Damp mould behind kitchen units

[icowden]

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the right section, but here goes...

About a month ago I discovered a leak from a faulty washnig machine hose (washer wasn't ceratnig a seal proprly) and a lot of water underneath my sink unit. We sorted out the leak, dried up all the water etc, but there was a lot of black mould behind the washing machine and behind the sink unit which it is next to. I had hoped that sticking some heaters under the unit and in the washing machine hole would stop the smel, but every time the weather is humid / rainy, the smell is back.

The crappy floor boards have also swollen a bit, but that can be fixed. The problem now is that the kitchen smells of damp and i don't have any ideas how to get rid of all of the mould without having to pull out the kitchen units (which are newly installed).

Anyone got any ideas?

Iain

 

[masona]

Need more air ventilation as heater will create more condensation!

Best to take out the washing machine for a few days and once you deal with the mould problem then it shouldn't reappear.

You now need to kill the mould by removing the mould, wipe down walls with a fungicidal wash product (follow the manufacter instruction)

You could then redecorate using a fungicidal paint on the walls to help prevent mould.

 

[JohnD]

I was thinking if you have a fan heater you could leave it blowing without heat for a few days.

If the flooring is chipboard it will be ruined and need to come up before you fall through it. It will also be holding water that may be contributing to the humidity.

 

[icowden]

It's the removing the mould bit that is the difficulty. It is behind the sink unit which I cannot easily get at without taking out half of the kitchen. The chipboard flooring has dreid out now (it has been a month with air passing over and around it).

The main problem is how to get at the mould and get rid of it, and what to get rid of it with.

Iain

 

[Mick Leek]

Try Jayes Fluid.... I use it for washing the green house and recycled plant pots. It is designed for killing mould spores and also disinfecting...

Can you get into the hole once the washing machine is removed and give it a good spray with a house plat atomiser ? you know the type i mean, the one with the trigger used for misting your house plants...

God do i sound boring I should get out more and stop talking to my plants...

 

[icowden]

That's not a bad idea. There's enough room to get some spray in. It's scraping the mould off that's the conundrum.

Cheers

Iain