10 Indoor Mold Prevention Tips
After a snowy winter in Spokane, it might seem like indoor mold is inevitable. Melting snow and ice can flood your gutters and seep through your walls or foundations, creating the damp conditions that mold loves.
But you don’t have to live with mold—or its stinky smells. If you’re looking for effective ways to control indoor mold growth, try these mold prevention tips from the experts at My Pure Environment.
How to Prevent Mold Growth in Your House
Mold spores are everywhere, and when they find a place that’s warm and damp, they form a colony and start to multiply. Unfortunately, the ideal place for mold growth could be inside your home.
Indoor mold is a nuisance and a health hazard, and it can even cause structural damage. So how do you fight it?
Condensation and leaks are some of the worst culprits when it comes to indoor mold. But lack of ventilation, humidity, and poor air quality can all contribute as well. When it comes to mold prevention, here are the top ten things you can do to protect your home and your health.
10 Indoor Mold Prevention Tips
1. Clean Regularly
Did you know that mold can eat dust? Infrequently cleaned spaces like attics and basements often fall prone to mold. It also loves to hide in dusty places like vents and HVAC ducts. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help prevent indoor mold.
2. Keep Things Dry
Don’t let wet towels sit in the washing machine or leave a soggy bath mat on the floor. Mopping up puddles from wet boots and running fans to help keep steamy bathrooms dry will go a long way toward preventing mold.
3. Look for Mold in Unexpected Places
Mold is sneaky, and it can grow in some unusual places. Most people don’t suspect that mold could grow inside their gym shoes or their water bottle. Mold can even grow under the lids of your shower products or inside your toothbrush holder. If you smell that musty, moldy odor, beware!
4. Check for Condensation
If you notice condensation on the walls of your basement or collecting on a windowsill, mold could soon become a problem. Your house may need better insulation or more ventilation.
5. Repair Leaks
Water damage is the #1 cause of mold infestations. Don’t let a small problem become a bigger one. Mold can start growing in as little as 24 hours, so get leaky pipes or household appliances repaired as soon as possible.
6. Add Ventilation
It’s much easier for mold to grow in rooms that don’t have enough air circulation. Windowless bathrooms, basement laundry rooms, attics and crawl spaces can all benefit from ventilation fans.
7. Control Humidity
Mold grows fastest when the relative humidity is above 55%. Dehumidifiers and smart home environmental controls can help you keep moisture to a minimum.
8. Try an Air Purifier
If you have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can help reduce your symptoms by removing mold spores from the air. They also get rid of other irritants like dust and pet dander, improving your indoor air quality so you can breathe easier.
9. Grow Air-Purifying Houseplants
A little greenery will not only make your home more lovely—plants can also purify your indoor air. Besides producing oxygen, some houseplants actually help reduce indoor air pollutants like mold spores.
10. Get Professional Mold Remediation
It simply isn’t safe to live in a house with mold. At least 1 out of every 4 people is sensitive to mold, and mold exposure can complicate respiratory conditions like asthma as well as autoimmune disorders. Plus, some strains of mold like the notorious black mold (stachybotrys chartarum) are actually toxic. If your home has a mold infestation, the only way to secure your family’s health is with professional mold remediation.
Free Mold Inspections in Spokane
If your home has suffered any water damage from snow and ice, you may need mold remediation. You might also need professional mold removal if you’ve noticed any signs of mold like:
- A pervasive, musty odor
- Spotty patches on your walls or ceiling
- Persistent cold and allergy symptoms
You don’t have to live with mold! To schedule a free inspection in Spokane or Coeur d’Alene, give My Pure Environment a call at 509-213-1915 today.
Photo by Fleur on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 4/3/2023.
