Simple Steps For Mold Prevention

Mold growth in a home can cause problems for people with breathing issues and allergies, and some kinds of less common toxic molds can spell trouble for all. However, when you know a little something about how mold grows, mold prevention measures can be taken to keep mold from becoming a big problem in your home.

The good news is that molds are simply growing organisms and that preventing mold, even prevention of toxic mold, is not overly complicated. It is more time consuming than anything.

Mold prevention and remediation go pretty much hand in hand. When there is existing mold growth in your home (and there’s a good chance there is), the first thing to do is kill living mold organisms.

Follow these steps to remove mold and stop it from spreading:

Clean the area with soap (not an ammonia based soap, though).
Disinfect the area with a solution of ½ cup bleach in a gallon of water.
Let the area dry with the bleach solution on (this gives the bleach more time to kill the mold and spores).

Once mold growths are cleaned (or if you had no growth to begin with), you can take the following measures to prevent future mold growth.

Fix all leaks and remedy sources of constant moisture infiltration.
Increase air circulation and ventilate with outside air.
Ventilate attic areas and crawl spaces and insulate them.
Install exhaust fans in kitchens, baths, and laundry areas. Use them regularly.
Use heavy plastic to cover dirt floors in basements and crawl spaces.
Clean and dry water damaged flooring (carpets, rugs) and furnishings immediately. Dry within 24 to 48 hours.
Clean your home regularly, including regular vacuuming.

There are a number of mold prevention products on the market that can be used to eliminate the food sources molds need to grow, and a number of mold prevention devices that are aimed at drying out the home and robbing molds of their much needed moisture.. There are also a number of more natural mold prevention ideas, like a mold prevention candle, the function of which is also aimed largely at moisture reduction.

Remember that the best method of preventing mold growth on packages and stored items is to keep everything in a dry area. Even with all the food and light/dark requirements met, mold cannot grow without a source of dampness or moisture.

Remedying water infiltration is the best answer to the question of how to prevent mold in the basement. Some homes can never completely rid themselves of water in the basement, but installing a perimeter drain around the house does the trick for many homes. Dehumidifiers are also highly effective.

Another regularly asked mold prevention question is how to prevent mold on wood furniture. Other than preventing standing moisture, the best way to prevent mold on wood is to seal it. Mold in porous woods is difficult to kill, and porous surfaces are good breeding grounds for mold. Sealed woods do not have this problem and when mold growth is present, sealed woods can be cleaned with a bleach solution or mold disinfectant.

It doesn’t matter much if your question is how to prevent black mold or what to do for the prevention of snow mold; the answer is always the same - eliminate the conditions molds need to grow. Keeping a clean house is a good start to remove food sources, but largely the answer is in moisture control. Molds need long-standing exposure to water to grow. Take away the water, and you take away the core life element of mold.