There is no single yes or no. It depends how much mould there is, whether it keeps returning, and who is sleeping there.
There is no single yes or no. The government's health guidance says damp and mould can affect anyone's breathing, and that children, older people, pregnant women and people with existing health conditions are more at risk.
If the mould is widespread, keeps coming back, or the person sleeping there is in a higher risk group, the sensible step is to move the bed to a drier room while the cause is found and fixed. If you are worried about anyone's health, speak to your GP, health visitor or NHS 111.
Bedrooms are where we find mould most often. A night's breathing puts moisture into the air, the door and window are usually shut, the heating is often off or low, and the bed and wardrobe are against the outside wall, the coldest surface in the room. Moisture settles on that cold wall and behind the furniture, out of sight, and mould follows.
Moving the bed to a drier room while the cause is dealt with is a simple, sensible step. For babies and children, your health visitor or GP can advise.
Source: Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home, GOV.UK, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and the UK Health Security Agency. We are surveyors, not doctors: if you are worried about your health, speak to your GP or call NHS 111.
Bedroom mould usually comes back because the outside wall is cold and the room is humid overnight. The cause might be missing insulation, a cold bridge round a window or at the ceiling, rain making the wall damp from outside, or simply not enough ventilation. Finding which one it is means it only needs fixing once. See black mould on the ceiling and is it condensation, a leak or rising damp?
Vigilant Surveys is an independent damp and mould surveying practice covering East Anglia, North London and the West Midlands. We carry out no remedial work, sell no products and take no commission from anyone who does the repairs, so there is nothing to sell you afterwards.
Every survey includes thermal imaging, moisture readings against a dry control and hygrometer readings, and you get a clear written report within 24 hours of the visit. £350 for the problem areas, £450 for the whole property, fixed prices, no payment to book.
Government health guidance says damp and mould can affect anyone's health, particularly breathing, and that some people are more at risk. Whether it is affecting you is a question for your GP. In the meantime, clean it safely, reduce the moisture and find the cause.
Children are among the groups the government guidance says are more vulnerable to the health effects of damp and mould. If you can, move the cot to a drier room while the cause is dealt with, and speak to your health visitor or GP if you are concerned.
The wall behind the bed is usually an outside wall, the coldest surface in the room, and the bed stops warm air reaching it. Moisture from breathing overnight settles there. Pull the bed away from the wall and look at why that wall is so cold.
Some ventilation overnight helps, through trickle vents or a window on its night latch where safe. Combine it with gentle heating, so the walls do not get colder still.
An air purifier may filter some particles from the air, but it does not remove moisture or stop mould growing on a cold or damp wall. Fixing the moisture is what stops the mould.
No payment to book. Tell me what you are seeing and I will call you straight back, usually within a couple of hours, to arrange a visit and confirm the fixed price.
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