Premium Content Subscriber only After hundreds of millimetres of rain, flash flooding in the first quarter of this year, and further wet rain on the horizon this week, Northern NSW households face two main dilemmas: when to wash clothes and how to keep mould at bay. According to NSW Health, the key to preventing mould growth is reducing dampness at home. “Repair all water leaks and plumbing problems e.g. burst water pipes, leaking roof or blocked rain gutters,” the government website suggested. “If water enters your home, completely clean and dry water-damaged carpets and building materials. Discard material that cannot be cleaned and dried completely.”