Preventing mold growth in your home is necessary. Especially during the winter season when a lot of moisture gets trapped inside. Not that the summer season you are free from it, but summer is not damp, dark, or dreary weather. Therefore, when it is during cold months, your home is a breeding ground for mold and mildew if you do not know the precautions to take. This can cause a lot of health problems for everyone, but it can get more dangerous if you have infants and elderly living with you.
Additionally, mold can compromise the structural integrity of your home and also ruin your furniture. The buildup of humid air and condensation causes mold infestation, among other lack of ventilation issues. As you read on, you will learn of precautions to take for a mold-free home.
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Open The Windows
Opening the windows will help to ventilate your house. Although, it is tempting to keep them locked to maintain the warmth in the home in cold months. It is wise to open some for lack of ventilation creates humid air in some rooms causing mold. Try opening the kitchen and bathroom windows, at least, since they are more prone to developing mold. This helps the moisture flow out when taking a shower or cooking just for the time you are using these rooms, instead of letting the moisture buildup inside. Optionally, if you don’t favor opening the windows, have air vents fitted in your windows as they will prevent moisture buildup as well.
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Clean Carpets Often
Sometimes mold is invisible to the naked eye, and it is growing under your feet. Therefore, you can choose to contact a mold inspection Houston service to check thoroughly in your home. Alternatively, you can clean carpets in all the carpeted rooms. Particularly, if you experience an unpleasant, musty odor in rooms with carpets. This will help to prevent any growth of mold and the spread of it in your home. Therefore, vacuum carpets regularly or have them professionally cleaned at least once or twice a year to make sure they are mold-free.
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Close The Doors
Rooms in the house that are common sites for mold are the kitchen and bathroom. Since when you use them, they tend to have moisture buildup. It is best to confine the moisture within those rooms to avoid it spreading to other rooms. Especially, when on use, shut the doors to prevent steam traveling to other areas, as it is a potential mold problem. For instance, if you are cooking, shut the door and let the window open to avoid the steam spreading to other rooms. This will help control any condensation that builds up on your walls over time that can lead to mold growth.
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Use Dehumidifiers
A dehumidifier is vital in a home where the moisture content is high. Although a home is not encouraged to have a very dry area. It is important to reduce humidity levels in particular rooms to make them less hospitable to mildew, mold, and dust mites. Invest in a dehumidifier, and with the time, you will see the difference after you see the amount of water it collects in the air. This is a great way to prevent mold from growing in a home as moisture levels are a major contributing factor. Dehumidifiers come in all shapes and sizes. Also, they are affordable to include one in your home, especially during the cold season. Check this expert guide for the best dehumidifiers for 2020.
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Check For Any Leakages
Have you ever experienced mold on your ceiling? There may be a leak from your roof or a leaking pipe. Also, the showers and kettles are known to cause moisture buildup, among other home appliances like humidifiers, and may have leaks as well. Other places that we often assume and can have leaks are, behind toilets, under sinks, around the dishwasher, and washing machine. Yet, they are common spots if not well cleaned and maintained are prone to mold buildup. Thus, check your home thoroughly for the cracks and leaks and in common spots depending on what you have in your home. In case of a leak, contact a plumber to fix it and to check for other places like blocked drain pipes above ceilings.
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Avoid Drying Clothes Indoors
When it is cold outside, many people are tempted to dry their clothes inside. Putting clothes on a radiator or clothes horse to dry inside is a common practice in most homes. However, this will cause moisture buildup on the walls and ceilings. Since it does not evaporate on open-air due to lack of ventilation. It settles on the walls and ceilings that will eventually have a mold problem. Therefore, it is important to open your windows if you have to dry your clothes inside or invest in a tumble dryer.
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Clean Extractor Fans Regularly
If you own an extractor fan, it is important that it is not only routinely cleaned but is serviced often. Either you have it in your bathroom or kitchen; after some time, they lose power due to the clogging they get. Therefore, this will help you prevent any mold build up around the extractor fan. Also, in your home, as they are useful to filter bad odors outdoors. Hence, if they are not working efficiently, they will be a contributing factor to mold build up in some areas of that room.
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Clear Out The Clutter
Since winter is the time to recycle or throw away old clothes. When you intend to do your ‘spring cleaning,’ you should aim to have less stuffed clothes in wardrobes. This will help improve air circulation, which is important in preventing mold growth. Therefore, arrange your wardrobes and cupboards in a way they are not stuffed and clear out any unnecessary clutter. Do this as the cold season is around the corner as a lot of moisture is trapped in during these months. Plus, you don’t want to end up with mold everywhere when the season is over.
