Clean Out Coffee Maker
The moist interior of a coffee maker is prime real estate for mold and mildew growth. Clean the coffee maker by using a funnel and pouring white vinegar into the maximum fill line of the water tank. Run a cycle with the vinegar . Repeat if you spot a lot of mold or mildew at the top of the tank.
Run one to two cycles of plain water to rinse the vinegar from the coffee maker before making coffee again.
Dry Wet Walls Immediately
Mold needs moisture to grow and the best way to prevent this from happening is to cut the liquid source from them. As soon as a pipe or roof leaks, wet materials, especially drywall which is high in cellulose, should be removed and replaced. If the leak is small and has access to fresh air , you can let it dry out on its own by simply leaving the window open.
On the other hand, if you have problems with basement walls or with a lot of liquid , the smartest move is to quickly before they become home to mold. Timing is essential thus, it is important to act as soon as the problem occurs.
Reduce Your Exposure To Mold In Your Home
After a hurricane or major flood, you may have to live in a home with mold in it. This could last for weeks, if you have nowhere else to go, or even months, if your whole community was affected. If you have to stay in a moldy home, you need to take steps to reduce your exposure to mold.
If you have asthma, COPD, or if you are immune-compromised you should not stay in a moldy home, or even be there while it is being cleaned.
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Keep Indoor Humidity Low
When mold spores land on a wet surface, they quickly begin to grow and reproduce. Fortunately, keeping indoor humidity levels low is straightforward. Aim for humidity of 30-50% for mold growth prevention. You can do this in several ways, such as:
- Use a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air
- Open windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate
- Use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms
- Keep plants and flowers out of the house
- Repair any leaks in plumbing fixtures and pipes
Improve Air Flow In Your Home
According to the EPA, as temperatures drop, the air is able to hold less moisture. Without good air flow in your home, that excess moisture may appear on your walls, windows and floors. To increase circulation, open doors between rooms, move furniture away from walls, and open doors to closets that may be colder than the rooms theyre in. Let fresh air in to reduce moisture and keep mold at bay.
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Does Suncorp Home Insurance Cover Mould
We dont cover mould damage unless its directly caused by an incident covered by your policy and theres no evidence of pre-existing mould.
However, we do cover an escape of liquid. That basically means a loss or damage caused by water leaking, overflowing, or bursting from things like your fridge, bath, washing machine, toilet, gutters, swimming pool, fixed pipes and cooling system, water main and more.
Tips To Keeping Surfaces Clean Of Mold Longer
- Keep humidity levels in your home low to discourage mold from developing. Using a dehumidifier or air conditioning helps to keep humidity levels hovering around the ideal mark of 50% throughout the day.
- Use a handheld hygrometer to measure your home’s humidity throughout the day.
- Always use exhaust vent fans when showering in the bathroom and when you cook in the kitchen to prevent the build-up of moisture and humidity.
- Ensure that your dryer has a vent and that it vents to the outdoors, not indoors.
- Use mold-killing cleaners in your bathroom to keep spores away.
- Avoid using wall-to-wall carpeting in areas that may become wet or moist, such as basements, bathrooms, and kitchens.
- Prevent mold formation by fixing leaks anywhere in your home as quickly as possible.
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Stop Harmful Fungi From Taking Over Your Home With Simple Steps For Removal And Prevention
Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content.
Mold and mildew are types of fungi that can quickly grow anywhere you find moisture. There is very little difference between the two in fact, mildew is just mold in its early stage. Both serve an important purpose in our environment by helping to destroy organic materials such as leaves, which enriches the soil. But some mold and mildew isn’t as helpful for humans. Living in a moldy home can cause serious health issues like headaches, respiratory problems, sinus congestion, and eye, nose, or throat irritation. It’s especially dangerous for infants, children, pregnant women, elderly individuals, and people with existing respiratory conditions, who are at a higher risk for these problems.
The problem won’t go away on its own. Use these simple cleaning tips to remove and prevent mold and mildew in your home.
Avoid Drying Clothes On Radiators
Not always practical for people living in flats or during the wet, winter months. However, drying clothes on a radiator can cause you problems. The flash increase of moisture in the air will certainly create damp spots in your home.
Its best to dry your clothes immediately after washing by hanging them on a washing line. An alternative would be to use a tumble dryer but they can often produce condensation, increasing humidity.
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Five Ways To Prevent Mold Growth In Your Home
Mold is an inconvenient and often dangerous issue many homeowners face, but did you know there are ways you can fend off the problem? Here are some ways to prevent mold growth in your home.
