Mold is a common problem in homes across Germany, especially during the damp and colder months. High humidity levels, poor ventilation, and improper heating can lead to the development of mold, which not only damages your property but also poses significant health risks.
Germany’s climate, particularly in winter, often leads to homes being sealed tightly to conserve heat, increasing humidity inside. The windows and doors seal tightly and it can therefore be a challenge to ensure proper ventilation.
A lack of ventilation encourages the growth of mould or mildew. Mould will grow in damp places and thrives particularly well on cold, damp surfaces. Once mould occurs, it is not enough to simply remove the stains. The cause of the mould must also be identified and eliminated.
Some of the health issues caused by mould are a stuffy nose, wheezing, red or itchy eyes, skin allergies or asthma.
Understand the Causes of Mould
Mould thrives in environments where moisture and poor ventilation coexist. The most common causes include:
Condensation
This happens when warm, moist air meets cooler surfaces, such as windows, walls, or ceilings.
Leaks
Leaky roofs, windows, or plumbing can cause water accumulation in areas that are often unnoticed.
High Humidity
Rooms with poor air circulation, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements, are prone to high humidity, which creates a perfect breeding ground for mould.
Guidelines
1. Ventilation is Key
Good ventilation is essential to prevent mould growth in your home. Here are some tips to improve airflow:
- Regular airing (Stoßlüften): Germans are big on this traditional practice. Open your windows completely for 5-10 minutes at least twice a day to allow fresh air to circulate and moisture to escape. This rapid air exchange prevents condensation on walls and windows.
- Cross-ventilation: Open windows on opposite sides of your home to create a draft that enhances air circulation. This is particularly useful after cooking, showering, or drying clothes indoors.
- Keep interior doors open: If certain rooms in your home are colder than others, keeping the doors between these rooms open allows warm air to flow through, preventing cold surfaces where condensation can occur.
2. Control Humidity Levels
Monitoring and controlling the humidity in your home is essential to avoid mould. Ideal indoor humidity should be between 40% and 60%. To maintain these levels:
- Use a hygrometer: This inexpensive tool helps you monitor humidity levels in your home.
- Dehumidifiers: In particularly damp rooms like basements or bathrooms, use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air.
- Avoid drying clothes indoors: Drying laundry indoors increases humidity levels significantly. If you must, make sure the room is well-ventilated or use a dehumidifier.
3. Proper Heating
Uneven heating can create cold spots in your home, which increase the risk of condensation and mould growth. Follow these guidelines for proper heating:
- Consistent heating: Keep all rooms at a steady temperature, especially during the colder months. Sudden temperature drops lead to condensation, especially on cooler surfaces like exterior walls.
- Avoid overheating: While maintaining warmth is important, overheating a home and then allowing it to cool rapidly can create condensation issues. Aim for balanced, moderate heating.
- Thermostat control: Keep the thermostat in different rooms at consistent levels to avoid significant temperature differences that can lead to moisture build-up.
4. Check for Leaks and Moisture Sources
Regularly inspect your home for leaks or areas where water may collect:
- Windows and doors: Ensure that seals around windows and doors are intact and not allowing moisture in. Double-glazed windows are particularly effective in reducing condensation.
- Roof and gutters: Regularly check your roof for any leaks or broken tiles, and ensure that gutters are not clogged, as water can seep into walls if gutters overflow.
- Plumbing: Inspect pipes for leaks, particularly in the kitchen, bathroom, and basement. Even small drips can lead to significant moisture build-up over time.
5. Proper Bathroom and Kitchen Maintenance
Bathrooms and kitchens are particularly prone to mould due to high moisture levels from showers, baths, and cooking. Here’s how to reduce moisture in these areas:
- Use extractor fans: Run the fan during and after cooking or showering to help remove excess moisture. If your bathroom or kitchen doesn’t have a fan, be diligent about airing the room thoroughly after use.
- Wipe down surfaces: After showering or cooking, wipe down tiles, windows, and any other surfaces where condensation might form.
- Keep shower curtains and tiles dry: Mold easily grows on shower curtains and between tiles, so keep them dry by wiping them down or using mould-resistant sprays regularly.
