House mold is a common problem, especially for those living in humid climates. Apart from being unsightly, mold can cause many diseases and health issues. What’s worse is that once they set in, may never completely go away from your residence.
The best solution, hence, is to work on preventing mold in the first place. Below are a few tips on how to go about this:
1. Protect Sensitive Areas
Some areas in your house would be more prone to mold than others. Prime examples are the basement and bathrooms. Make a round of your home and note these areas, paying special attention to water stains and frequent condensation.
You may be able to prevent mold in these areas by taking care of leads, taking up old carpets, and making minor repairs. These may cost you a little, but would greatly reduce the long-term costs of fumigation and possible renovation.
2. Get Everything Dry
The minute something becomes wet, work on getting it dry right away. Exhaust fans in the bathroom and proper ventilation should be a given. Furniture damaged by water should be taken away, treated, or tossed right when you notice it.
If you have children, make sure they don’t leave wet items like bath toys lying around. There should be a proper place for wet dishes to dry, and on no account should anything wet be put in a cupboard or closet. Wet clothes in the washing machine are also a huge no-no.
3. Cleaning The Appliances
Appliances such as clothes dryers, ACs, dehumidifiers, and stoves produce their own kind of moisture. As a result, they need regular cleaning before you start using them on a daily basis. If the AC units are not going to be in use during winter, have them checked and cleaned before you cover them up. The same goes for when you’re planning to go away on a long trip.
4. Mold-Resistant Purchases
If you’re renovating your home, building it, or moving in, make sure you have mold-resistant drywall or something similar. There are also mold inhibitors for your paint. Such precautions could prevent mold from growing altogether.
Having a dry house may take some effort here, but it would eventually give you a lot of peace. For instance, with mold-resistant drywall, you could work on your dissertation proposal in piece without worrying about getting sick from mold spores.
5. Indoor Humidity
There are ways to monitor your indoor humidity, even if it’s wet and warm outside. Ideally, indoor humidity should be between 30 and 60%. A moisture meter is easily available in hardware stores. You can also see whether certain areas in your house have higher humidity than others. This would enable you to deal with condensation before it gives rise to the birth and spread of mold.
Simply put, condensation should be wiped off as soon as possible, and the cause of it dealt with. If water is appearing on the wall underneath an AC unit, for instance, get that unit checked out immediately.
6. Slope It Away
If your house is lower than the street level, this could be a huge problem for you in more ways than one. Try to raise your house or do something to slope the water and moisture away from sensitive places. This is especially important if you have a basement or crawlspace.
Wrap-Up…
If you are in a climate that makes your house susceptible to mold, you have to be on high alert. Mold can grow on carpets, paper, and anywhere you may not check all the time. The allergens contained in their spores could make your house unfit to live in. hence, go out of your way a little and make sure you stay high and dry and mold-free.