How to Deal with Black Mould in Portuguese Homes

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Written by / Last updated on June 14, 2024

One of the downsides of living in Portugal during winter is that properties can be cold and damp and these conditions often lead to mould, particularly black mould. This usually forms on the walls and ceilings, but it can also form in and behind bookcases or the bed, which is why you need to regularly do a deep clean to keep on top of it. Due to a lack of ventilation, bathrooms are particularly prone to black mould. 

The black mould problem affects some properties more than others. Properties that have better ventilation and catch the sun during the day tend to suffer less than those in the shade, that have poor ventilation, and that have thin walls and poor insulation. 

If you’re staying in an Airbnb or a hotel, you shouldn’t come across black mould. The property will hopefully have been regularly cleaned and ventilated, both of which help to keep the mould situation under control. If you’re staying for longer in a property, whether for a short trip or because you’re living in Portugal, you’ll be responsible for keeping on top of the mould problem yourself. 

The most important thing is that you keep on top of it. This can be through preventative measures and through regular cleaning. To really solve a mould problem, however, the solution is to find out what the source of the moisture is and to fix that. In the meantime, keep on top of the mould with the following measures. 

Reddit user Affectionate-Key-809 found this mould in an apartment in Lisbon

I booked a room in Lisbon and it was not very nice. The people at the desk were nice. We have been told that one thing to look out for in Portugal is mold due to the moisture.  My room smelled of mold and the next day I said I needed to change to another room due to mold. The manager said that that whole side of the building was filled with mold because it didn’t get enough light. He then moved me to another room, which was only slightly better. If you think about it, if we have mold, we get a dehumidifier, but the laissez-faire attitude is the other issue we have been warned is difficult. It is.

Anonymous (Portugalist reader)

Preventative Measures

Gina, a blogger at Third Bee on the Left, suggests the best way to get rid of mould is to rebuild your property. That’s obviously not cost-effective for most people, including Gina, so she has come up with a number of preventative measures that she believes reduce the build up of mould in her property. 

These include:

  • Using a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity as much as possible. 
  • Stopping using calor gas heaters, despite the warmth they give. According to Gina, these give off so much humidity that water is often running down the walls. 
  • Opening the windows and doors during the day
  • Painting the walls with a fungicide paint
  • Scrubbing the walls and floors with soapy water, then bleach and then spraying them with fungicide

Definitely recommend a pellet stove. Paraffin heater is a no no because they generate moisture which in turn condenses on cold surfaces and causes mould

Andrew Chapple

Definitely recommend a dehumidifier. It’s cheaper than a heater to run and deals with the mold problem. You also need to open the windows daily to change the air.

Adam

I specifically chose to live in a newer area (Parque das Nações). It is one of the more expensive areas of Lisbon, but I have central heating/AC, a dishwasher, a clothes washer/dryer and a parking spot in a secure garage. The building is maybe 20 years old. No issues with mold or anything like that.

Todd

Regular Cleaning

I regularly do mold checks…found it in my shoes, on coats, furniture, walls!!

Andria

Take action as soon as you spot signs of mould. If you don’t, it’ll spread. As mentioned, mould can form behind bookcases and beds so make sure to move your furniture around in order to prevent hidden mould outbreaks. 

Most people use bleach to kill the mould, whether in a spray or in a bottle. If you can’t use bleach for whatever reason (some septic tanks can’t handle it, for example) white vinegar is a popular natural solution. 

According to Castelo Construction, other products that you could use to kill mould include:

  • Ammonia
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Detergent
  • Baking soda
  • Bleach Borax (Borrate)
  • Vinegar
  • Tea tree oil
  • Grapefruit seed extract
  • UV light

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