Mold is not only unsightly, but it is also harmful to your health, therefore it is important to deal with mold in your home the moment you see signs of it and it is even more important to prevent mold from growing in your home in the first place.
All types of mold are allergenic, but not all are toxic. It is important to understand what causes mold to grow in order to prevent it.
What Causes Mold?
Mold needs these three things in order to grow:
- Spores(which are constantly present in the air)
- An organic food source (which can be something as simple as dust)
- Moisture (humidity, condensation, water vapor, floods, etc.).
How To Prevent Mold
- Add mold inhibitors to your paint before painting your house.
- Use mold-killing cleaning products when cleaning your bathroom or kitchen, ie. areas with a lot of moisture.
- Do not put carpets in areas that have a lot of moisture, such as basements.
- Make sure that the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation to prevent water from entering your home or collecting around it.
- Make sure that water has not accumulated under your indoor plants.
- Make sure your roof and gutters and cleared out often and fixed immediately.
- If you have a spill or leak make sure it is dried and cleaned up immediately. This goes for floods in any part of your home too. Make sure any water is thoroughly cleaned and dried up and test the area for mold. If carpets cannot be dried completely, have them removed. Get a professional company to remove excess humidity and condensation.
- Use air conditioners, de-humidifiers, and fans to remove excess moisture and condensation.
- Use your air conditioner to keep the humidity in your home between 40 and 60 percent. You can buy an inexpensive humidity meter from your local hardware store to measure humidity.
- Open doors and windows whenever practical, especially in the bathrooms where it is damp and warm, to increase ventilation and move air around.
- After using any type of machine that causes humidity or condensation, for example, a clothes dryer, make sure to vent it.
- Use an exhaust fan to help moisture to escape when you use a shower, dryer, dishwasher, etc.
- Cover cold surfaces, such as water pipes, with insulation as they create condensation and mold.
- Clean your home room by room and check for mold.
- Remove mold as soon as you notice it using soap and water or a bleach solution. Don’t forget to always wear gloves and protective eyewear when removing mold, or get a professional technician to do the job.
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