The growth of mold in your home might seem somewhat harmless, but besides the fact that it’s visually unpleasant, it can also cause health issues for anyone living in your household that has allergies, respiratory problems, or asthma. Because mold remediation can be an extensive process, preventing mold growth is the best solution. The following are seven homeowner hacks that you should use to help avoid mold growth:
1. Install bathroom and kitchen fans
Good ventilation will help to remove moisture from the air and without moisture, mold will have a difficult time growing. The bathroom and the kitchen spaces are the areas in the home that are exposed to the most amount of moisture, which is why you should install exhaust fans in these areas if they do not already have them. Make sure that whenever you take a shower or are cooking that you run the fan to prevent moisture from building up.
2. Fix leaks immediately
Whether there’s water leaking from your roof or from your plumbing system, don’t ignore it. It doesn’t matter how small of a leak it might be, it’s only going to get better, which is going to increase the risk of mold growth. Not to mention that just because you only see a small leak doesn’t mean that there isn’t major water damage hidden behind that leak. For example, a small water stain in your ceiling could indicate that there’s a leak in your roof. However, the roof deck may have experienced extensive water damage as a result — you just can’t see it.
3. Keep indoor air circulating
Good air flow will help evaporate moisture in the air and prevent mold spores from settling. Use your ceiling fans and open up your interior doors. Every once in a while, open up your windows to allow stale air to go out and fresh air to circulate in.
4. Use a dehumidifier
Your indoor humidity levels should fall between 30 and 60 percent, according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). If your humidity levels are too high, it will promote the growth of mold. You can counter this by using a dehumidifier. While a portable dehumidifier might be enough, you can also invest in a whole house dehumidifier, which will need to be installed onto your HVAC system.
5. Maintain your gutters
Your gutter system plays a big part in preventing leaks in your home. If it’s clogged, water will build up and leak in through the roof. This means that you need to keep your gutters clear by cleaning them regularly. You should also check to make sure that they are dispersing rainwater away from the house. Damaged or leaking gutters can cause rainwater to gather near your foundation, where it can then leak in through your basement.
6. Clean up spills right away
Always wipe up any liquids that you spill right away. If you do your dishes by hand, make sure you wipe up the counters to clean up any splashed water. If you let it sit there, there will be a greater risk of mold growth.
7. Throw wet clothing in the dryer
If you’ve been caught out in the rain, then there’s a temptation to just toss your wet clothes into the hamper when you change. However, if your wet clothes just sit there, there’s a chance that mold will begin growing in your hamper. Toss your wet clothes into the dryer right away.
Use these seven hacks to prevent mold from growing in your home.
