By Arabella Peterson Entertainment 03.06.2025

15 Simple Ways to Keep Your Home Mould-Free This Winter

Say goodbye to damp and musty smells – these easy tips will help you keep mould at bay all season.

When most people think of Australia, they picture hot temperatures and non-stop sun. And sure, we’re pretty lucky on the weather front – but locals know it’s not all sunshine and beach days. Every few years, we experience La Niña, a weather pattern that brings increased rainfall, cooler daytime temperatures, and more moisture in the air, and this can cause havoc inside our homes.

Even as we move out of this years-long wet period, the arrival of winter each year brings its own challenges. While the cooler months are perfect for hearty homecooked meals and cosy nights watching tv on the couch, they also make our homes more vulnerable to mould and mildew. Moisture, poor ventilation, and cold surfaces are a recipe for condensation – and mould loves it.

Fortunately, a few simple habits and low-effort changes can keep your space warm, dry, and mould-free all winter long. Regular checks and preventative practices are your best defence – and with just a little effort each day, you can save yourself the hassle (and cost) of dealing with mould later.

Here are 15 practical ways to stop mould before it starts.

1. Ventilate daily

Over winter, it’s extremely tempting to keep the windows closed and the curtains drawn for weeks on end to keep the warmth in. It might feel counterintuitive to let the air flow through your home when that air is crisp and biting, but we promise, you’ll thank yourself when there’s no mould creeping into corners or condensation clouding your windows. Even on chilly days, open your windows for 10–30 minutes to allow fresh air to circulate – especially in high-moisture rooms like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry areas.

2. Use exhaust fans properly

Whether it’s habit or ease, most of us flick the fan on when we enter the bathroom to shower and turn it off as we leave. The same goes for cooking – we switch the range hood fan on when we start frying and turn it off as soon as our pan is off the heat. But when you’re cooking or showering, try to leave the exhaust fan running for at least 15 minutes afterward to extract lingering moisture.

3. Avoid drying clothes indoors

In the peak of summer, you can do a load of washing, hang it in the sun and know it’ll be dry within a few hours. But come winter, those pockets of sunshine are few and far between, and even then, you’re still competing with the dampness in the air. Wet laundry releases a lot of moisture, so wherever possible – avoid hanging your laundry indoors.

Even if you have a balcony or a backyard, it might be hard to dry your clothes outside, especially during those long stretches of rainy days. But outdoor drying is your best bet – although it might take a few days. Alternatively, use a vented dryer, a type of tumble dryer that uses a vent to exhaust the humid air directly out of the machine through a hose to an external area or drain vent. If drying indoors is your only option, ventilate well or use a dehumidifier in the same room.

4. Invest in a dehumidifier

These devices are a lifesaver during cold, wet months – especially if your home is on the smaller side. They usually work by drawing air in, then filtering and cooling it to condense moisture, reducing indoor humidity. It’s especially helpful in poorly ventilated spaces like bedrooms, basements, or wardrobes. Some top-end models will set you back over $1000, but you can find plenty that do the job for less than $200 – a worthy investment to save your walls from mould and your clothes from that musty smell.

5. Keep surfaces dry

We hate to add another task to your housework roster, but you’ll be glad you did this one. Mould can start growing in as little as 24 hours, so during winter, wipe down windowsills, mirrors, tiles, and shower screens daily to prevent moisture buildup. As a preventative method, just a microfibre cloth to soak up condensation will do.

6. Leave space between furniture and walls

This is an easy one you can do right away. Pull furniture – especially large pieces like beds and wardrobes – a few centimetres away from external walls to allow air to circulate and reduce condensation. It might feel like pushing furniture right up to the wall is a logical way to create more space, but from a design perspective it can actually create the illusion of more room when everything has a bit of room to breathe. Win-win.

7. Use moisture absorbers in small spaces

Pop moisture absorbers into wardrobes, under sinks, and near windows to help keep things dry. Moisture absorbers (like DampRid) use crystals that soak in moisture from the air, before dissolving into a liquid collected in the bottom container. It’s most effective for smaller or enclosed areas like closets, basements, and bathrooms, whereas larger spaces or rooms with severe moisture problems will likely require a dehumidifier instead. While these help remove musty odors and excess moisture, they are a temporary solution and might not be a replacement for addressing the root cause of moisture problems, such as poor ventilation.

8. Clean with mould-fighting products

Regularly wipe problem areas with white vinegar, tea tree oil, or store-bought mould sprays to kill spores and discourage regrowth. If you have a particularly mouldy home, consider going one step further than simply wiping down moisture every day as we mentioned before, and instead make a water-vinegar mixture to use daily instead.

9. Heat rooms evenly

Modern heating systems make it easy to warm up just one room at a time, which is convenient – but it can create cold spots in less-used areas, especially near exterior walls or closed-off spaces. These cold zones are prime real estate for condensation and mould. Try to maintain a consistent temperature throughout your home, even if it’s just keeping doors open to allow warm air to circulate. If certain rooms are prone to chill, consider using a small oil heater or thermal curtains to stabilise the temperature and prevent moisture buildup.

10. Keep bedroom doors open during the day

Maybe you live in a sharehouse, or with other family members, and would prefer the privacy of a closed door while sleeping. It might not be a pleasant thought, but after hours of breathing overnight, the bedroom can be full of trapped moisture. Let any built-up humidity dissipate by leaving doors open during the day for better airflow.

11. Don’t overcrowd storage areas

We all want to maximise our storage space by fitting as much in as possible, but it might be contributing to mould and mildew in the home. Overpacked cupboards and wardrobes trap moisture and limit airflow, so take this as your sign to declutter and space things out to reduce hidden damp zones.

12. Use thermal curtains or window insulation

If you’re ready to get serious about tackling mould, thermal curtains (also called insulated curtains) might be worth the investment. They’re made with thicker, multi-layered fabric designed to trap heat inside during winter and block it out in summer, helping keep indoor temperatures stable and reducing cold air transfer through windows.

Window insulation kits, on the other hand, are clear plastic film sheets you apply directly to the window frame. Once sealed with heat (usually a hairdryer), they create an invisible barrier that reduces heat loss and helps prevent condensation on cold glass.

Both options keep window surfaces warmer, which makes condensation – and therefore mould – less likely to form.

13. Keep shower screens and bathroom doors open post-shower

Showering is one of the most mould-inviting activities you can do at home. But let’s be honest – there’s nothing better than a long, hot shower in the middle of winter. As we mentioned earlier, it’s important to leave your exhaust fan running for at least 15 minutes after you turn the water off. But just as important is allowing the space to dry properly. Leave your shower screen and bathroom door open after use to prevent moisture from getting trapped and to help air circulate. The quicker everything dries, the less chance mould has to settle in.

14. Monitor indoor humidity

You don’t need to guess whether your home is too damp – just grab a hygrometer. This small, inexpensive device measures the humidity level in the air and helps you understand when your space might be at risk of mould. Ideally, indoor humidity should sit between 40 – 60%. If it creeps higher than that, you’re in the mould danger zone. To bring it back down, try opening a window, turning on an exhaust fan, or running a dehumidifier. Monitoring humidity is an easy, preventative step that removes the guesswork.

15. Check for hidden mould hotspots

Mould is sneaky, often hiding in inconspicuous places and waiting to be discovered by unsuspecting victims. It’s always better to know if there’s a problem sooner rather than later, so peek behind curtains, under rugs, in closets, behind large furniture, and around windows. Catching mould early makes cleanup far easier.