1. Keep your home dry.Moisture can make its way into your home very easily, and finding a way to get rid of this moisture is an important step in preventing mold growth in your home. Make sure youre checking areas that may frequently collect water or condensation. Refrigerators, water tanks, windows, crawl spaces, and even your household plants are all popular places for water to collect and mold to grow. Its important to quickly dry any moisture you find in these areas and perform proper maintenance to ensure no further moisture is able to settle.
2. Watch your homes humidity level.Humidity is a breeding ground for mold. Because humidity often causes condensation, moisture is able to manifest in your home, and the dampness takes much longer to dry due to the wet air. Exposing your indoor air to rainy and excessively humid weather can cause a spike in mold growth, along with HVAC systems that artificially heat and cool your home. Watch for things like condensation and puddles in areas like windows, walls, and doors caused by humid air settling into your home. You can also go the extra step and invest in a humidity monitor to ensure humidity levels are low enough to prevent mold growth in your home.
Mold in Apartment
Humidity at a windowin wintertime
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How To Control Humidity
Humidity control seems easy to achieve with the help of highly advanced technology we can use AC units, dehumidifiers, and various other hi-tech devices that have been specifically designed to control indoor climate and maintain optimal temperatures and humidity levels within the home. Controlling humidity in wet climates, however, poses a number of specific challenges you cant just open the windows to improve airflow in the home, for example
So, how can you control moisture and prevent mold growth in humid climates?
1) Ensure proper air conditioning:
2) Use dehumidifiers to keep the humidity level in your home below 50%.
3) Do not let wet items stay inside:
- Dry washed clothes outside or use a clothes dryer . Make sure they are completely dry before putting them away in drawers and closets
- Do not leave wet towels or other wet items lying around in your home
- Take wet shoes off at the door and clean pets paws after walks to prevent water and mud from being tracked into your house
- Thoroughly dry your items before storing them inside, especially if they wont be used for prolonged periods of time
- Add some Taheebo tea or other appropriate anti-mold products to the water you give to your indoor plants to hinder mold growth in plant soil
- Remove standing water and dry wet areas within your home as soon as possible
- Vent appliances that produce moisture to the outside.
4) Prevent water from entering your property:
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Monitor Your Humidity And Check For Mold
As we mentioned, the best way to maintain a healthy humidity, particularly in hot humid conditions, is with a dehumidifier. Most dehumidifiers come with a humidistat that will automatically turn the unit on when its needed.
Unsure if you have mold or moisture issues? Mold isnt always easy to spot, and if you see it, then the problem is likely much worse than what meets the eye. The Mold Detective Kit is a great way to determine the levels of mold in your home. This at-home kit checks for mold and results are sent to you in a report. Check out its product page if youre interested in checking your house for mold.
Properly Size Your Ac Unit
Make sure your air-conditioning unit is properly sized for your house. If its too small, the unit will run constantly, elevating costs but not the temperature too big, and the unit will constantly start and stop, which wastes energy, too.
Install an HVAC unit thats just right. For guidance, call an HVAC professional or consult Energy Stars square footage/AC capacity chart.
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Clean The Washer’s Door Seal
Inspect every nook and cranny of front-load washer door seals to be sure no mold is growing that can leave clothes smelling moldy.
Run a cloth dampened with white vinegar around the door seals and gaskets. You can either disinfect the cloth after use or toss it in case it harbors loosened mold.
Dry the seal and gasket with a dry towel when you are done. Dispose of the paper towels in the garbage.
Preventing Mold Through Heating
It makes sense that people want to save on heating cost, but one of the best mold prevention techniques is keeping your heating on.
If you seriously want to avoid mold in your home then avoid rooms cooling completely. Experts recommend that the ideal temperature for living rooms is 20°C, 23°C for the bathroom and childrens rooms, and 16C for the bedroom and kitchen. It is recommended that you never let the temperature of your home fall below 14°C.
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What Causes Mold To Grow In Basements
Mold loves temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees F, a little bit of moisture, some tasty surfaces to feed on, and plenty of room to growall of which the average basement supplies readily.
You can have issues with mold after a small leak, say, from a water heater or bathroom, rain coming in a basement window after a big storm, a major flood event, an overwatered plant pot, or even just due to an excess of indoor humidity.
Why Does The Mould Keep Growing On My House Plants
Recently, I discovered a white and yellow mould or fungus on one of my houseplants, which astonished me. I understood that it may be somewhat unsettling if I werent used to seeing this. As a result, I decided it was time to discuss the causes of mould on indoor plants, how to prevent it, and how to effectively remove mould from an indoor plant.
