Easy Home Mold Mitigation Tips to Try Yourself
Interesting fact: mold is everywhere. Well, microscopic mold spores, that is. And with the right conditions (which may already exist in your home), these spores can quickly grow into actual mold. In fact, all mold needs to grow is oxygen and moisture, which makes areas of your home such as the bathroom, laundry room, attic and crawl space viable spaces for mold growth. In this blog, we discuss three ways to mitigate mold growth in and around your home. But first, let’s discuss why mold is never a welcomed guest in your home.
Why Mold is Not Welcome
Mold brings more chaos to your home than just unpleasant odors. If mold isn’t immediately treated and is left untouched, it can eventually ruin floor surfaces and wall structures that weaken from rot. To make matters worse, mold not only creates damage to your home, but also for yourself and your family, too. Humans can contract all sorts of illnesses from exposure to mold, such as respiratory issues and infections. Unfortunately, this can almost always be traced back to poor air flow within the home. Way back when, people lived outside or in rustic structures that had vast air flow. Today, we live in homes with enclosed interior rooms (think windowless bathrooms and laundry rooms) that trap moisture and expose us to mold. It’s important to know how mold affects you and what conditions cause the fungus to develop. For more information on the impact mold can have on your home and health, read our blog, The Effects of Living in a Home with Mold.
Symptoms of Household Mold
Visible mold growth is the most obvious sign that mold has made its mark. The fuzz you’re seeing may come in a rainbow of colors, with different colors associated with different fungi species — black mold being the most dangerous. You may also realize your home has developed a subtle musty smell, which could be a sign of mildew as well. Fortunately, smells can be removed quickly and naturally.
3 Home Mold Mitigation Tips
Now that you know what to look for, let’s discuss three mold mitigation tips to help you prevent mold growth around your home.
1. Clean Surfaces That Can Potentially Sustain Mold Growth
Keeping your home and surfaces clean is a crucial first step to mold mitigation. Closely monitor surfaces in your home that may be prone to mold growth. Check counters and fixtures in the bathroom and laundry room for any visible signs of mold. If mold is present, use a little elbow grease and essential oils to remove it. Or, use our very own simple DIY cleaner to eliminate surface mold. You can also purchase various tools to help you tackle the task of cleaning any unwanted buildup. Tall or corner areas in your home can be hard to clean and might require small tools to scrape off stubborn growth. Tools like this extendable tile and tub scrubber or a tile power scrubber can make the job easier for you.
2. Dehumidify Your Home to Prevent Mold Growth
Our second mold mitigation tip is to eliminate excess moisture and humidity in the air of your home. High humidity in interior rooms, such as bathrooms, increases the likelihood of mold growth in these areas. Lower the humidity levels by using vent fans during and after showering. Additionally, open windows as often as possible to promote air flow and dry out moisture. Make sure to open windows in every room of your home too, not just the bathroom! Humidity levels in the South are a beast of their own. If you live somewhere with excessive humidity, use dehumidifiers to control indoor levels. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests indoor humidity levels must be kept as low as 30% to hinder mold from developing. By maintaining this humidity level, you will be able to protect your home against mold growth as well as create a more suitable home environment. Learn more ways to maintain ideal humidity levels in your home, here.Pro Tip: If you’re remodeling or building a home, make sure to include windows and vent fans in the laundry room and all bathrooms to help prevent mildew or mold growth as much as possible.
3. Stop Mold Before It Starts
Prevention should always be your number one defense against mold. This is especially crucial in those high-moisture rooms we mentioned. Always be sure to squeegee glass and tiled showers to remove excess water. Clean your tub and shower regularly, at least once a week, so bacteria and mold spores don’t fester. Throughout the rest of the home, always be quick to remove condensation or clean up water spills. To take mold mitigation one step further, you can even buy products that are mold resistant. Fungi-resistant wall paint is just one way to create the ultimate mold resistant home. Learn more about the common types of household molds and how you can keep them in check. We hope this blog allows you to see the importance of staying on top of home mold growth, and understand why prevention is key to keeping yourself and your home healthy. Implement these three major tips on a routine basis to ensure a clean, mold-free home.
What To Do When At-Home Mold Mitigation Isn’t an Option
If the mold in your home seems like it’s past the point of at-home removal, contact us for Professional Mold Removal Services. Upon inspection, one of our remediation experts can check your home’s mold growth status and guide you on the next steps for mold mitigation. We use expert technologies in our mold removal process; such as thermal imagery to detect mold levels, and electric thermal heaters to draw out moisture from damp areas. Schedule a service with us today!
