I’ve come back to my flat and thought I’d check for mould. What I found is so disgusting I can hardly bring myself to go to bed at night. My pillow is fully mouldy, the wall where my bed was against it is mouldy, and the sheets are mouldy where they were against the wall. I left my good shoes in the corner of the room with a jacket on them and they are both mouldy. I have a job interview tomorrow and needed to wear the jacket and shoes, but am thinking now I shouldn’t, but I don’t have any other smart clothes. Please help. Oh and my partner won’t come and stay over now cos she keeps getting asthma attacks when she is here.
- Mouldina
Ethel and Hyde is brought to you by the Student Support Centre. They advise you to take Ethel’s advice.
Send your questions to:
ethelandhyde@ousa.org.nz
Ethel says:
I’m afraid this mould problem is more common than not. It is particularly unfortunate that your bedding items are affected. I would strip the bed right away. Cosy Homes have a magic Mould Killer solution. It is 70% white vinegar and 30% water. Spray this on the affected areas, wait for a couple of minutes, and then wipe it off with a cloth. Vinegar is very odorous, so you’ll want to do a load of washing straight away. If you and your flat can afford it, this would be a good situation to splurge on a load of drying too, to ensure that your sheets are clean, dry and healthy again. You can spray Mould Killer on all items affected. Make a trip down to the OUSA Student Support Centre to learn more about hygrometers (measure moisture content in the air) and the research they are doing about damp student flats in Dunedin. If it’s a big issue, they can help you talk with your landlord, and potentially negotiate a long-term solution that serves both the tenants and the landlords well in the future.
Hyde says:
So much mould, so little time. YOU SMELL LIKE A PICKLE! Mould this, mould that, my mould is worse than your mould. Really? Prove it. I need pictures, pictures of your mould, then I might show you pictures of my mould. If your pillow is mouldy, you drool in your sleep. I’ve already given some fabulicious ways of creating your own climate controlled pod. The creature I share my skin bag with has told you how to pickle. It’s time to bring on the REVOLUTION, AND BRING IT NOW. Years of festering dampness seeping into walls and carpets exponentially escalate sporus mouldus, and you’ve been scammed if your landlord says it’s all your fault. Wanna be part of the REVOLUTION? Photos, with dates, and addresses. Pillows, clothes, shoes, walls, bedding … All mouldy stuff. Let’s start fighting back. THE MOULD WARS BEGIN, may the odds be ever in our favour. Mould Dwellings look out; the Mould Dwellers are about to RISE UP. RISE UP MY FRIENDS, RISE UP. Where’s my pickle?
After some unpleasant pressure from Hyde, Critic has agreed to publish some of the worst mould photos sent in. Send your pictures to ethelandhyde@ousa.org.nz if you want to be part of the revolution.