How to Prevent Mold
Mold is something everyone dreads to find anywhere in their property. It creates a bad odor in the home, signifies bad health and maintenance of the property and lastly if you plan on selling your property it could be a red flag for potential buyers. However mold prevention and removal is possible all you have to do is know where mold can grow and what makes it grow in your property. In this blog we will explain what steps should be taken to ensure that you are able to prevent mold in your home so that you won’t tell with any health issues.
What exactly causes mold anyways
Mold is a fungus that grows in damp areas with no ventilation. The way it grows and reproduces is by releasing spores into the air and will continue to grow and reproduce if the conditions remain the same, these conditions are if the humidity remains above 60% and location of mold is on drywall, wood, or fabric.
If mold is not taken care of as soon as possible it will cause the mold to spread and damage anything that gets in its path, things it can damage beside drywall and wood are furniture and insulation. Not only will damage the property it can also pose potential health with those who have weak immune systems, allergies, asthma, and not only that if you got mold on you it can leave a nasty rash.
To learn more about what causes mold head to CleanFirst.
Best to start with some moisture control to prevent mold
If there is one thing that mold thrives and grows in, it’s a place with a lot of moisture i.e a place with no ventilation or poor ventilation. In order to do this it is best to make sure that you know where moisture can enter your home.
Humidity plays a big factor in mold growth. Your indoor humidity levels should be in between 30% and 50%. If things start to get hot like during the summer or even during the rainy season it best to have a dehumidifier to get rid of the excess humidity.
To prevent mold mold check for any areas where excess moisture could be. These places can be kitchens, bathrooms, basements, attics, and possibly around doors and windows. These places can be prone to get damp and have leaks nearby. Be proactive in finding and fixing any leaks, a few small dripping might not be cause for alarm right now but in due time if not fixed can cause mold.
Lastly a good trick to do is make use of exhaust fans. Run exhaust fans when ever your taking a hot shower, making any kind of meal, and even doing laundry. However you might not have any exhaust fans in your home if that is the case try cracking open a window to let the humidity and steam release outside.
Focus on Bathrooms and Kitchens to prevent mold
If there is favorite place that mold loves to grow in and cause problems it is the bathroom and kitchen, mold can grow in these places from boiling pots, damp towels, hot showers, poor ventilation, and condensation build up. The best thing to do is to remove any presence of moisture.
For bathrooms the best things to do to prevent mold is keep the door open when running the shower, wash and replace all towels and mats frequently, and make use of mold resistant shower curtains.
For kitchens the best practices are to turn on the overhead fans when cooking, make sure the leak pan behind the fridge is cleaned, wipe down any locations that maybe prone to backsplash, check under the sink for any kind of leaks, and lastly when using the dishwasher make sure you open it up long enough for the steam to air out.
To learn about where other places are susceptible to mold head Molekuele.
Get Drying Quickly
Mold can grow with a matter 1 to 2 days, so it best to start drying wet areas as soon as possible. These wet areas could be the end results of busted water pipes, a flood in the basement, etc. It’s best to make sure everything gets dry.
A good practice in order to prevent mold is remove any soaked materials like couch cushions, wet blankets, and soaked towels and place them in a dry ventilated area or outside. If there is severe water damage in your home then you might have to remove the drywall and flooring to find the source of the mold and remove it, this isn’t ideal but with severe water damage it’s best course of action.
It’s best to check areas that might not be believed to house mold, these locations can be behind cabinets, behind walls, or even in crawlspaces, these are places that can house some mold.
Your Home needs to Breathe
Important factor to prevent mold in your home is a good ventilation system, if area cannot properly circulate in the home, then moisture gets trapped in the home and can’t leave the house thus leading to mold.
So how exactly do you get some good ventilation going in your home? Make sure the vents in your home aren’t covered or obstructed by anything. Turn on any over head ceiling fans to ensure a good air circulation. Open any windows or doors to ensure hot air moisture escapes.
Something that should also be done is replace air filters frequently, spring for filters that capture mold spores. A bad HVAC system could not only make your energy system work overtime but it could also make mold spread throughout the home. Make sure your HVAC system is properly inspected and made sure it’s in working order.
Purchase materials that can resist mold
If you plan on building or remolding your home in anyway and still want to prevent it is best to purchase building materials that are resistant to mold. For drywall go for mold resistant drywall and best to have these placed where mold can most likely grow, these places can be bathrooms and kitchens. In places that are prone to high humidity like basements, it best to have a sealed concrete floor.
If you plan to store anything like valuables, decorations, or anything like that it is best that you go with plastic containers than cardboard containers. As stated earlier mold loves to grow in damp areas, and most storage areas are damp areas like garages, attics, and basements.
Lastly if you plan to repaint go with a paint mixture that has qualities to prevent mold. Paints like these are best used in places like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas. By using these paints it can prevent any future mold growth.
To learn more about what materials are resistant to mold head to Buffalo Restoration.
If you find mold anyways
While you may have done your best to prevent mold and took all the steps necessary there is a chance that there is still mold somewhere in your home and that just makes you angry. Good news is that you can remove some small patches with a mixture of detergent and water. Once your done cleaning the are make sure your ventilate the area to prevent future mold growth.
If the mold grows back then it is best to call a professional to handle it, mold handlers are best to equipped to remove the mold safely.
To learn more about what else kills mold head to Green Orchard Group.
Check Outside
Mold most often than not can start outside. If any water isn’t properly lead away from the home, then it can seep into the home and cause some bad moisture problems.
To ensure that that water is evacuated properly, remove any debris from the gutters to ensure water can flow properly, make sure the exit of the gutters isn’t obstructed in anyway. Make sure you check the roof and siding of your home for any cracks or wears that ight allow water from storms to seep in.
Conclusion
When it comes to how to prevent mold it doesn’t have to be difficult, the only thing that you need to do as a homeowner or an owner of property is to make sure that you monitor your humidity and moisture levels in your home to prevent mold. Making sure your home is properly ventilated to let steam and moisture escape and fixing any leaks so that water build up won’t cause mold.
If you’re a landlord, homeowner, or property owner, making you prevent mold growth is a top priority, not only does mold build up cause unhealthy living conditions but it can also effect resale.
So start looking for mold right now to see if any exist in your home and take care of it before it grows into something more.
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