7 Easy Ways to Prevent Mold from Growing in Your Home
Mold is a type of fungus that can grow indoors on damp or wet surfaces. It can cause health problems, especially for people with allergies or asthma. Some types of mold can also produce toxins, which can hurt humans and animals alike.
Luckily, there are many easy ways to prevent mold from growing in your house. The most important thing is to control the amount of moisture in the air by using a dehumidifier, fixing water leaks, and keeping surfaces clean and dry. You should also regularly inspect your home for mold and mildew and clean it promptly if you find any.
Use a Dehumidifier
Humidity is one of the main factors contributing to mold growth, so controlling it is crucial to prevent mold from growing in your home. One of the most effective ways to do that is by using a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier works by removing the excess moisture from the air, thus reducing the risk of mold growth.
Ideally, the relative humidity in your home should be between thirty and fifty percent. To achieve that, you need to set the dehumidifier to the right level. The level will depend on the specific model of your dehumidifier and the current relative humidity in your home.
Fix All Leaks
Leaky pipes and fixtures are a common source of moisture, which can lead to mold growth. To prevent it from happening, regularly check all pipes and fixtures for leaks, especially those that are old and rusty. If you happen to find any leaky pipes, have the said pipes repaired as soon as possible. The most common signs of a pipe leak are water stains on walls, ceilings, floors, and pooled water.
When it comes to leaks coming from the roof, the signs are pretty much the same as in the case of leaky pipes. To avoid such leaks, you should inspect the roof of your house at least once a year for any signs of damage, such as missing or damaged shingles. If you find any, have it repaired as soon as possible by a professional.
Another source of leaks is the windows. To prevent leaks from coming from the windows, you should regularly check the weatherstripping and caulking around them, looking for cracks and gaps. If you find any damage, repair it by reapplying caulk or replacing the weatherstripping.
Equip Your Home With Mold-Resistant Products
Mold and mildew are very common in houses, especially in areas with high humidity levels. To reduce the risk of mold growth, you should opt for mold-resistant products for your home. For example, you can use the anti-mold paint and anti-mildew flooring.
To make the paint more resistant to mold, look for paint that contains titanium dioxide. This ingredient will prevent the growth of mold and mildew, thus helping you to prevent mold from growing in your home.
Similarly, you can choose mold-resistant flooring for your home. The best flooring material to buy is cork because it is naturally resistant to moisture, thus preventing mold growth. Another great benefit of cork is that it is very easy to clean and maintain. If you want to know more about it, check out our review on the best cork flooring.
Monitor Humidity Indoors
To prevent mold from growing in your home, you should know the current level of humidity indoors. If it is too high, you need to do something about it. To do so, you can buy a hygrometer — a device that measures humidity levels — and place it in your house.
The best place to put a hygrometer is in an open area, where the air circulates freely. However, if you want to get an exact value of indoor humidity, place it in your bathroom or kitchen, as these rooms are the most susceptible to mold growth.
When you place it in the bathroom, check that you are not getting a false reading. For example, do not place the hygrometer near steamy, humid areas, such as the shower or the bathtub. The same goes for the kitchen — do not place it near a food preparation area or a sink full of water.
Keep Rooms Well-Ventilated
Another effective way to prevent mold from growing in your home is by keeping rooms well-ventilated. Good ventilation will help reduce the humidity in the air and effectively reduce the risk of mold growth. When it comes to ventilation, the most important rooms in your home are the kitchen and the bathroom, as they tend to be the most humid.
In the kitchen, you should keep the exhaust fan on and open the windows when cooking. In the bathroom, you need to open the window or the door when showering or bathing to let the humidity out. You should also regularly check whether your ventilation shafts are clear from any debris, such as dust and dirt. Otherwise, they will not work the way they should.
Keep Surfaces Clean and Dry
Mold can grow on both porous and non-porous surfaces. Porous surfaces are the ones that absorb moisture, such as wood, paper, drywall, and carpet, while non-porous surfaces do not absorb moisture, and they include glass, metal, and plastic.
To prevent mold from growing on both types of surfaces, you need to keep them clean and dry. Keep a mop at hand and mop the floor regularly, especially in the areas that tend to get wet, such as around the kitchen sink or shower cabin.
When it comes to surfaces prone to mold growth, such as wood, paper, drywall, and carpet, you need to take extra care of them. The best way to do that is by using mold-resistant paint or sealant. If you want to be extra careful, you can also use an anti-mold solution when cleaning these surfaces.
Regularly Inspect Your Home for Mold
To prevent mold from growing in your home, you need to inspect it regularly. Look for any signs of mold growth, such as musty odors and black or green spots on walls or ceilings. If you find any mold, clean it immediately with a solution of bleach and water or a special anti-fungal product.
If you have a basement or an attic, you should examine it once in a while for mold growth as well. If you find any mold, you need to clean it and fix the source of moisture to prevent mold from coming back.
In Conclusion
Mold can grow in any home, no matter how clean it is. The key to preventing it from growing is to control the amount of moisture in the air by using a dehumidifier and keeping all rooms well-ventilated, as well as keeping surfaces clean and dry.
In addition to that, you should regularly inspect the entirety of the house for signs of mold and, if you happen to find some, clean it immediately using a special anti-fungal solution or a mix of bleach and water. By following the simple tips listed here, you should be able to prevent mold from growing in your house with ease!