Biofilm and mould

Mould, stains and slime around your taps and tiles?

Stains are often pink or black, and stick to fittings and tiles. Sometimes, black jelly can build up inside taps, and wash out into the sink.

This is caused by airborne spores that like to grow in warm, damp places. Bathrooms and kitchens are usually the perfect place for this to happen.

Mould, also known as biofilm, does not come from your water supply.

What can be done?

There are lots of simple things we can do to keep our kitchens and bathrooms mould-free.

Our top tips include:

• clean affected surface areas with a basic bleach, or bicarbonate of soda solution (always test new cleaning products on a smaller area of the surface first)
• use deodorants and air freshener aerosols in a dry room, because aerosol can provide "food" to mould
• make sure your kitchen and bathroom are well-ventilated
• clean visible limescale from surfaces, because mould can cling to limescale easily
• replace rubber tap washers with silicone tap washers, and
• use a squeegee to wipe water off walls and glass around your shower and bath, to prevent mould growth.

You don't need to spend a pretty penny on posh bleach products either. In fact, more expensive bleaches often contain phosphates, which help mould grow.

Get your budget-friendly bleach from any supermarket, to help keep mould at bay.