Where To Check For Mold In Your Kitchen
From long-forgotten leftovers in the back of your fridge to the not so easily forgotten dishes that pile up in the sink, there are ample surfaces for mold to take up residence in your kitchen. The added levels of humidity from using the stove and running hot water from the sink can cause kitchen mold to grow quickly. Some of the most common places to check for mold in the kitchen include:
What Is Mold And What Causes Mold In Your Home
Mold is, by broad definition, a type of fungus that sprouts from microscopic spores floating in the air. When clusters of mold spores grow on surfaces, they start to reproduce and become visible to the human eye. If you have mold allergies, asthma, or another lung condition, even breathing in the microscopic pores can trigger an attack. If you dont, you may not even be aware that there is mold in your home until you see it or smell it .
All homes have the key ingredients needed for mold growth: the presence of mold spores, a surface for it to grow on, oxygen, warmth, and darkness. When you add moisture, whether from a water leak, stagnant water, or high levels of humidity, into the mix, thats where mold problems begin. Knowing where mold is commonly found in homes can help you prevent and treat it so you can keep your home and body healthy.
How To Clean Mold And Mildew From Fabric
Avoid sending mold spores into the air and throughout the house by first taking fabric and upholstery outside when possible. Brush off as much of the mildew as possible. Then treat fabric or upholstered pieces individually as follows.
Moldy or mildewy fabric should be laundered in chlorine bleach and hot water. If chlorine bleach is not a safe option for the material, soak it in oxygen bleach and hot water for a half-hour, then wash as directed. Take it outside to dry in the sun if possible.
Upholstery that you can’t take outside should be vacuumed first. Replace the vacuum bag or take the canister outside to clean. Then mix 1 cup of ammonia with 1 cup of cool water. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stains with the ammonia solution. Blot until all the liquid is absorbed. Repeat the process until the stain disappears. To remove the resulting ammonia solution, sponge the area with cold water and blot. Dry thoroughly with a fan or hair dryer set on cool.
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How To Stop Black Mould
All kinds of mould can be harmful to health, however, black mould is famously the one to watch out for. Most black moulds are fairly common and often come from the same strain as green mould. They can be treated with normal treatment methods, and are not to be a cause of great concern. There is, however, a particularly difficult type of black mould known as toxic black mould or stachybotrys, which can have much more serious implications on your health.
A simple solution for removing non-toxic mould from your home is to clean it using a non-toxic, mould cleaning solution. When the mould has been eradicated, it is important to dry the surface thoroughly, in order to prevent the mould from returning. Another simple yet short-term solution is to kill the mould and nasty marks on your walls with bleach.
If you do wish to try this tactic remember to wear thick clothes , rubber gloves and a face guard as both the mould and bleach fumes can be dangerous to inhale. To clean mould off your walls, follow these steps –
Reduce The Humidity In Your Home To Prevent Mildew Growth
Set up ventilation fans, dehumidifiers, or air conditioners, or just open up the doors and windows to let fresh air flow in your room. Driers and electric heaters are better options because they help increase the amount of moisture in your home. Shower stalls, bathtubs, the bottoms of sinks and pipes are all areas where humidity is high at all times. Find out more about mold removal here.
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Figure A: Mold And Mildew Love Moist And Damp Places
Mold and mildew need only a damp, moist environment and organic material to establish themselves and thrive. Roof and foundation leaks, high interior humidity, overflowing washing machines and more severe forms of flooding are common sources of moisture and are what causes mold in a house. Drywall backing, wallpaper, carpet backing, household dust and wood products are commonly attacked organic materials.
Keep Healthy Humidity Levels
Mold and mildew thrive in a humid environment, so it is important to keep your humidity levels down. In areas that are prone to excessive moisture, make sure you ventilate. When using the kitchen, bathroom or basement, turn on the vent fans. If there are no vent fans in these rooms, have them repaired or installed by an electrician. Also, consider installing whole-home humidification or plug-in dehumidifiers.
Attics fans can also help manage moisture and provide ventilation in the home. Ask your HVAC professional if attic fans are right for your home.
You can also take measures to control the humidity levels in your home with your HVAC system, which may or may not have a humidification system built in. Regardless, running the air conditioner will help dry and circulate the air. A closed up home in the summer without air conditioning and little air movement will create the humid, warm and dark conditions necessary for mold growth.
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Whats The Difference Between Mold Vs Mildew
Letâs face it–you really donât want to be dealing with mold or mildew, ever. But, there are some basic differences between the two. Although mold and mildew are both types of fungi that can grow on a variety of surfaces, mildew is actually a plant disease.
