Tips to Prevent Mold and Mildew Infestation in your Home

A humid environment is where mold and mildew can grow and thrive, which is why you might find some corners in your more prone to the growth of unpleasant infestations than other areas. However, you may also find them anywhere in your home, especially if you live near a beach or a river. Aside from making your home look unclean, mold and mildew can pose a health risk, as they may cause respiratory diseases and can be fatal to individuals with asthma, or any other similar health complications. 

Here’s what you need to know about preventing the growth of mold and mildew in your home:

Nip It in the Bud

You can’t successfully prevent mold and mildew as long as your home is the perfect environment for them to grow. Many people believe that the two infestations are different, or that they require different treatments, but this is not true. In fact, mildew is mold in its early stages! The perfect environment for mold to grow is a humid one, and that’s what you need to work on fixing. Your home’s humidity level needs to be between 30%-50% to prevent mold build-up, you’ll need to purchase a high-quality dehumidifier to keep your home’s humidity at healthy levels. Depending on the size of the rooms, you are going to want to read up on some detailed review with a complete rundown of product specifications. This is to make sure you are buying exactly what you need because you would not want to end up with a dehumidifier that is unable to serve its purpose properly.

Use Household Items

Mildewcides can be very toxic to your household members, especially if you have pets. Although mold can be a pain to get rid of, you would be surprised that natural mixtures that you can make from household items can do the trick for you. And the best part is, you won’t have to endure any suffocating smells. To make your own mold-killer, simply pour undiluted distilled vinegar in an empty spray bottle. Although optional, you may want to sprinkle baking soda on affected areas before you spray them with vinegar to make scrubbing easier. 

However, just spraying vinegar in infested areas will do. Let your natural mold-killer sit for an hour before scrubbing the mold away. Make sure that you wear gloves and rinse the area well. After rinsing, reapply vinegar, and leave it. The strong scent dissipates after an hour or so. 

Inspect Every Room

If you have one room which is more humid than others, the humidity, and thus the mold, can quickly spread to other areas in your home. Make sure to inspect areas like the attic, the kitchen, and the bathroom, and check if there is any water damage. If any of your walls have been damaged by excess humidity, you might need to call in a professional to fix your damaged walls and apply a moisture-resistant coat of paint to prevent this from repeating. 

Invest in a Bath Fan

If you don’t already have a bath fan, this may be your problem. Your bathroom is likely the biggest source of mold and mildew and can spread the humidity to other areas of your home, even if you do use a dehumidifier. If you already have a fan, it may not be big enough for your bathroom. High-quality fans are effective in reducing your bathroom’s humidity and need to be kept on for at least an hour after a household member uses the shower or bath. 

On top of using a fan, you need to make sure that your bathroom is as dry as it can be. Always dry your bathroom with towels or a mop after you bathe or shower, paying close attention to the areas around your bathtub. 

Never Ignore Leaks

If you have a dripping valve in your bathroom or kitchen, get that fixed as soon as you can. If you cannot immediately hire a plumber to fix your leaks, use anti-leak silicone tape over affected areas until you can have a professional fix your pipes. Also, never place a towel underneath a leak. Until you run to the store to get some tape, use a bucket to collect the water. A damp towel can encourage mildew growth, and can also attract insects like centipedes! 

Even the smallest signs of mold or mildew growth in your home should never be ignored, as they can be dangerous to your health. The sooner you kill mildew, the easier it will be. You can use natural household items to rid your home of the infestation, alongside a dehumidifier to reduce that extra moisture in the air. If you use both methods and the problem persists, contact a mold removing service as soon as you can.