When people prefer to dwell in the same temperature ranges as many molds, fungal development can be prevalent if not prevented.
If you ask any homeowner what their greatest worry is when it comes to keeping their home healthy, you’ll likely receive a similar response: mold. Once the fungus starts to grow, it can spread like wildfire, and you might not even know it’s there.
Keeping up with unregulated mold development is therefore crucial. Mold can have a negative influence on your air quality, which can put your health at risk, says the owner of Rainbow Restoration of Southwest Mesa, Dallas Nevill. It can also affect your home’s structural integrity, which can lead to long-term issues with the value of your house and how safe it is.
Mold, in the end, likes dampness and feeds on wallpaper glue, paint pigment, and acoustic ceiling tiles, all of which are ubiquitous in buildings and homes. One of the simplest methods to safeguard your property
Why Do Molds Form?
To understand how to prevent mold, you must first understand why it arises in the first place. Think of it like a three-legged stool, says Karen Peissinger, an industrial hygiene generalist at the University at Buffalo’s Environment, Health, and Safety department. Nutrition is one leg, moisture is another, and a healthy atmosphere is the third. The stool will stay upright if it has three legs, she says. If one of the legs on the stool is removed, the stool will topple over.
Mold is the same way. Mold will not develop if food or water are removed, which creates a livable environment.
Moisture
Moisture is one of the most critical resources for mold formation. Recognizing sources of moisture and nourishment is necessary to prevent mold growth indoors, explains Peissinger. Moisture can arise from different sources. Some sources where moisture lingers include cooking and bathroom activities; combustion appliances, such as water heaters, gas stoves, and gas fireplaces, can also produce moisture.
Sources of Food
Mold feeds on a variety of household items. These items include wood and wood products such as cardboard, gypsum wallboard paper, and engineered wood products. Dust containing paper fibers, plant materials, and food particles are also consumed by the fungi. If mold grows in your home, it already has a significant food source, which encourages it to spread, so prevention is critical.
How to Recognize Mold Growth
Mold is unlikely to grow in your home, but it could still exist. Look for visible symptoms of possible build-up, such as water damage or wall discoloration. Strange and unusual scents may indicate that something is awry, Nevill explains. A drywall scale meter can also be used to detect moisture inside a wall.
Remember that in order to utilize a meter, you must first make a small hole in your wall, which may not be possible if you are renting.
Encourage Air Circulation
Prioritizing excellent air movement is one approach to preventing moisture in your home. Fortunately, you can do this with the equipment and supplies you already have in your home.
Fans of Exhaust
Your home most likely contains exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom; use them when bathing and cooking. Removing moist air that naturally happens in your home, such as when bathing or boiling water for cooking, will lessen the quantity of moisture in your home, explains Mary Gagliardi, Clorox’s in-house scientist, and cleaning specialist.
Allow fans to run until the air is no longer humid. If you do not have a fan in the kitchen or bathroom, open a window instead.
Furniture for the Home
Make use of your home’s furnishings to increase air circulation. Position furniture so that it is not against walls and that there is room for air to flow to decrease the chance for condensation, Peissinger advises.
You can also leave your curtains open so that air from your air conditioner or heater can reach the windows and dry out the air. She recommends speaking with a heating and cooling professional if window condensation persists.
Examine for Leaks
Check your home on a regular basis for indicators of damage that, if ignored, could lead to mold growth. Look for a leaky seal at the bottom of your toilet bowl or damaged shower tiles in the bathroom, as these can destroy floorboards, ceilings, and walls. Check your roof, windows, walls, and pipes on a regular basis. It is best to get leaks and cracks in the home repaired as soon as possible, Nevill advises. The longer items sit, the more likely mold will develop and expand into an even bigger problem.
Make Your Floors Shiny
While this is most certainly part of your cleaning routine, washing your floors on a regular basis is essential for mold protection.
Vacuuming
Sweep and clean hardwood floors and vacuum carpeting often to eliminate dirt and debris. Using a high-efficiency particle air vacuum is very beneficial in decreasing the amount of dust emitted into the air by vacuuming, says Peissinger.
When mopping floors, make sure to wring the mop to eliminate excess water, open windows, and run a fan to help the floors dry faster, advises Peissinger. Clean up any spills as quickly as possible to avoid moisture from penetrating your floorboards.
Maintain Basement Moisture Levels
Basements are one of the most common regions of the house where mold grows due to flooding, but there are a few strategies to avoid this.
Make Use of a Dehumidifier
Run a dehumidifier if your basement is moist. Set the dehumidifier to 40 to 45% humidity, as Peissinger recommends. The best environment for mold growth is at humidity levels of 60% or above.
Examine Your Sump Pump
In the event of flooding, make sure your sump pump is working properly. If you don’t have a sump pump or it’s not working properly, go to a professional waterproofing company about what more you can do to prevent water incursion, Peissinger advises.
Linens That Have Been Wet, Dry Immediately
It’s tempting to pile your dirty, damp towels on the floor or in the hamper, but even this can promote fungal development. Always hang damp towels back in the bathroom rather than in your bedroom to keep moisture down, Gagliardi advises. Make sure to hang them loosely so they can dry quickly.