Tips for Keeping Mold Away
Mold can grow in a number of places in your home; some areas are pretty obvious while others may be the farthest from your mind. Mold prevention is accomplished with thorough inspections of all areas of your home on a regular basis. It only takes 24 to 48 hours for mold to grow and to start causing issues. Being proactive and checking all areas in your home can save you time, energy, and dollars. Know where your moisture points are and be sure to dry them regularly. Fix any leaks that you find and use proper ventilation throughout your home. These small mold prevention tips will go a long way in keeping your home healthy and safe from mold.
If you think your home might have mold (you’re seeing it or smelling it), it’s a good idea to check all of the areas listed below. Then use these tips as your mold prevention checklist.
Attic & Basement
Attics and Basements are an area of the home that can go for extended periods of time where no one is actively in each place on a daily basis. Because mold growth can happen so quickly it’s important to inspect these areas on a regular basis.
For the attic, check occasionally to be sure that no mold is building up. Make sure that your bathroom vent is vented all the way through the attic to the exterior of the home. Your attic should also have proper venting to allow air to exchange and move through the attic. This air flow helps to keep the moisture from settling in one area so as to not allow mold to grow.
If you know you have a damp basement, look to fix the issue and then make sure to take the proper precautions for keeping the basement dry, like adding dehumidifiers. If you have an area that is still damp, run a fan on this area to help the air flow and transfer. This air flow will help the moisture dry.
Bathroom
The bathroom seems to be the most common area for mold. The main reason is because of the shower or bathtub and the lack of areas for the humidity to go. Whether you have a window in your bathroom or a vent in your ceiling, if you don’t use them properly you can get mold in this room.
Shower doors or curtain areas tend to stay moist and do not dry immediately after use. The area at the bottom of the shower door or the folds in the curtain should be cleaned regularly and dried after each use.
If you have tile in your bathroom it’s a good idea to clean these several times a week. Mold can sit in the grout and grow and spread to the entire wall in a very short amount of time.
Faucets in both the sink and shower can be perfect places for mold to grow. Whether you have a leak or water pools in these areas, mold will grow. These areas need to be cleaned several times a week and dried after each use.
The toilet is one last area to check for mold. It can grow around the base on the floor or on the lid and areas inside the toilet where humidity is consistent.
Kitchen
Your kitchen is another area where mold can form quickly and easily. It’s best to check the pipes under your sink, the faucet, and the area behind and underneath the refrigerator regularly. All of these places are collection spots for pooling water.
Small leaks under the sink where the pipes are located or where the faucet is can be a hidden source of mold. Inspecting this area regularly will help prevent the growth of mold. You may not think you have a leak because it’s not noticeable when you reach in to retrieve something, but that’s not to say you won’t find it further back or in the corner where you didn’t reach.
The faucet is another area that easily has pooling water. You reach to the handle to turn off the water and the water from your hands drips to the faucet, you place a little when placing dishes in the sink, or you spray the wall behind the faucet when spraying off the plates. Cleaning and drying this area after each wash will prevent the water from sitting in this common area.
Other Areas to Check
Other areas to check in your home for mold prevention would include water pipes, ductwork, laundry rooms, and garages. By being diligent in your effort to keep your home in shape, you’ll be able to keep mold at bay saving you time, energy, and dollars. If however, you feel you have mold in your home, please feel free to call us at 920.435.2288.
For more questions on mold, please feel free to visit our Mold FAQ section.