I had been travelling for a few weeks and on my return, I was devastated to find that a pipe had leaked and flooded my house.
By the time I got home, the water had evaporated (a benefit of a hot climate) but mould had set in. In fact, it seemed quite determined to take over the whole house.
I eyed it warily as I instantly started sneezing and coughing – a common reaction to mould, as I later found out.
Luckily, I knew how to win the war. I reached for my secret weapon.
Vinegar.
Vinegar in water was the perfect solution for non-porous surfaces such as floors and walls – vinegar kills the mould.
Clothes, towels etc. were steeped in vinegar water then washed twice.
Some things didn’t survive the mould attack – sadly, they’re contained in bags in the rubbish pile now (they need to be contained so the mould spores don’t spread).
It was hard work, but it was really effective.
Some citrus fruit, cinnamon boiling on the stovetop, and fresh lilies soon sorted out the nasty damp smell, and the house is almost back to normal again. (And I’m not sneezing any more).
And not a chemical in sight!
