White mould?

[bottle top]

My Mums house has a thin layer of white mold that attaches itself to doors, door frames, leather couches.

Please see attached photos.

It wipes off easy but comes back within a week or so.

It's a Victorian terraced house and double glazed. Not a massive amount of ventilation as she is not a fan of open windows. She has a condensing tumble dryer and doesn't hang clothes in the house to dry.

I suspect it's a ventilation problem.

Anyone got any thoughts on what else it could be?

 

[cross thread]

Ventilation is the answer,if nothing done she will have problems

 

[Odds]

How do you wipe it down; with a damp cloth?
Maybe use a protective layer of wax polish on the wood to bring out the colour instead.

 

[JohnD]

Ventilation is the answer, if nothing done she will have problems

This.

Condensing tumble driers do not capture all the water vapour. There is a possibility of leaks adding to the damp, often in the kitchen, especially hundred-year old pipes buried under the floor, or drains against the wall; and roofs, gutters and downpipes, especially on bay windows. If the doors are closed overnight, which rooms have the mistiest windows by morning?

Using extractors in kitchen and bathroom will help. They are often wired to come on automatically with the light switch, to defeat people who have an aversion to ventilation. Opening upstairs windows every morning costs nothing.

If she has money to burn she could use a dehumidifier instead.

 

[foxhole]

How do you wipe it down; with a damp cloth?
Maybe use a protective layer of wax polish on the wood to bring out the colour instead.

It does look like a water based varnish being over wetted and then turns milky white .

 

[robinbanks]

If she has money to burn she could use a dehumidifier instead.

They don't cost significantly more to run than a fridge does

Not a massive amount of ventilation as she is not a fan of open windows

Take a hygrometer round and see what the humidity level is in various rooms; where is most the moisture?

 

[JohnD]

They don't cost significantly more to run than a fridge does

What makes you think that?

 

[Odds]

How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?

The best way to work out how much it cost to run a dehumidifier on its maximum setting is to look at its wattage. Mini models can use as little as 22 watts, while high-volume dehumidifiers go up to around 500 watts.

If condensation was a problem wouldn't there be mould around the walls in the house?

 

[robinbanks]

What makes you think that?

The running cost value of a dehumidifier and the running cost value of a fridge