Why are the plants in my house developing mould? Mold frequently grows on indoor plants as a result of inadequate drainage in the plants pot or container, excessive watering, inadequate ventilation, or insufficient sunlight. Houseplants with mould are frequently curable by removing the contaminated soil or chopping off the afflicted plant parts.
You wont want to miss this article if mould is spreading on your indoor plants. Ill go through how to recognise houseplant mould later. Ill also go into greater detail regarding the circumstances that support the growth of mould and discuss some practical mould eradication techniques. Go on reading!
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How Mold And Mildew Affect Your Home
Mold needs to consume something to survive, and its perfectly happy eating your house if you let it. Some molds and mildews are fond of the cellulose in the paper backing on drywall, insulation and wallpaper. Others have a ravenous appetite for the glues used to bond carpet to its backing. Left unchecked, mold eventually destroys the parts of the drywall, wallpaper and carpet it attacks.
But many molds just like to feast on the every day dust and dirt that gather in the perpetually moist regions of your house. They wont destroy your house, but they can sure make it look, feel and smell bad. Mold can mar your walls with white spider weblike growths or clusters of small black specks. It creates the smell we often refer to as musty. This white mold in a basement can be slippery and dangerous when it grows on damp basement stairs. Molds rarely go so far as to rot wood or do structural damagetheyll leave that to their fungal cousinsbut they can wreak plenty of havoc. We cant overemphasize that mold needs moisture to get established, grow and reproduce. Mold problems and longstanding moisture or high humidity conditions go hand in hand. To conquer mold, you must also conquer moisture problems. Fig. B shows common hangouts for mold and some steps you can take to minimize its growth and the damage it inflicts.
Keep Your Property Free Of Mold
Preventing mold growth can also prevent property damage and health problems. In many cases, mold prevention may need to be a layered project, involving more than one of these steps. Take the steps necessary to protect your home from mold, and rest assured that youre avoiding some of the serious complications mold can bring.
For vacation rentals, this can be even more concerning, as you may be potentially risking the health of guests as well.
Dont see the form to download our Vacation Rental Inspection Checklist? Click here.
Contributing Author
Yuka Kato is an Industry Analyst at Fixr.com, the online provider of cost guides, comparisons, and term cheatsheets for hundreds of remodeling, installation and repair projects.
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Periodically Dispose Of Mold
Remember that mold and mildew thrive in a wet environment. Disposing of products that feed mold helps to eliminate any future issues of a spread. What products should be thrown away or are considered disposable? Heres a list of a few:
- Indoor plants
- Air filters
Of course, mold is infamous for growing in all corners of the home, but these house items are common suspects for harboring mold and are an easy, preventive measure for maintaining a mold-free home. Depending on the humidity and moisture in your home you might want to throw out some of these items, like kitchen sponges, after every reservation or seasonally do a quick check, like the rims of your indoor plants.
Differences Between Mold And Mildew
While mold and mildew are both fungi that need water, oxygen, and food in order to live and survive, they differ in a number of ways. Mold tends to have a higher profile and can even become fuzzy, while mildew is usually flat. Mold exhibits darker colors such as deep green and black mildew may begin as white, then turn brown or gray. Mildew converts to a white, powdery substance mold never does.
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Fix Leaks And Dry Wet Items Quickly
Plumbing leaks, or worse, floods, are often the cause of large mold issues. If you notice a leak, take care of it immediately. For larger leaks, this could mean renting or purchasing water damage restoration fans to dry out the area. Be sure to dry any wet items, and immediately wash towels used to clean up the mess. If you let wet messes sit, particularly in a basement, youre asking for mold trouble.
Worried about leaks or old appliances? Inexpensive leak and moisture detectors will put your mind at ease.
Ways To Prevent Mold On Houseplant Soil
While a house plant typically bounces back after removing mould from the soil, recurring incidents make the plant suffer and struggle, which results in reduced growth. Heres how to stop mould from destroying your indoor plants.
Soil Mold Prevention
- circulation of air
Starting with sterile soil is the best approach to prevent white mould from forming in your houseplants. Giving your houseplant the proper conditions, including enough sunlight and airflow, is another approach to stop mould from spreading.
For instance, if the room is stuffy, place the plant close to a window that gets plenty of sunlight and use an oscillating fan on the lowest setting.
Only water your plant when the top of the soil is dry to avoid overwatering it and increasing the likelihood of fungal growth. Remove dead leaves, junk, and organic materials from the pot to keep the plant clean.
Although the majority of plant-soil moulds are not harmful, we do not want them to grow inside our homes since they are ugly. Fortunately, soil fungus is simple to get rid of and avoid with the correct precautions.
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