THEN
A single widow in the Fifties
German refugee, with white hair
Europeans daily open their windows
She opened widows for fresh air
Had tea outside in the open air
Left beds and chairs with space below
Advantages we did not know
Left a mould-free flat to her heirs
NEXT
We bought a dehumidifier
Put in storage, listed in stock
Plugged it in to check it's working
Soon filled with water! What a shock.
NOW
Well after the Millennium
The occupants had changed again
Two bedrooms, a family of five
Suffered mould, that was a surprise
The law has changed yet again
A child's death governments mention
The landlord must: fix problems fast
Advise tenants on prevention
CAUSE - OBSERVATION - EVIDENCE
The cause of mould is no mystery
Water, in the buildings' history
Black ceilings, gutter leaks overhead
Skirting boards - rising damp - flower beds
Builders long gone have done their best
Walk round, observe, an easy test
Blocked drains and flooding bring more pain
Report quickly and do your best
You breathe out water when you breathe
Rain water pours down ivy leaves
You exercise, cough, blow your nose
Wash up the dishes, bedding, clothes
Every adult, child and cat
The umbrella, raincoat, rain hat
Around the bath, under the bathmat
Around the sink, the dripping tap
You're spreading water everywhere
Every time you wash your hair
Every time you flush the toilet
Under the rim, how often d'you clean it?
You shut the windows when it's cold
Windows steam up, water makes mould
The mould will give you colds and coughs
Asthma, worse, carries small kids off
OUTSIDE
A damp course, horizontal line
Walk outside, foot high, you'll see it
Unless the plants touch bricks above
Gardeners should cut, agree it
What is the cause, you must decide
Is it from outside, or inside?
Warn landlords, don't delay
If left too late, more cost to pay
INSIDE - CURES
Proverbs say, stitch in time saves nine
Is all that mould their fault - or mine!
Even though nobody's looking
Put lids on saucepans when you're cooking
Duvets and cushions away from walls
Clothes in cupboards in a basket
Buy a wall moisiture detector
Is it too much to ask it
I known skiers keep warm in snow
So warm clothes are the way to go
Save money to dispel the gloom
Heat up the person, not the room
Dress for the outside, take a walk
Even the old won't feel the cold
But what if you lot only slouch?
Electric blankets for the couch
INDOORS CAUSES
You breathe out water through the night
Open the windows in daylight
And keep them open half an hour
Before, during, after a shower
Either banish water, or make spills vanish
Those wet clothes on the radiator!
Kettles, covered coffee cups, big dinners
A warning sign, misted windows and mirrors
From hot countries, other nations
Aren't prepared for so much rain
Causing so much condensation
Global warming, yet more rain
Double glazing, central heating,
Extended families, big meetings
Instead of people living alone
MOH, and working from home
INDOORS CURES
We can't fix the sloping grounds
Rebuilding walls costs thousands of pounds
But now we're wiser, now we know
The simple answer, open the window.
-ends-
Easy rhymes, observation, observe.
