Mold on the walls, strange smells and small black spots: anyone who lives in a damp house knows it, it’s a problem that seems to never end. Yet behind the quick fixes lies a little-considered truth: mold often returns because we ignore a fundamental detail.
It happens almost every winter. Doors and windows closed, radiators on, and that black patina always reappears in the same corners. It is cleaned, painted, sprayed with some products. For a few weeks everything seems to have disappeared. Then, without warning, the mold returns. And it leaves that pungent, familiar and annoying smell, which is often noticeable upon entering the entrance.
The temporary solutions they are wasted: anti-mold spray, bleach, miracle paints. But the feeling is always that of fighting an invisible enemy that hides just when we think we have defeated it. What if the reason isn’t just a matter of humidity? Behind every wall, between pipes and plaster, there is a cause that we often ignore, precisely because we never really see it.
Mold and humidity: obvious connection, but not enough
Talk about mold and humidity It seems almost banal, yet that’s where it all starts. Humidity in the home can have different origins: condensation, infiltrations, thermal bridges or simply daily habits. Just think of a hot shower, the clothes hanging in the living room, or the steam from the kitchen that slips through the cracks in the windows. Nothing strange, everything quite predictable.
Yet, even in the best-ventilated homes, mold sometimes keeps returning. The seals are checked, the fan filters are cleaned, everything opens wide when the sun is shining outside. Yet, after a few weeks, the infamous stains appear again. A sign that, perhaps, humidity is just the tip of the iceberg.
The often hidden real culprit: thermal bridges and insulation
Many times the mold returns for a structural reason: the so-called thermal bridges. These are areas of the house where heat disperses more quickly, creating cold surfaces that encourage condensation. Almost always, these are points that are difficult to notice with the naked eye. A corner, the edge of a window, behind a wardrobe.
There, just a small difference in temperature between inside and outside is enough, and the perfect condition for mold is created. That’s why sometimes, even with all precautions, solutions don’t really work. Wall insulation, if not done well, leaves these points vulnerable. And often you don’t think about it until you find yourself having to repaint the same wall every year.
It’s curious to note how, sometimes, you just need to move a piece of furniture to notice a patch of humidity forming right behind it. A small, but revealing detail.
What to really do if mold always comes back
I know it mold always comes backit is worth stopping for a moment and observing. Yes, even before resorting to yet another product, it is worth asking yourself: where is it formed? In which season? Is there a hidden source we are underestimating? Often, behind a recurring problem, there is a structural defect involving insulation or ventilation. For example, in houses built before the 1990s, thermal insulation is often lacking. In condominiums, it is not uncommon to find cold areas along the pillars or at the junction points with the outside. Some recommend dehumidifiers, but they are not a permanent solution unless the root cause is eliminated.
Sometimes a simple gesture is enough: check that the ventilation grills are not blocked, or avoid covering the walls with cupboards that are too tight. Small measures that, day after day, make the difference. When mold always comes back, maybe it’s best to stop looking for shortcuts. And learn to listen to those silent signals that the house sends us every winter.
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