6. Preventative Cleaning and Treatment
Even with the best precautions, mould can still occasionally develop. Here’s how to prevent and treat mould growth:
- Clean regularly: Use mold-prevention cleaners in high-moisture areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Vinegar, for instance, is a natural and effective mould-prevention agent.
- Treat small patches immediately: If you notice mould forming, clean it immediately using a mixture of water and vinegar, or a commercial mould cleaner. Leaving it untreated allows the mould to spread quickly.
7. Insulation and Renovation
Improper insulation is a common issue in older German homes, particularly in regions with cold winters. Cold exterior walls can cause condensation and mould growth. If you live in an older building, consider the following:
- Improve insulation: Well-insulated homes are less prone to condensation. Check your insulation and consider improving it, especially on exterior walls.
- Double-glazing: If your windows are old and prone to condensation, upgrading to double-glazed windows can help.
How to air your home
The Germans call the regular airing of your home “Stoßlüften” and it is advised that you do it throughout the whole year. The idea behind this is to exchange hot damp air with cold dryer air.
- Open all the windows in your house fully (kipping doesn’t help)
- Turn down the heating if it is on
- Leave the windows open for the recommended time, see below
- Close all windows again
- Turn the heating back on
Air your home at least 4 times a day for the recommended minimum time.
- December – January: 5 minutes. Do not ventilate for longer than 5 minutes as too much heating will be lost. There is also a risk that the window sill or window frame will cool down too much and mould will grow.
- March and November: 10 minutes
- April and September: 15 minutes
- May and October: 20 minutes
- June – August: 30 minutes
More Tips
- To create an effective draft, make sure opposite windows are open.
- The higher the outside temperature, the longer you have to ventilate your home.
- A family of four can release up to 12 litres of moisture daily. Ventilate more often when you are home or when more people are present.
- Use hygrometers in all the rooms.
- Dehumidifiers can help prevent the growth of mould and mildew
- Air your kitchen after cooking. Consider installing extraction fans.
- Air your bathroom after showering. Consider installing extraction fans.
- Air your bedroom after getting up.
- Keep the temperature in your home at least above 15 degrees Celcius. When the temperature drops below 16 degrees, it can lead to the condensation of moisture
- Clean your damp surfaces with anti-mould products, for example, in the bathrooms.
- When you use a tumble dryer, buy one with a condenser.
- Try not to place big furniture, like cupboards, up against any walls that are exposed to the outside.
- Your landlord can specify ventilation requirements in your rental contract. Be sure to comply with them.
- According to the Umwelbundesamtes, a superficial mould infestation measuring less than half a square meter can be removed by a non-professional, as long as the person does not have an allergy to mould spores.
- Mouldy wallpaper should be removed and disposed of.
- Textiles that are affected by mould should be washed; if the mould stains or smell cannot be removed, they should be disposed of.
Info on the web
- Info from the CDC
- WHO – Dampness and mould
- Energie-fachberater Stoßlüften
- Mieterschuts & Mietverein (Tenant association)
- YouTube video in German
- Gesundes Raumklima Flyer from the Verbraucherzentrale
Legal issues
If you have discovered mould in your rented home, you should contact your landlord.
Please read more on Stiftung Warentest
Reduced rent
If the landlord is responsible for the mould, the tenant might have the right to a reduction in rent. Please read more here
Vocabulary
| German | English | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Stoßlüften | Intense ventilation | |
| Schimmel | Mould, mildew | A type of fungi that grows in damp and poorly ventilated areas. IT reproduces by making spores |
| Kipp | tilted | If you only kipp your windows, it can aggravate the problem, as it will cause condensation around the window |
Related content
Housing in Germany
Types of Housing Wohnung / Apartment/Flat. Standard residential unit, typically part of a larger building. Atlbauwohnung – An old building, that might be protected. An
Beds, Mattresses and Duvets
The sleeping arrangements in Germany is a bit different from what we are used to in South Africa. The average German couple sleeps on a
Finding a place to stay
Finding a place to rent is almost like doing a job interview. You have to “advertise” yourself and you will have to go for interviews.
You must be logged in to post a comment.