Exposure to Mold : Common?

Many homes are infected with mold and the residents do not realize it and are not doing anything to prevent it.

Exposure to mold is common both inside and outside the home. Some people are more sensitive than others, especially those with allergies and asthma. Because some mold spores are very small and can be easily inhaled into the lungs, it is harmful to live in a home with high mold levels. Exposure to high spore levels can cause the development of an allergy to mold.

Molds grow on organic materials such as paper, leather, dirt and soap scum. They grow best at warm, moist temperatures, between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius.

How Do You Know if You Have Mold and What Do You Do?

The simplest way to detect a mold problem is using your own senses. A musty odor is one indication. Not only is mold smelly, but can be many different colors from black and gray to orange and green.

Watermarks on the ceiling and walls are also a telltale sign.

Most often bleach and water can be used to rid the house of mold. The problem is this does not guarantee that the mold will not come back. The only way to keep your house clean is to prevent mold from occurring.

Here are 7 helpful tips for mold prevention:

• Wet materials need to be dried quickly.

  If not, mold will grow within approximately 2 days.

  People are prone to leaving wet materials lying around in or outside the house. These things are the most common places where mold can develop.

• Cleaning, disinfecting and drying surfaces prevents mold growth.

  Surfaces like sinks or floors should are also favorite places for mold; more so if they are wet most of the time. Mold can grow faster than you think it can. These wet surfaces pose many hazards for the residents living there.

• Reduce moisture levels in the bathroom by running an exhaust fan during and after showers.

  If you have noticed how foggy the bathroom looks like after a shower, realize that those are moist places and a likely place for mold to develop.

  Exhaust fans can help minimize the moisture level in the bathroom as well as the possibility of growing mold.

• Fix plumbing leaks and seepage to prevent the buildup of moisture and prevent the growth of mold.
  
  Leaks are caused by pipes that have disintegrated already. It is important to replace old pipes as soon as they show signs of being dilapidated.

  No matter how much you try to keep the house clean, there are still areas that you are neglecting. There will always be a possibility of the growth of mold.

• Store clothing dry and clean to prevent the growth of mold on clothes.

  It is best to keep used clothes dry. Better yet, wet clothes should be hung to dry. Try to put them outside or in places where there is air circulating.

• Increase the flow of air within your home.

  Moving furniture away from walls and opening closet doors to permit air circulation limits the growth of molds.

  Confined spaces and dark areas should be kept ventilated. Open windows are preferable over fans and air conditioning. There should be a stable availability of fresh air coming inside the house to prevent mold.

• Prevent condensation.

  Insulating walls and installing storm or thermal pane windows keeps walls warm and limits condensation.


Other additional mold prevention tips :

You may not realize it yet but those beautiful plants you have in your home could be harvesting unwanted friends and foes.

Plants are great for helping to keep the air in the home clean but can also be a source of mold. Molds like to grow in the soil of our housing plants and sometimes on the leaves.

One simple treatment can help keep your houseplants mold free. Taheboo tea can help to retard mold growth in your plants soil. Just adding this tea to your house plant water in a mild solution is enough to do the trick!

Further Recommended Reading :

• 10 Tips for Removing Mold from Your Home
• 3 Ways to Decrease Mold in the Home

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team