Understanding how to prevent mold in your home is tremendously important. Even though mold plays an important role in our environment, letting it invade your home can cause serious health issues such as respiratory problems, sinus congestion, eye, nose, or throat irritation, and headaches.
Unfortunately for homeowners, mold spores are always present indoors and can grow anywhere: on carpet, clothing, food, paper, and especially in places that are hard to see or get to, like the backside of drywall, areas inside walls around leaking or condensing pipes, and above ceiling tiles. Mold and mildew can begin to develop on these surfaces and produce spores that travel through the air in as little as 24 to 48 hours unless properly prevented. If left untreated or not properly taken care of, mold remediation can quickly become costly and time-consuming.
Here are a few, quick tips on how to prevent mold in your home on a constant basis.
Keep all areas dry, well ventilated, and clean.
- Install exhaust fans in moisture-prone areas, such as basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms, and laundry rooms to help circulate the air and remove dampness as quickly as possible.
- Make sure to run the bathroom fan or open a window during and after every shower.
- Spread towels out after use and wipe down the shower with a clean towel or squeegee after each use.
- Purchase shower curtains that dry and clean easily to prevent the buildup of soap residue, which fosters mold growth.
- According to the EPA Guide On Mold and Moisture, as temperature drops, the air is able to hold less moisture. Increase air circulation in your home by opening windows and doors, moving furniture away from walls, and turning on ceiling fans whenever possible.
Use antibacterial cleaning products.
- Mildewed shower curtains made out of durable fabric can be cleaned using a solution of ½ cup liquid disinfectant to 1 gallon of hot water. Washing with detergent and bleach followed by rinsing with clean water is also an effective method.
- Fabric and upholstery should be taken outside to brush off mildew and cleaned in chlorine bleach and hot water.
- If you don’t want to use store bought products, keep a spray bottle filled with straight 5 percent vinegar handy to use for disinfectant cleaning. There are many green methods for mold prevention and removal.
Watch for wet spots around the house.
- As mentioned above, mold only needs 24-48 hours of moisture to begin to grow. Seepage into the basement after a heavy rainfall, wetness from a leaky faucet, and even a small spill on the carpet should be dried within the first 24 hours.
- Remove water-damaged carpets, bedding, and furniture from the house so they can be dried outside.
- Don’t leave wet items lying around the house, especially wet clothes in the washing machine. Hang dry these items in areas with good air circulation.
- Use air conditioning units and dehumidifiers to keep the indoor of houses generally moisture-free. Mold usually grows in climates that are 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Fix plumbing leaks as quickly as possible and don’t let foundations stay wet.
- If the ground around your home isn’t appropriately sloping away from the foundation, water can collect and seep into your crawlspace or basement, causing detrimental issues.
- Thoroughly check your crawlspace or basement after every heavy rainfall to ensure that there is no moisture present. Install foundation vents in crawlspaces to promote air circulation and carry any moisture away.
- Clean roof gutters regularly – mold problems can occur from full or damaged gutters leaking into the roof.
- Immediately dry damp carpet using our wet carpet drying tips. If there is mildew present, clean the carpet appropriately before drying.
Taking action and learning how to prevent mold in your home can keep sickness, danger, and a mold remediation bill away from your family and your bank account. Unfortunately, since mold spores are constantly floating in the air, it is almost impossible to prevent mold and is extremely hard to get rid of once it starts growing without professional help.
Certified Restoration is here to help with any questions or assistance with mold and mildew removal. Give us a call 24/7 and we’ll give you the information you need.
