Mold in Portugal is unfortunately very common, especially in coastal areas like Lisbon. Mold is not only damaging to apartments and furniture, but it’s also causing serious health issues. In this blog we’ll break down how you can spot if an apartment shows signs of mold, how to control moisture indoors and how to remove mold in the best way possible. Also April is sharing her own experience with mold in her Lisbon apartment because mold in Portugal is no joke!
Mold in Portugal: Why mold is so common in Lisbon
Hereโs a little information on the climate here in Lisbon and why mold in Portugal is so common. Lisbon has very high humidity and mold thrives in humid environments. Because Lisbon is right off the ocean it creates a perfect environment for mold.
A lot of buildings in Lisbon were built before modern insulation so the mold is able to get trapped inside walls. Also most Portuguese apartments donโt have central heating so most rooms in the apartment stay cold and damp during the winter months.
Mold is not just a Lisbon problem
It’s not just Lisbon that deals with the problem with mold. London, NYC, Ireland and tropical areas like Southeast Asia deal with this due to the high levels of humidity in the air. Also donโt think that just because your apartment or house has been renovated means that you canโt get mold because that is NOT the case. I definitely learned it the hard way!
In Portugal most people rely on portable heaters, rooms stay cold and damp for longer periods of time which increases condensation on the walls and windows. Did you know that one load of laundry can release liters of moister into the air? And if you add that with the cold indoor temperatures it’s a perfect storm for mold.
My experience with mold in Portugal
To give you a little back story, Iโm from Los Angeles and the only weather Iโm use to is sunny days with the chance of clouds. Also I had never heard about mold in Portugal. So when I moved to Lisbon, I had no idea that the mixture of heavy moisture and 17th century buildings could create such problems. I learned the hard way thatโs for sure.
I moved into my 17th Century apartment building that had been completely renovated. It had such character and charm. I loved looking out the windows and seeing beautiful Lisbon every morning. That all changed when I woke up with a sore throat.
This was strange for me because I never get sick. Iโm still one of very few people who has never gotten covid. Thatโs how good my immune system is. So when I got a sore throat I knew something was very wrong but I didnโt know exactly what at the time.
The demonic moldy mushroom
A few days later it all became very clear. I walked into my closet to find this demonic (yes, I said that right) a demonic looking mushroom growing out of the wall. I immediately went to chatgpt to find out what it was and it said it was mold!
Not only that, it was intense mold because in order to see mushroom growing out of the wall then that means that the problem had been there for a long time. Now it all made sense! Soar throat is a symptom of mold. I also had a runny nose, was feeling extremely exhausted and eventually it got worse when I woke up with a blood shot eye. Mold in Portugal is a b*tch for sure!
I knew I had to get out of that apartment ASAP. I later found out that the landlord was aware of the problem and never disclosed that information to me, so I had been inhaling mold for over a year and a half and had no idea! I hope by telling my story it can help someone else who might be in the same position as me.
Moving to Portugal? Get a dehumidifier!
If I were to go back I would have immediately bought a dehumidifier. This will help you so much when dealing with mold in Portugal. I would have asked the landlord in writing if the apartment had mold or signs of mold that they were aware of. I would have also asked if there had been any water damage in the apartment.
I would have also done more research about mold environments before moving so I would have been aware of paint peeling inside my bedroom was due to moisture hiding behind the walls. They say hindsight is 20/20.
How to spot humidity problems
If you are in a humid environment you have to be constantly aware of the moisture in your home. You need to pay attention to condensation on windows, kitchens without proper airflow, bathrooms without a fan. All these trap moisture indoors that can lead to problems later on.
You need to always be aware of moisture inside the home and making sure you are reducing it as much as possible.
Tips to prevent mold in your apartment
- Open windows daily, 10-15 minutes helps tremendously
- Donโt keep your furniture directly against the wall, leave a small gap for airflow
- Dry your clothes outside when possible
- Use bathroom fans
- Keep airflow moving
- Monitor humidity with a hydrometer
- And the most important of all, use a dehumidifier
How to recognize mold in your apartment
Here are some signs that can help you if you think you have mold in your home or apartment. It might not be dustโฆ
- If you see paint bubbling
- Walls feel cold to touch
- A musty smell
- Black spots behind beds, inside closets, behind couches that touch the wall
Health issues due to mold
It’s not only the weird smell and black spots that tell you there’s signs of mold in your apartment. You will also feel it physically! Be extra careful when you notice any of these signs:
- If you feel congested when you are only at home
- Headaches
- Coughing at night
- Sneezing
- Congestion
- Itchy eyes
- Or like myself waking up with a sore throat
When NOT to battle mold yourself
Itโs already bad enough you find out you have mold but then you find out its a bigger problem than you thought. As mentioned earlier if you have small mold spots those can be easily treated on your own but if you happen to have large patches, water damage or recurring mold. Then you need to let the professionals do it for your safety and the safety of your family. The biggest mistake you can do is make the situation worse.
Here in Lisbon there are a plethora of companies that offer services to remove mold from your home. There were a few I searched through during my situation that seemed very reliable and affordable. I personally didnโt use any of the companies because I moved out immediately. But when dealing with mold in Portugal it’s definitely smart to contact a professional!
Tips and tricks to remove mold
Here are some tricks I personally used during my mold infestation. I first bought some mold/fungus spray to spray all areas I thought had mold. Windows and doors were my main focus. I also bought a dehumidifier. Once I realized the mold/fungus spray and dehumidifier was not going to fix my problem that’s when I moved to a new apartment.
Dealing with the mold aftermath
You need to be very careful when you transport all of your items to a new apartment because you can bring mold spores with you and infect your new apartment. Unfortunately this happened to me. I had moved to my new apartment and I was feeling sick like I did in my old apartment and I couldn’t figure out why until I realized I brought the mold with me!
Once I found out about vinegar, it literally saved my life because it was like night and day in my apartment. I used vinegar to clean everything in my apartment. I added vinegar to my washing machine and sprayed my entire apartment with a mixture of part vinegar part water and all mold symptoms went away! I’ve heard that vinegar is actually better at getting rid of mold than bleach and it’s a lot safer! So if you are ever in this situation get you some vinegar!
How to remove mold safely
If you find yourself with small amounts of mold in your home, here are some things you can do to remove it safely.
- Use protective gloves
- Make sure you have good ventilation
- Vinegar is your best friend
- Do not use bleach! (Bleach can make the problem worse)
Mold in Portugal: the conclusion
Mold is more about moisture, airflow and building design and less about cleanliness. Although mold in Portugal is very common, it’s a worldwide problem. If you live in a coastal city, tropical regions, an area that has cold climates and poor ventilation then you have the perfect recipe for mold. Take the proper steps of prevention, if you are living in one of these environments then you will be on the right track to having a mold free home.
We hope this supports you when you are on the hunt for your next apartment in Lisbon and worldwide. Click here for more information that can support you if you have to deal with mold in your home. We made an episode about finding an apartment in Lisbon for some extra tips and tricks!
Did you already know about mold in Portugal?
