How to keep your house free from mold tips, Home cleaning advice, Property maintenance guide

How to keep your house free from mold?

26 July 2021

Mold. The very word is a Realtor’s worst nightmare. Mold can be good since it is important for the decomposition of organic matter in the environment, but it can be terrible if it grows undisclosed in your house.

Mold, moisture problems, and mildew are common. They are especially frequent in hot and humid summer climates such as Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Mold can also become a concern in the winter months because of the conditions.

The EPA says that the indoor environment is two to five times more toxic and destructive as compared to the outdoor environment. Therefore, the air indoors is about 100 times more polluted. A major insidious problem that can affect your house is mold.

Mold can grow undetected for years in areas with high moisture content like the bathroom, basement, kitchen, etc. Leaks in the ceiling, or the plumbing situation can become ideal areas for mold to spread. Besides, mold can also develop in the HVAC system which is the worst-case scenario.

Mold Free Home Help Guide

Why mold is a problem

Mold is a problem because the spores spread easily and they cannot be completely exterminated. Mold is not only difficult and expensive to fix, but it also produces allergens, irritants, and toxins that can jeopardize one’s health.

Mold spores in the air can cause critical respiratory conditions. It can exacerbate asthma, cause coughing, wheezing, and cause problems in the upper respiratory system. Additionally, both mildew and mold can produce distinctive odours, and in general, can affect the quality of living.

So, what should you do if you are worried about mold growing in your house? The best approach is to prevent mold before it becomes a concern. And, the key to mold prevention is simpler than you think: moisture control.

10 Ways To Keep Your House Mold-Free

1. Identify the problem areas

Bought a new house and want to make sure that it is mold-free? Well, that’s impossible. You can’t make your house mold-free, but what you can do is make it mold-resistant. Do an audit of your house and identify the problem areas. Check for floods in the basements, leaks in the ceiling, condensation in the windows, etc.

Preventing mold from spreading can be easy if you address the problem right away. If mold grows unchecked, it won’t just cause you money but it can also be impossible to get rid of.

2. Maintain healthy humidity levels

Mold thrives in a humid environment, thus, it is important to keep the humidity levels down. Ensure you ventilate areas prone to moisture, such as the basement, bathroom, kitchen, etc. Consider installing plug-in dehumidifiers or whole-home humidification systems. You can also control moisture levels with your HVAC system. To know more about dehumidifiers, check out this review from OwlRatings.

3. Use Green Cleaning Products

Cleaning products that have an overwhelming stench can be one of the biggest sources of volatile organic compounds in your house. This is especially true with lemon or artificial pine cleaning liquids. When preventing mold in your house, stick with green cleaners that are water-based, non-aerosol, and non-toxic.

4. Dry wet areas

Mold grows in moisture, therefore, tackle wet areas right away. Leakage into the basement or ceiling after heavy rains, a spill on the carpet, or accumulation from a dribbling pipe should be confronted right away.

If there has been a flood, remove any water-damaged furniture, bedding, or carpets if they can’t be fully dried. Even daily occurrences such as wet items should be taken care of immediately. Make sure you don’t keep wet clothes in the washing machine.

5. Proper ventilation

In some cases, daily activities may encourage the growth of mold. Make sure that your everyday chores like cooking, washing clothes, or taking a shower don’t invite mold. You can do so by ensuring your house gets proper ventilation.

Use AC units and dehumidifiers to ventilate your house. Keep your windows open. Also, check that your AC units don’t trap moisture by checking them regularly and cleaning them.

6. Direct water off your house

If the ground surrounding your house isn’t abundantly sloped away from the foundation, water may accumulate and seep into the crawl spaces in the basement.

7. Keep Indoor Plants

Keeping indoor plants in your living room is an incredible way of improving indoor air quality. Live indoor plants remove volatile organic compounds like paint, formaldehyde, and benzene. Some air-purifying plants that can maintain your house air quality are dracaena, rubber plant, aloe vera, Gerber daisy, and mums.

8. Renovate Roof Gutters

Sometimes, a mold problem is a simple concern of a leaking roof caused by damaged or full gutters. You need to make sure that your roof gutters are cleaned regularly, and inspected for any possible damage. Repair and renovate your roof gutters, and keep an eye out for water stains.

9. Monitor humidity

According to the EPA, indoor humidity should be kept between 30 to 60 percent. Humidity can be measured using a moisture meter. Moisture meters are available in local hardware stores and you should get one if you are concerned about mold spreading in your house.

You will also be able to detect high humidity if you pay attention to the problem areas in your house. Obvious signs of excessive humidity or moisture include condensation on windows, walls, and pipes. Therefore, if you notice condensation, address the source of moisture and fix it.

10. Equip your house with mold-resistant products

If you want to keep your house mold-free, use products such as mold-resistant drywalls, Sheetrocks, and mold inhibitors for paint. Moisture-resistant drywalls are especially useful in areas prone to dampness, such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, attics, kitchens, and basements. Traditional drywall is more vulnerable to mold and also more difficult to get rid of mold. Removal and renovation can be expensive.

Therefore, it is better to use mold-resistant products. Mold-resistant gypsum boards are also invaluable when it comes to keeping your house mold-free.

Several things in your house that can make you sick, and mold is one of them. Therefore, make sure you keep your house mold-free even in hot and humid climates.

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