Sat. Nov 16th, 2024
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IKEA is selling a £5 plant that can help to stop mould from growing in your home.

The retailer is selling the “cute little plant” that does more than just look good on the windowsill.

The Sansevieria plant is a good mould solution for the home1

The Sansevieria plant is a good mould solution for the homeCredit: IKEA

If you are looking for a cheap and effective mould solution you might want to try adding some greenery to your home.

Some plants can help to purify the air around them, in some cases this is through absorbing moisture like the Snake Plant

Also known as the Sanseviera, the Snake plant is very easy to look after which makes it perfect for beginners.

Ikea is selling the Sansevieria plant in pretty coloured plant pots, and priced at £5 each they are significantly cheaper than some other mould solutions.

The plants have a five-star customer rating on Ikea’s website with one customer saying she is “addicted” to buying them.

Another reviewer commented: “Great plant! I haven’t killed it yet, so cheap too.”

While a third added: “Beautiful good quality price plants.”

Great plant! and cheap too!

Social media user

Snake plants can be placed anywhere in the home because they can tolerate both shade and direct sunlight. 

They don’t need to be watered often because they absorb excess moisture around them especially when it’s humid. 

Having a Snake plant in your home can work similarly to a dehumidifier, but they have the added bonus of being completely free to run.

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It is always good to shop around to make sure you are getting the cheapest deal.

You can use price comparison sites such as Google Shopping to compare prices across different retailers.

We had a look around to see which other retailers are selling the Snake Plant.

The plant can vary quite a bit in size so it just depends on what you want.

Marks and Spencer has a larger version for £25 and discount retailer B&M also has a slightly bigger one for £8.

Homebase also sells a medium-sized version of the plant for £10.

How to get rid of mould in your home

One of the easiest ways to avoid getting mould is to open your windows every day to let fresh air in and keep doors between rooms open.

Ensuring that air continuously circulates through your home will reduce condensation so the mould cannot grow.

You should also open cupboard doors regularly to allow fresh air in to make sure there’s no mould growing inside.

Other things that can help include not leaving your clothes to dry on radiators, and always cooking with ventilation. 

In extreme cases of damp and mould, it’s best to keep the windows open to allow airflow and consider using an anti-mould treatment to tackle the problem.  

Other mould solutions

You can purchase mould sprays that are quite effective at stopping mould in its tracks.

B&M has one called Killrock mould spray that costs just £1.50.

One user raved about the product on Facebook saying it was “brilliant” and lots of other fans agreed.

Another cheap hack for getting rid of mould is simply washing up liquid.

A few drops of washing-up liquid mixed with warm water can work well when removing smaller areas of mould on hard surfaces like walls or floors.

One cleaning expert also recommends white vinegar as the key to stop mould from coming back.

Cleaning expert Laura Harnett said: “White vinegar has antifungal and antibacterial properties and will remove mould in an eco-friendly and cost-effective way.”

She added that it can kill up to 82% of mould types including black mould on porous and non-porous surfaces.

If you have a bit more cash to splash you might want to consider buying a dehumidifier.

We have put 17 of the best dehumidifiers to the test.

How can I remove mould if it’s already there

THERE are several easy and low-cost ways to remove mould from your home.

Bleach is usually all you need if you neither own nor want to buy specialised cleaning sprays and paints.

If using bleach, mix four parts of water with one part of bleach.

You’ll also need a stiff brush, a bucket of water with cloth, and another cloth for drying.

Apply your solution to the affected areas, including a few inches around the visible mould to kill any mould not yet visible.

Scrub it firmly with a strong brush.

Wait as long as possible or until the mould disappears from sight and rinse the treated areas thoroughly.

Pat dry the area and allow it to completely dry before moving any furniture or placing items in front of it

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

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