BARGAIN hunters have been rushing to Poundstretcher to buy “fab” mould-beating gadgets scanning for just 75p.
The beloved British chain is famed for its incredible deals with the latest deal seeing the price of dehumidifiers slashed by 25%.
A whole range of the mould busters are on offer from individual hanging pots to delightfully scented six packs.
The cheapest offer applies to the Fab Fresh hanging dehumidifiers and the scented pot versions.
Typically, they both cost £1 but Poundstretcher are now offering them for just 75p.
They also come in a variety of great scents from lavender, white linen, orange and vanilla.
Shelves are also stacked with the multi-pack versions of both the unscented and scented versions.
Shoppers can get their hands on six dehumidifiers in both the hanging and pot versions.
Usually setting back shoppers £4.99, the Fab Fresh products are now retailing at just £3.75 – a whopping 24 per cent reduction.
The discounts were quickly shared online with elated Poundstretcher fans leaving comments on social media about the deal.
One said: “I’m gonna have to get like 20 packs.”
As a second left a comment saying: “I’ll go grab us a load tomorrow.”
A final happy customer said she was sure to go out and snap up the deal as she labelled the hanging dehumidifiers as “fab”.
The deal is said to be a part of a nationwide range of price cuts in Poundstretcher stores.
The official website for the bargain retailer describes the easy-to-use dehumidifiers as: “Great for hanging in your wardrobe to protect your clothes from mould, damp, condensation and more it’ll leave them smelling wonderfully fresh too.”
Similar products can be found at Tesco with the Keep It Handy Wardrobe Dehumidifier – but it’ll cost shoppers double the price.
The £1.50 gadget works in the same way to keep your clothes and shoes mould-free.
At Asda a hanging dehumidifier will set back customers £2 with the pot versions being £1.25 for a single or £4 for a pack of four.
Opening your windows regularly can help prevent mould build-up,
This is named the “stoffluften” trick which originates from Germany.
The term literally translates to “shock ventilation” and sees Germans often crack open windows to let stale air out and fresh, but cold, air in, even in the dead of winter.
Some experts say that you should do it twice a day – in the morning and before you go to bed.
Others have recommended the best time to open up all the windows and use the method is after performing a task like showering or cooking where humidity levels are at their highest.
Another way to tackle mould is making sure your extractor fans are working.
These are the fans you find in kitchens and bathrooms, and they help remove excess steam from the air and therefore prevent a build-up of condensation.
If you already have mould issues, there are ways to tackle it.
If left untreated, mould can pose a risk to vulnerable Brits with existing health problems like eczema or asthma.
Many experts say that bleach is 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 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 visible mould to kill any mould not yet visible).
Scrub it firmly with a strong brush.
Wait for as long as possible or until the mould completely 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 the area.
Meanwhile, we spoke to a property pro to find out how to prevent mould in your home this winter.
Plus, we tried four tricks to get rid of condensation and mould and we were surprised by the results.
By Sam Walker
Condensation and mould can cause serious health issues but there are ways of keeping them both at bay.
Condensation occurs when warm air hits a cooler surface and creates moisture.
Left alone, it can create mould and mildew which is both a pain to get rid of and can cause havoc with your health including worsening asthma, eczema and allergies.
Luckily, there are a number of ways you can tackle both condensation and mould and save yourself issues further down the line.
The Sun spoke to Nicholas Donnithorne, UK technical services manager at damp proof company Peter Cox, Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch and Natalie Hitchins, home products and services editor from Which?, who revealed their top tips for keeping them both in check.
How to get rid of condensation
Keep your home well-ventilated
The weather might be getting hotter, but you’ll likely still be having a warm shower from time to time.
To avoid steam clinging to your bathroom walls, make sure you open any windows and turn on any extractor fans, Nicholas said.
Keep the bathroom door closed after you’ve showered as well, to stop any excess steam escaping into the rest of the house.
And, Nicholas added: “Use the trickle vents on windows or keep a quarter light open for background ventilation.”
Trickle vents are small vents that can be added to the tops of windows and allow a constant stream of air in and out.
Dry clothes outside
Hanging your pants and socks up inside can create condensation as the moisture from them escapes into the air.
Instead, hang your clothes up outside, even if there’s a slight chance of rain, Nicholas said.
He added: “Alternatively, dry clothes using a tumble dryer or in a closed room with the window open.”
Try using tech
If you’ve done everything you can to avoid excess moisture escaping into the air, try using tech to get rid of it.
Ben, from Uswitch, said: “You may want to consider getting a dehumidifier if you regularly dry your clothes inside.
“They remove excess water from the air, helping to combat condensation and prevent mould growth.”
You don’t have to spend a bomb on them either.
You can buy moisture absorbing tabs too, and they cost as little as £6 from Screwfix.
They work by absorbing any excess moisture, neutralising bad smells and can last for months.
How to get rid of mould
Use household items
If it’s too late, and any condensation has had a chance to flourish and turn into mould, you can start removing it for nothing.
Natalie, from Which?, said: “A few drops of washing up liquid mixed with warm water can work on smaller areas of mould on hard surfaces like walls or floors.
“Use a sponge, cloth, or brush to work the soapy solution in small circular motions over the mould.
“If you’re trying to remove particularly stubborn mould, try a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and warm water and pour it into a spray bottle to target the affected area.”
If you’ve got a bit more in your budget, you can try buying mould or mildew remover from your nearest supermarket or retailer.
You can get it as cheap as £1.20 from B&M or £2.50 from Dunelm, at the time of writing.
Call in the professionals
You can usually treat smaller patches of mould yourself, but if the problem has gotten out of hand, you might need to call someone in.
Natalie said: “If you find new mould growing quickly in other areas of your home, or the affected area becomes too large to handle, it may be time to get professional help.”
Checkatrade says it costs £25-£35 per hour or £200-£400 per room to call someone in for mould removal.
Meanwhile if you want a specialist to come and take a look to inspect for any mould, that will cost you around £50-£300.
