Bits, stains and slime

Quick check list

I’ve noticed:

bits in my water which are slimy to touch
black or orange stains on the grouting, between my tiles or where water sits in my bathroom
black or orange stains/slime on my taps and shower head
black or orange stains/slime in my washing machine soap drawer or around the door seal
black or orange stains/slime on sponges or ﬂannels
black or orange stains in my toilet cistern or around my toilet rim.

What causes it?

It’s caused by airborne mould spores which like to grow in damp places. They’re not however from the water supply itself:

they feed on soaps, aerosols, air fresheners and even cleaning products
limescale is a great place for mould spores to grow as it gives them something to hold on to
while not harmful to health, these moulds can be unsightly.

What can I do?

Remove all mould with mild bleach or sodium bicarbonate solution – leaving even the smallest amount will produce more spores, causing the problem to return.
Remove limescale where the mould grows – it allows spores to get a good grip on the surface and grow.
Minimise the use of air fresheners and aerosols - these provide nutrients for the mould to grow.
Improve your room ventilation, leave a window open for a while or ﬁt an extractor fan.

Other particles in the water

Aside from mould, you might sometimes notice other bits in your drinking water such as:

white or grey flakes or particles
hard black bits, especially if you use a water filter jug
orange beads.

Water filter jugs

If you’re using a filter jug you may have noticed bits in the water, either above or below the filter section. These are likely to be the filter media from the filter cartridge. To prevent this happening:

ensure the supply is particle free by visually checking the water from the mains fed tap
change the cartridges regularly and speak to the manufacturer if you continue to have a problem.

Sometimes your filter jug may turn green inside – this is more likely to happen if you leave it in the sunlight.

always keep your filter jug in the fridge and change the water every 24 hours; it will keep the water clean and healthy.

The types of mould growing in your house are not normally harmful.

If you’re a business customer, contact your provider for more information.

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Bits, stains and slime