How To Prevent Mold Growth In The First Place
According to the Environmental Protection Agency , There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. Even if you clean the mold, it will still come back if the room is humid and poorly ventilated or there is excess moisture from a leak, even a small one. Humidity levels should never exceed 50% to control mold growth.
That means prevention is the only permanent remedy for mold. After you’ve repaired the leaks and gotten rid of any moisture problems, moving forward, create an environment where mold cant grow with these tips:
- Add a dehumidifier or two to your home. Its best to keep indoor humidity levels between 30-50% to stop build-up make sure to buy one thats sized for the area you are treating.
- Open bathroom doors and windows or turn on the exhaust fan during and after showering to let moisture escape.
- Leave your shower curtain or liner spread open after showering to help keep it dry.
- Vent moisture generating sources, such as bathrooms and clothes dryers, to the outside.
- Avoid storing items in damp rooms, which may mean keepinglinens, books, or furniture our of your basement or attic.
- Seal bathroom grout lines every year if you have tiling. This will help waterproof your walls and floors.
Sign up for GH+ to get a first look at seasonal recipes, expert-backed advice, and more from the magazine. LEARN MORE
Mold Removal With Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural anti-fungal and is perfect for fighting mold thanks to its antiseptic properties.
Directions:
Mold Development Is An Indication Of Water Damage
You may have no cause to suspect water damage to your house unless you have recently suffered a flood or sewage backup. The appearance of mold, on the other hand, should warn you of a concealed concern. As a result, if you sense a musty odor in your basement or attic, or spot mold patches on your homes ceilings or walls, you should thoroughly check your property to determine the source of the moisture.
Recommended Reading: How To Clean Mold Between Pavers
How Do Mold Spores Enter The Home
It is not uncommon to find mold at home.
Any space exposed to moisture often is sure to have a bit of mold growth.
Mold can thrive anywhere from your homes ceilings to underneath your floors .
Our homes are also filled with materials that hold water well, including paper, cardboard, wood, fabric, and carpets, just to name a few.
So, how did those spores end up inside your home when they werent there the day before?
First, it can be challenging to determine whether there wasnt any mold activity there, to begin with.
Mold spores are really tiny that they cant be seen through the naked eye.
Second, if there really wasnt any mold activity there originally, mold spores can easily enter your home through the air via open doors and windows.
They can even attach themselves to your clothing or your pets fur.
Monitoring Humidity Levels: How Does It Feel
Well for starters, your body has a decent built-in sense of the humidity in the room. Thermal comfort is the subjective feeling of too hot or too cold experienced by the body, and one of the key factors influencing this is the humidity in the space.
Think about it: on a humid day, it will feel uncomfortable at something like 80 degrees, whereas this is quite manageable just by avoiding the sun on less humid days.
So if the air in your home feels heavy, or wet, then this might be a first sign that you have a moisture problem. Of course, you should be on the lookout for obvious signs of high moisture content, as well. For example, in bathrooms, the relative humidity is going to tend to be much higher, thanks to showers and other plumbing fixtures that get used regularly. This is why its important to ventilate bathrooms regularly.
Also, if you have experienced any kind of water damage, either from a leaking roof or a leaking pipe, you should assume that mold will pop up unless you deal with the moisture swiftly.
Alright, all of that is pretty obvious:
- If it feels wet, then its probably wet enough for mold to grow
- Rooms with a lot of water activity are hot beds for mold growth
- Any water infiltration into the walls or ceiling is a red flag
Don’t Miss: How To Clean Black Mold On Shower Grout
How Do You Kill Mold Spores In The Air Naturally
Humid environment comes with several products like mold and mildew this does not mean you need to have spores in your house. There are, however, natural ways to kill mold at home rather than using chemicals like borax and bleach.
The natural ways to kill mold at home are safe and will not hurt your pets, family, or even the environment. No one wants to have mold and spores in their houses for they cause diseases and so we need to do away with them. Here are ways that are safe for you to do away with mold at home naturally.
Vinegar
Vinegar has a pungent smell, and you will need to add water so that you can dilute the scent. You can use vinegar as a mold killer when you spray it directly from a bottle onto the affected area. It is good to leave it for some hours before using a brush to scrub the affected area. Vinegar is very effective for it kills at least 80% of bacteria, viruses, and mold spores.
