There are few things worse than having to live in a home that has mold growing inside. Not only is it extremely unsightly, but it can also damage your walls, infect your appliances and worst of all, potentially make you ill.
So, it is really important that you do whatever you can to keep your home mold-free. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you do just that:
1. Control moisture levels
One of the best ways to minimize the chances of mold taking over your home is to ensure that the air is as dry as possible. Too much humidity leads to moisture, which enables mold to thrive. If your home is humid, use a dehumidifier to dry out the air and hopefully keep mold at bay.
2. Deal with leaks
If there are any leaks in your home, obviously, they will provide the perfect damp conditions in which mold can thrive. So, as soon as you spot the signs of a potential leak, be sure to call out a plumber and have it dealt with as soon as possible.
3. Ensure your roof is in good shape
If your roof is in poor shape, then there is a chance it could let the element in, and this could make your home damp, which again, will make it the ideal place for mold to grow. Call in a reputable roofing company like Lenox Roofing to patch up any holes and replace any missing slates. Not only will this reduce dampness, and therefore mold, but it will also make your home more energy-efficient too.
4. Dry wet patches right away
If you spill water on the floor or the roof lets rain leak through onto the carpet, it is really important that you deal with those wet patches right away. The longer water is left to stand, the more likely it is that the affected area will start to get moldy.
For this reason, you should also make sure that you do not leave wet towels on the floor or wet laundry lying around for too long. It might not seem like a big deal, but they will be adding more moisture to your home, which means you are more likely to end up with a mold problem.
5. Ensure your home is properly ventilated
If your home is poorly ventilated, you will notice that condensation starts to build up, there is more moisture in your home, and mold decides to move in. If you can, try to open your windows for at least a few hours each day, and aim to do so when you are cooking, boiling kettles, taking showers, or doing anything else that will release moisture into the air.
Having extractor fans in your kitchens and bathrooms is also a good idea to help minimize the amount of condensation produced, so if you can afford to do that, it’s a really good way of protecting your home.
6. Use mold-resistant products
When you are renovating your home, you will find that there are a lot of mold-resistant products you can use, from mold-resistant drywall to mold-inhibiting paints. If you can afford to do so, choosing these products will go a long way to keeping your home mold-free for as long as possible.
7. Keep the gutters clean
If your gutters are blocked up, then they will not be able to do as good a job as they should of redirecting water away from your home, This means your home is more likely to get damp, and as you will know by now, damp often equals mold. Get up there at least once every three months and remove any leaves or debris that has built up. If you cannot manage that yourself, a good gutter cleaning company will be only too happy to do it for you.
8. Check plants for mold
If you have house plants, they are a prime candidate for spreading mold in your home, so it is important you keep them mold-free. Your local plant nursery will be able to provide you with the best products for doing this without killing your plants.
This might seem like a lot of effort, but once you get used to using mold-prevention techniques in the home, it need not take up a lot of time and effort, and it will be worth it when you can live in a home that is as mold-free as it is possible to be.