Voice of Real Australia: So you found mould in your house. What now?

Like many Australians, we've experienced heavy rainfall recently in North West Victoria.

One particular evening, the heavy rain caused flooding in my house.

Somehow the water had seeped through my carpet, making a big patch of the carpet very wet.

So my partner and I got to work trying to dry it out.

First step: Move all the furniture to assess the damage - about 30 per cent of the carpet was soaked.

With quick thinking, my partner managed to find the potential source of the flooding outside - a thin but noticeable crack in the concrete right outside the bedroom where he thought the rainwater had seeped in, flooding the bedroom carpet.

He bought concrete and filled the gap.

But how to deal with the soaking carpet? We peeled it and the underlay back and blasted the heater on them for days, till they eventually dried. I am yet to receive what may be the largest bill of my life.

Unfortunately, due to the way the house was built and the materials used, it means it will always be prone to some moisture and condensation, like many Aussie houses.

And eventually, I started to smell mould and noticed small patches of it in my windowsill and along the bottom of the wall where the flooding happened.

So I got to work with the mould killer spray and ventilating the house and even getting the heater going again to ensure the air in the house was dry to make an inhospitable environment for further mould growth.

I know I'm not alone in this battle.

Heavy rainfall, particularly on Australia's East Coast, is causing some major drainage and flooding problems for a lot of people and their homes right now.

All of that, plus increased humidity in the air outdoors and indoors is letting mould thrive.

We know that mould can cause a variety of problems - structural and healthwise - so if you notice signs of it, you need to act straight away to preserve your furniture, home, and health.

While small amounts of mould are not harmful to most, for some, especially those with sensitivities or allergies, it can host a variety of problems and wreak havoc on their body.

Mould can cause allergic or respiratory responses like a runny or blocked nose, coughing, irritated eyes and skin, and for anyone with a respiratory problem like asthma, inhaled spores can trigger an asthma attack.

If you notice mould you need to figure out what is causing it.

If it's a small amount of mould, you can put on a pair of gloves and spray some product (mould killer, vinegar, tea tree oil, rubbing alcohol or bleach) on the affected area. Leave it for a minute or so and wipe it down with a microfibre cloth.

If the contaminated surface is large and it's a recurring problem, you might want to consider getting a professional to come and assess the damage and fix the mould problem for you.

If you have any health concerns about the mould in your home, you should visit your doctor and request a nasal swab to see if mould specimens can be detected in your body.

And to prevent future mould outbreaks in your home, you need to open your blinds and windows daily to ventilate and dry out your house.

Having the heater on can also keep the house dry, while dehumidifiers also help.

Whatever battle plan you enact, good luck!

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