Vinegar is an air purifier that kills mold and can prevent mold if sprayed on surfaces and left to dry. You can add essential oils when the pungent vinegar smell is too much. Purchase this product to make mold disappear completely from your house.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another natural element that you can use to do away with spores and mold at home naturally. You need to dissolve the baking soda in water and spray it on the surface of the affected area. Leave the baking soda for some time then scrub it and finally wipe with a damp cloth.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Vodka
Removing Mold From Interior Walls Flooring And Carpet
If the mold is fuzzy and black, it may be much worse than just unsightly. The area should be opened to check for structural damage. Wear safety glasses and respiratory protection. All building materials should be bagged in heavy-duty plastic bags and disposed of properly. Allow the area to dry out thoroughly and make any needed repairs.
To clean porous surfaces like wood and drywall, a detergent should be added to the bleach and water solution to help it adhere. Mix one part dishwashing detergent, 10 parts bleach, and 20 parts water. Apply with a sponge or mop, trying not to over-saturate the surfaces. Do not rinse away, and allow the solution to air dry.
Carpet with mold or a musty smell should be removed completely. Wearing a respirator, cut the carpet and pad into small sections. Mist the materials and under-flooring with water to help prevent the spread of airborne mold spores. Wrap the carpet in heavy plastic for disposal. Use a wet/dry vacuum to thoroughly clean the area and allow to air dry for several days before replacing flooring.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Airborne Mold In House
Are There Any Natural Remedies For Removing Mold
If you’re looking for a natural solution to remove mold, one of the below options will work. Keep in mind, though, that they may take more time than bleach and may not remove stains:
- Hydrogen peroxide: Grab a spray bottle and pour 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide into the bottle. Spray the affected area, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then scrub the mold away.
- Vinegar: Pour undiluted vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the moldy area. Let it sit for an hour and then wipe the area clean with water and allow it to dry.
Easy Methods On How To Get Rid Of Mold Spores In The Air
The answer on how to get rid of mold spores in the air comes in three methods. The first one is through cleaning. Learn about the other two below!
Apart from that, well discuss what mold spores are and how they can harm you. At the end of this article, youll get tips on how to get rid of mold from us.
Read Also: How To Mold Leather Holster
Air Purifiers & Scrubbers For Mold Remediation
The remediation and cleaning of the indoor air from mold contaminants and pollutants like mold spores is something that is important to the air quality of this space and to the health of those occupants that face extreme exposure to these pollutants in their air. An air scrubber is typically used in large-scale mold remediation projects due to its ability to filter the air of a large area of square feet, however, although these air devices are capable of removing mold spores through the use of HEPA filters they will only be able to store the mold pollutants on a filter rather than destroying them.
Mold Removal Using Bleach
Bleach kills virtually every species of indoor mold that it comes into contact with including mold spores which leaves a sanitized surface making it resistant to future mold growth. However, bleach is only effective if the mold is growing on non-porous materials such as tiles, bathrubs, glass and countertops.
Bleach is unable to penetrate into porous materials such as wood and drywall which means it cannot get rid of mold growing beneath the surface of these materials. If you use bleach to kill mold on these surfaces it will only kill the mold above the surface. It will be unable to reach the mold within the material and the mold will soon return.
Bleach is a harsh, corrosive chemical which means it can damage the materials it is used on. It also gives off harsh fumes and produces toxic gases when mixed with ammonia. There are safer alternatives such as borax or vinegar which dont produce the dangerous fumes or leave behind toxic residue.
How to Kill Mold Using Bleach
Recommended Reading: How To Mold Leather Holster
How To Get Rid Of Mold Spores In The Air
Firstly, the simplest way to reduce the chances of your inhalation of these mold spores is to physically direct it out the house.
Simply make sure you open doors and windows often this encourages air flow and will discourage mold spores from setting up camp in any particular place for long.
You can also turn on any appliances that encourage ventilation, like fans and air conditioning units.
Secondly, mold remover sprays work to kill off any mold it comes into contact with. This is another cheap option that you can easily find online or at a local store.
However, while effective and quick, these are only short term solutions. To completely remove mold spores from the air, we’ll have to get to the root of the problem.
Mold In Air Conditioners: How To Clean And Prevent Growth
Mold and mold spores can reduce the air quality in your home, especially if someone in your household has a mold allergy. Mold growing in the bathroom or basement is bad enough, but what if mold grows in your air conditioner or inside the ducts of your HVAC system? We will explain how mold might form in a window-unit air conditioner or in ductwork, how to prevent it, and what to do if you do find mold in your air conditioner.
