| During May and June, Londoners could be forgiven | | | | some curtains but as an alternative you could try |
| for thinking they are having hallucinations with 250 | | | | hanging the curtains out on a sunny day and then |
| model elephants popping up all over the city. Each | | | | brushing them with a soft fabric brush. |
| model is the size of a juvenile elephant and all have | | | | Other green methods of mould removal include |
| been individually painted by an artist or celebrity. | | | | vinegar, a paste made from baking powder, or wiping |
| The aim of this art exhibition is to raise awareness of | | | | down with a mixture of lemon juice and peppermint. |
| the plight of the Asian elephant. At the end of the | | | | With all these preparations, test a small inconspicuous |
| exhibition the elephants will be auctioned off to | | | | area first in case the cleaner stains your fabric. |
| provide funds to help the Asian elephant, together | | | | The main problem when dealing with mould or mildew |
| with UK conservation charities. | | | | is to contain the spread of spores. Some people are |
| Elephants have always had a special place in human | | | | allergic to mould spores and it is recommended that |
| history, from the earliest woolly mammoths hunted | | | | you always wear a face mask when tackling mould. |
| for food, via the use of elephants to help with | | | | You should expect that some spores will escape into |
| logging and other projects to our present attempts | | | | the air when you are cleaning so follow up with a |
| to conserve the elephant population. It is therefore | | | | good deep clean a few days later. |
| strange that we use the phrase "the elephant in the | | | | Having removed your mould, you now need to stop |
| room" to mean a subject that isn't talked about. | | | | it from coming back. Make sure that steamy areas |
| When looking at keeping our houses clean, the | | | | such as kitchens and bathrooms are well ventilated. |
| elephant in the room is often mould. This can creep in | | | | Then consider what sort of paint you are using. A |
| to our homes almost unnoticed, a slight darkening of | | | | wall covered with high gloss paint is an invitation to |
| the wallpaper here, a vague shadow around the edge | | | | damp, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms. Try |
| of the shower there. Before you know it, the mould | | | | using mould resistant paint or specialist bathroom and |
| spores have exploded and you are facing black | | | | kitchen paints. Also check your insulation. Poorly |
| scummy tiles, peeling wallpaper and disintegrating | | | | insulated houses can be more prone to damp and |
| curtains. Because the change is gradual, it is too easy | | | | mould, as can houses with old double glazing. Modern |
| to ignore it until it is too late. | | | | double glazing incorporates an air gap to assist with |
| Caught in time, mould can be defeated. We know | | | | air circulation. |
| that there are products which blast mould with | | | | Treated properly your mould will disappear and you |
| chlorine and other chemicals. However, there are also | | | | won't have to worry about your elephant in the |
| many environmentally friendly methods of mould | | | | room any more. Take the time to relax and go on a |
| eradication. Steam cleaning is an effective method of | | | | stroll around London spotting those other more |
| mould eradication for hard surfaces such as tiles or | | | | colourful model elephants before they disappear. |
| work surfaces. Steam cleaning can also be used on | | | | |
