|
|
|
 Quelling Household Mold Mania
Mold, it’s as old as the Earth and it’s
everywhere. And under the right—or should we say wrong—set of
conditions, it can actually start to grow—gasp—inside your house. In
most cases, this is not cause for alarm. First, start by getting the
facts. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has developed
the consumer web site,
www.MoldTips.com,
to debunk mold misinformation and provide consumers with sound,
practical advice on identifying, preventing and cleaning up household
mold.
First of all, where does mold come
from? Mold spores are everywhere around us and are too small to detect
with the naked eye—we cannot avoid being exposed to them. Mold spores
travel in the air and attach to people’s skin, clothing, shoes,
shopping bags and belongings. Mold is simply a part of our natural
environment. Once spores enter your home, they can settle onto
carpeting, upholstery, curtains and other fabric. While you cannot
keep spores out of your home entirely, regular home cleaning and
maintenance often can prevent mold problems before they arise.
Mold is most likely to find a place to
grow in a bathroom, basement or kitchen and seeks moisture, warmth and
food—the three conditions necessary for it to grow. The climate where
you live and the living habits in your household can affect the
ability of mold to grow as well.
Be mindful that mold spores can thrive
in areas of your home that have had flooding or where leakage has
occurred in roofs, pipes, or walls, or areas around house plants,
especially ones that sometimes are over-watered. If you’re concerned
about possible mold growth, pay close attention to keeping these areas
as dry as possible, and periodically check the potential trouble spots
to prevent or clean up any budding mold growth. These tips may help
you get started:
- Vacuum and clean regularly to remove
possible sources of mold growth. Pay special attention to areas of
your home that are likely to generate a lot of moisture.
- In portions of your home that are
susceptible to moisture, use area rugs or washable floor surfaces
rather than wall-to-wall carpeting. If you use area rugs, launder
them periodically.
- Do not store materials such as
paper, books, clothes, or other possible sources of food for mold in
humid parts of your home.
- Repair water leaks in your roof,
windows, or any other part of the home as soon as possible.
- Clean refrigerator drip pans
regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If your
refrigerator and freezer doors do not seal properly, moisture can
build up and mold can flourish. Remove any mold on the door gaskets
and replace faulty gaskets.
- If you live in a house, make sure
that your gutters and downspouts are clear of debris that may block
the flow of water from your roof. Properly grade the area under
your downspouts, so that rainwater from the roof flows away from
your foundation. Splash blocks can help rainwater flow in the
proper direction. If necessary, extend your downspouts.
- Check the grading of other areas
around your foundation, so that rainwater does not flow toward the
house.
- Plant gardens and shrubs away from
your foundation, so that water does not flow toward your house when
watering them. If you water your lawn with a sprinkler, make sure
the water does not hit your house or the area next to the
foundation.
- In the kitchen and bathroom, open
windows or use exhaust fans when engaging in activities that produce
moisture. Exhaust fans should be vented to the outdoors and not to
an attic or crawl space.
- Make sure that clothing dryers are
vented to the outdoors.
- If you use a humidifier, check that
it does not produce an excessive amount of humidity. Read the
manufacturers directions for proper use.
- Consider using a dehumidifier if you
have a basement. The cool basement floor and walls can be a source
of moisture build-up.
- Properly insulate and ventilate the
attic of your home.
- If you have a crawl space under your
house, cover the soil in the crawl space with waterproof
polyethylene plastic. If your crawl space is ventilated, close the
vents in the summer and keep them open in the winter.
- Clean up and correct any water
problems in your basement or crawl space as quickly as possible.
Mold growth in your home is a
problem—but it is one that swiftly should and can be addressed and
resolved by homeowners themselves or with the assistance of
professionals. For more information about preventing and cleaning up
household mold, visit
www.MoldTips.com,
a consumer information web site provided in English and Spanish by the
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Find a
Maintenance Professional |