often invisible, making it a challenge to find it until there are often chronic health symptoms.
Did you know it can grow in 24 - 48 hours if the conditions are favourable?
Humidity matters - below 55% mould growth is inhibited - above 60% - the risk increases.
warm + damp = mould heaven
cool + dry = mould hostile
Mould has a strong survival mechanism
When mould is disturbed or stressed its spore release will often go from a passive (undisturbed) release of thousands per hour, to a very active, dramatic release of many - fold per cubic metre, depending on how it is disturbed. The following will cause active release:
- Cleaning, brushing, vacuuming, moving items
- drying suddenly with heating, fans, dehumidifiers
- spraying with chemicals or biocides
- mechanical damage
- airflow changes
So think twice before spraying!
Mould should be properly remediated
Professional remediation is the safest and most effective way to remove mould. Professional remediation companies focus on:
- containment
- negative pressure
- damp wiping, not brushing
- removal of contaminated materials (the growing medium)
Spraying the visible mould growth will not reliably remove the mycelium (the roots) which are often deeply embedded into the growing medium. It will just stimulate the mould to send out thousands of spores in order to find a new growing medium to settle in.
Our recommended contractors section provides details of trusted professional remediation companies.