Don’t Miss: How To Clean Mold Off Bathroom Ceiling
List Of 6 Best Mold Air Purifiers In 2021
| $$$$ |
| Rating: |
There are UV-C filter air conditioners and there is the Air Oasis iAdaptAir. A great majority of air purifiers use only UV-C light to fight mold. Air Oasis iAdaptAir air purifier is 1 step and 2 filters before them all. It is undoubtedly the best air purifier for mold currently on the market.
Air Oasis iAdaptAir is not a HEPA-only air purifier with a UV light filter. It does have a 24 W UV-C light filter, but thats just the beginning. In Air Oasis iAdaptAir air purifier, all airborne mold has to face two additional anti-mold filters, namely:
All in all, the Air Oasis iAdaptAir air purifiers use 5 filters . The indoor air with mold and mold spores has to pass through a HEPA filter, activated carbon filter, UV filter, AHPCO filter, and finally through Bi-Polar filter.
According to Air Oasis test sampling, more than 99.9% of mold is removed:
The next-level technology filters Air Oasis iAdaptAir utilizes take care of mold exceptionally well. What is more, the other ordinary filters like HEPA and activated carbon filters are top-notch.
Moisture Is Required For Mold To Grow
Mold is a type of fungus that reproduces by producing microscopic spores that can withstand extremely severe environmental conditions and spread rapidly over huge regions. Mold spores can enter the home through open doors, windows, air ducts, vents, and so on, or they can become attached to clothing, shoes, and bags. When mold spores enter your house, they will wait for the perfect circumstances to form before reproducing.
Read Also: How To Clean Mold Off Canvas
S To Follow In Getting Rid Of White Mold In The Home
Evaluate the situation
You can begin by initiating several methods that will help you to assess the rate of mold growth in some parts of your home. Dealing with molds in your home can be complex and sometimes requires the service of an expert. For areas with relatively little amount of molds, you can do the removal yourself. However, when there are large patches of molds which can be as a result of sewage backup, the service of a professional can be useful.
Understand where mold loves to grow mold loves moisture.
Do a quarterly mold check-in high-risk places this is so easy to do it just takes a few minutes. Mold loves anywhere that gets wet this would be your bathroom and kitchen, attic, basement, inside your walls, and even under cabinets. It can grow almost anywhere, including wood, drywall, ceilings, tiles, and even upholstery.
An often-overlooked area for moisture buildup is around the perimeter or outside your home itâs prevalent for water to collect near the foundation, so take note of any ditches forming, and be sure to direct water away from your house to prevent molds.
Ventilate your home
Many home heating and cooling systems donât ventilate your air. They are useful for proper recycling of air in the home, so toxic mold-infested air stays in your house, so you require ventilation technology like MERVs in most recent homes. They filter out mold spores and bring clean, fresh air into your home.
Get a dehumidifier
Clean and disinfect any mold
How Long Do Mold Spores Stay In The Air
Mold spores are natures recycling team, so theyre always floating around looking for organic materials to decompose.
In fact, as long as mold is present, mold spores are never completely removed from the air.
Mold spores stay airborne indefinitely, but you should know that if a damp spot is unattended to for 24 to 48 hours, then its likely that the mold spores in the air will congregate on that one spot, forming more mold.
This doesnt mean, however, that the spores in the air are gone theyve already been replaced by new ones.
Unfortunately, a high concentration of these spores can be harmful to you, so its a good idea to reduce the amount of it in your home.
So how can I reduce the amount of mold spores in my home?
Also Check: How To Clean Mold Off Plastic Cutting Board
Learn Why White Vinegar Removes Mold Better Than Bleach
Vinegar is a bold mold killer. According to ServiceMaster Restoration and Cleaning, the mild acid in vinegar kills about 82% of known molds and can help prevent future outbreaks.
You can clean small amounts of mold with vinegar yourself, but know when to call professionals. Besides a crisis, such as a flooded home, the Environmental Protection Agency advises hiring professionals when the moldy patch covers about 10 square feet or larger.
In this video, learn more about mold remediation from out senior editor, Brad Holden.
Mold In Air Conditioners
Mold can grow in many areas in your home, particularly where it is dark and humid. So it should come as no surprise that air conditioners are one of the places where mold can be found. Unfortunately, AC units represent a particularly risky place for mold to grow, since they push air through the house.
This means that a moldy air conditioner will actually blow microscopic mold spores into the air you breathe, spreading the spores throughout the rest of your home. Since mold presents multiple health risks, its important to prevent mold from developing in your air conditioner, and to eradicate it if it does appear.
Also Check: Bathroom Mold Ceiling
