The very mention of the word ‘mold’ likely makes you cringe. The presence of mold in your home means serious health risk for you and anyone else you live with. It calls for specialized cleaning services and some care and attention.
If that is not bad enough, you must know that mold spores can grow on the carpet, on the walls and places that are out of sight, like the backside of the drywall and pipes. If you do not want to compromise your health, it is best to look for ways to minimise mold and all of the risks associated with it. Prevention is the best approach in that regard. Mold prevention means moisture control. Here is how you can achieve that:
Fix moisture-causing problems – while it is true that you cannot make your home mold-proof, you can at least make it mold-resistant. Identify the problem areas: condensation on the windows, flooded areas in the basement, water stains on the ceiling, etc. You can easily prevent mold from growing and spreading by fixing such problem areas. The earlier you do this, the more money and problems you will save yourself in the long run.
Dry moisture as soon as possible – mold cannot possibly develop without the presence of moisture. From removing seepage in the basement after a solid rainfall to drying a spill on the carpet, it can all make a difference. If there is any item at home that has been exposed to moisture, you need to dry it as soon as possible to minimise the risk of mold growth.
Ventilate your home properly – even everyday activities like cooking, taking a shower or doing laundry can invite mold in your home. Properly ventilating the rooms in which these activities take place is very important. You should even vent the appliances that produce moisture, like stoves and clothes dryers. Dehumidifiers, AC units, and exhaust fans should all be used to prevent moisture from sticking around.
Monitor humidity levels – the healthy level of indoors humidity is between 30 and 60 percent. A moisture meter can help you monitor that, but there are other ways to detect high humidity. For instance, condensation on pipes, windows, and walls is indicative of high moisture. The surface should be dried and the source should be addressed.
Boost airflow in your home – as temperatures begin to drop, there is less moisture in the air. Without proper air flow in the home, you may notice extra moisture on your walls, floors, and windows. You can improve circulation by opening doors between rooms and moving furniture away from the walls. Even if it is cold outside, you should let fresh air in the room to reduce the moisture and prevent mold growth.
As you can see, there are ways to reduce the risk of developing mold in your home. You just need to be a little more careful when dealing with home cleaning tasks and check your home for areas of excess moisture.
