Want a Mold-Resistant Home? Do These 3 Things
Do you find that your home is often musty and damp? If you do, you’re not alone. Millions of people deal with excess moisture in their homes which can lead to poor air quality and mold. Mold can make a home unsightly. More importantly, it can cause serious health issues, including respiratory infections. And while you may never be able to eliminate all mold from your home, there are some things you can do as a homeowner or tenant to reduce the risk of growing mold in your home. These tips will help you have a less-risky home when it comes to mold growth. Keeping your home mold-resistant requires a thoughtful balance of moisture, air circulation, and humidity. All these factors play a critical role in keeping mold from taking hold in your home.
If you’re living in an area where mold has been reported, it can be useful to try to combat it with chemicals and pest control if necessary. Experts at mold removal in Virginia can assist clients in getting rid of mold and how to keep it under control in the future. In the meantime, if you are concerned about the risk of mold in your home, there are several steps you can take to help keep it at bay.
What Causes Mold?
When you think of mold, your first thought is probably not that it’s an organism – like most other plants on the planet, it thrives in moist conditions. Mold can be found almost anywhere there is sufficient moisture for it to grow. Mold is a common problem in home and garden settings. It can be particularly difficult to get rid of when it takes hold. Unfortunately, few things can hurt a plant more than mold.Various types of mold spores travel through the air, invisible to the naked eye. After finding moisture, the spores reproduce and form new mold colonies on wet or damp surfaces.
Mold is essential to the ecosystem. It is responsible for breaking down dead organic matter, such as dead leaves and fallen trees. However, once inside, mold can become more than a nuisance. The tiny spores can cause a big allergic reaction, including sneezing, headaches, and watery eyes. Long-term mold exposure can lead to more severe health issues, such as memory loss and insomnia. Thankfully, there are some things that you can do to keep mold from growing.
How to Get Rid of Mold
Mold spores are nearly everywhere and have the potential to cause a lot of damage if left untreated. Mold can grow in any home with water damage and too much moisture. These simple strategies will help get rid of minor mold issues. But if your home has a mold infestation, a professional may be necessary to remove it all. You likely already have what you need to combat areas of mold.
While dousing the affected area with bleach might be your first thought, there is another more powerful ingredient. A natural mold removal solution can penetrate walls and other surfaces to kill mold at the root. A combination of bleach and water can remove mold from the surface view but doesn’t remove it underneath. Whereas, a mold removal solution reaches its roots, leaving no traces behind. It is the best method for eradicating mold as it is not only effective but non-toxic and safe as well for your family, pets, and the environment. Make sure the leaking faucets, spills, and excess moisture are not left unattended which causes mold. Below you’ll find three tips to help prevent mold from taking over your home.
3 Tips For Preventing Mold
Mold can develop quickly in damp locations, especially if it isn’t cleaned up immediately. The sooner you identify and address issues, the easier it will be to see if the mold is there to begin with. When dealing with any mold, you must remember that it may not respond to store-bought cleaners and will require a certain type of treatment instead. You can do several things to make your home less inviting to molds and other types of fungus. Here are some expert tips on how you can have a mold-resistant home:
1. Turn On the A/C
When it comes to poor indoor air quality, we think of the usual suspects like pet hair, cigarette smoke, and musty basements. But what about mold? Many people don’t think about this common indoor air problem until it’s too late. The key is monitoring and balancing indoor moisture levels. Along with natural ventilation, air conditioners are one way to balance a home’s moisture. Humidifiers, on the other hand, can increase mold growth by adding to the moisture level. Mold can grow in almost any home because of excess moisture or water damage. The only way to prevent mold is to keep your home dry and well-ventilated.
Natural air circulation can reduce mole growth, but it is essential to take care of your home and environment as a whole. Running the A/C on full blast won’t stop new mold colonies from growing. The quality of your house’s air dramatically influences the types of microorganisms that can grow in your home. High levels of pollutants like animal dander, dust, and other harmful substances can increase the growth of mold, mildew, and other moisture-loving organisms. If you want to prevent your home from becoming moldy, it’s important to clean your air. If you keep your house dusty, you will create an ideal environment for mold and mildew to grow. To prevent more issues, keep your home clean.
2. Routine House Cleaning
Frequent housecleaning is another measure to prevent the growth of mold and other kinds of fungi in your home. It can be quite challenging to keep away mold spores when there’s so much dirt and clutter. All it takes is a small leak or crack somewhere for the spores to grow and spread. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a mold-resistant home. You need to thoroughly clean the inside of your house at least once a month, and you also need to take care of the outside as well. You may want to invest in a vacuum with a mold-killing filter for high-traffic areas. Install fresh air vents, and make sure your forced-air heating system is not blocked. When it comes to keeping your kitchen and other areas of your house free of mold, there are a few things more crucial than keeping it clean. First, go through your pantry and fridge and throw out moldy or expired foods.
In addition to monthly deep cleaning, small habits of cleaning as you go can help keep mold away. You can do this by keeping damp areas dry, vacuuming when necessary, and using ventilation systems in rooms at high risk for mold growth. Bathrooms and kitchens are often problem areas for mold due to moisture and leaks. When showering, use vents to keep the air circulating. Another important tip is to regularly dust electronics, entertainment centers, and other places where moisture can collect. Keep sporting goods and toys in a dry area when storing them. Preventing mold growth will keep your home dry and fresh, preventing mold from damaging your furniture and belongings. Decluttering can make a home more comfortable and reduce stress. Limiting clutter is also an important step in keeping mold away. Mold isn’t easy to see and even harder to spot with the floors and counters covered in junk. Reduce the opportunity for mold growth while making your home more appealing at the same time.
3. Repair Cracked or Damaged Walls
Mold growth on ceilings, walls, furniture, and other surfaces can be a sign of larger problem areas. Water leaks damage your home’s foundation and attract mold spores. If you’ve managed to crack or otherwise penetrate the walls in your home, you’re probably experiencing some level of indoor growth. This may be because of too much moisture in the air, dirt in the home, or other factors. When it comes to indoor growth, it’s important to make sure your home doesn’t have any cracks or holes that allow water to get into the home. If you have a lot of work to do on a home improvement project, don’t forget to finish it. The longer your home has an open-air source, the more likely mold spores will find their way in.
Bottom Line
Living in a damp, mildew-prone home can be frustrating and exhausting. These microorganisms thrive because they have an easy source of moisture and food. You can reduce the risk of your home becoming susceptible by taking a few simple steps. Follow the above-outlined guidelines to get a mold-resistant home and how to keep it that way for good! To maintain your home, make sure to clean areas that could be covered in dust, remove mold growth with a mold-inhibitor product, and change your air quality with an air purifier or air conditioner. With these steps, you will be able to prevent your home from becoming moldy.
About the author
The Handyman Tips Team is a group of authors that provides tips on the Handyman Tips website. The Handyman Tips team consists of real handymen, contractors, carpenters, woodworkers, and experts in home repairs, appliance repairs, and landscaping. The team is always there for visitors to the Handyman Tips website. If you can’t find the answer to your question on the Handyman Tips website, one of them will reply to you almost immediately if you contact them through the Ask the Handyman page!