‘You’re feeding the fungus’, expert slams as she issues warning on why you should never use bleach to conquer mould

AN EXPERT has revealed how using a common cleaning product could actually lead to a new ''crop of mould''.

For millions of homes, the arrival of cold and humid weather also often comes with mould - and according to research by Homebrite, a whopping 58 per cent of privately rented households in the UK are struggling with this issue.

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But not only can mould devaluate your property, the fungi can also be responsible for a number of health-related issues, for example, sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and skin rash.

The NHS warned that those particularly vulnerable are people with respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma, plus babies and the elderly.

But although social media is full of a number of different tips and tricks, one expert recently warned people to steer clear of using a rather common cleaning product to tackle the issue.

According to Barbara O’Neill, who practices alternative medicine, attempting to get rid of mould with bleach could, in fact, lead to more problems.

She explained in a video shared on @thehealthyyhabitat: ''When you kill mould with bleach, you're feeding fungus, which means that's your next crop of mould.''

Instead, the whizz, from Australia, advised to stick to an alternative that's most likely already sitting in your kitchen - or, the local supermarket where it typically retails for under £1.

''The good news is white vinegar kills mould - and won't kill you.

''If you have any mould in your house, go and spray it with vinegar and quickly leave the room.

''You only need to come back in ten minutes and it will be dead, and then you can wipe it up.''

Barbara also strongly urged to contact a plumber or the builder to find out why the mould was there in the first place, as there could be ''a leaking tap the wall''.

''Does the guttering need to be cleaned out? Do you need to chop down a few trees and get that sunshine into the house?

''We should have no exposure to mould, zero exposure.''

Close to 400 people flocked to comments to share their thoughts of the clip, which has been viewed a whopping 1.4million times in just a few days.

One cleaning enthusiast was raving about the cupboard essential, writing: ''White distilled vinegar is slept on. Its ability to clean is underrated.''

Meanwhile, someone else advised: ''Try dehumidifier.''

''I did not know this!! Thank you,'' a third chimed in.

''I wish i knew this before I cleaned my walls with bleach,'' another wrote.

How to get rid of mould

There are also other ways to banish mould, such as using hydrogen peroxide.

Simply pour three per cent strength hydrogen peroxide into a bottle and spray it on the affected area.

Let it work its magic for ten minutes, or until it stops bubbling, and using a cloth scrub it away.

Wipe the surface dry with a clean cloth, an repeat if necessary.

Baking soda

Begin by dissolving baking soda in water, and spray it on the mould.

Apply the mixture and scrub with a brush.

Once done, wipe away the excess with a clean, damp cloth,then leave it to dry.