The biggest differences between mold and mildew are their colors and textures. Inside the home, mold is often black or green and thick and sticky. Mildew is often gray or white and powdery looking.
Use Green Cleaning Products
Cleaning products with an overwhelming odor are ironically the biggest sources of volatile organic compounds in the home. This is especially true of artificial pine and lemon products. When using these cleaners to rid areas of mold and other pollutants, you are essentially trading one contaminant for another. When dealing with mold , try to stick with cleaners that are water-based, non-toxic and non-aerosol.
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Bonus: How To Prevent Mold In The Closet
Youve probably realized by now what a power couple mold and moisture make. That is exactly what you should worry about when it comes to mold in the closet and how it can affect not only the clothes inside, but your health too. Since you wear clothes every day, wearing mold-affected ones can lead directly to health issues such as skin allergies. It is therefore very important to prevent mold on your clothes in the first place, in order to prevent any further skin allergies.
Mold on clothes is often a result of damp clothes being folded and stored without a proper drying session. With enough moisture and food , its just a matter of time before your clothes receive unwelcome guests. Thats why its very important to ensure that each piece in your wardrobe is well dried before its folded and stored in the closet. If the weather permits, dry your clothes outside as much as possible. Fresh air and sunlight are your best weapon against mold in the closet.
If you have a dressing room, then you should give it a full check-over for mold at least once a month, which includes checking walls behind the clothes, checking the ceiling and carpet. Ensure that there are no moist spots from a leaky roof, and if you have a window, keep it open as much as possible or install an air vent.
In any case, keep the closet clean and avoid overfilling it at all costs. Wipe away any dust, and vacuum regularly, as well as checking the clothes that you do not wear often for any signs of mold.
How To Kill Mold And Mildew
Stop harmful fungi from taking over your home with simple steps for removal and prevention.
Mold and mildew are 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 mold and mildew aren’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.
To check your home for mold and mildew, start with areas where there could be high humidity or water damage, such as a damp basement or crawl space. Mildew and mold can grow on a wide range of household surfaces, including wood products, ceiling tiles, cardboard, wallpaper, carpets, drywall, fabric, plants, foods, and insulation. These growths can develop on a damp surface within 24 and 48 hours and produce spores that travel through the air. They will break down and destroy whatever they grow on and can cause mild to severe health problems for you and your family.
The problem won’t go away on its own. Use these simple cleaning tips to remove and prevent mold and mildew in your home.
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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:
How To Stop Mold Growth In House
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If You Use Bleach To Clean Up Mold
- Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce a poisonous gas.
- Always follow the manufacturers instructions when you use bleach or any other cleaning product.
- Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.
- Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleanup of affected areas.
- If you need to clean more than 10 square feet, check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, which gives advice on all building types. You can get it by going to the EPA web site at .
How To Stop Mold Growth On Walls
Walls are a very common area for mold to grow, especially in damp environments such as basements, washrooms and laundry rooms.
While dealing with mold on your walls can be as simple as cleaning with mold-killing cleaning products, there are a number of situations that can prove to be much more complex.
If mold is growing on porous drywall, a simple wipe down wont be enough to tackle the job. The cellulose found in drywall is one of the most common materials that mold grows on in a home, and therefore can pose a serious issue.
If water damage restorations are taking place in a damp environment, leaving unpainted drywall exposed to moisture, mold growth is a very likely outcome.
When this occurs, your bet is to cut out any affected areas and dispose and replace them immediately.
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How Mold Grows In Air Conditioners
Mold spores are everywhere. Unfortunately, it is impossible to get rid of all the mold spores in your house, and even if you did, more would come in every time you opened a door or window. When spores grow into mold, more spores are released, and these higher concentrations of spores are what cause the health problems associated with mold. Thus, the key is to prevent the mold from growing in the first place.
Mold needs two things in order to grow: moisture and an organic food source. Moisture can come from high humidity, or a leak or spill that is not cleaned up properly. Condenser and evaporator coils are the main contributors to condensation, and therefore have potential for water leakage if not properly drained. The food source can be the surface the mold is growing on, like wood or carpet, or organic particles found in dust, if there is enough of it.
Under most circumstances, air conditioners and HVAC ducts are not hospitable places for mold to grow. Sheet metal ducts and styrofoam channels inside window units do not offer mold a food source. However, dust often collects in these places, which can allow mold to grow.
How To Prevent Mold And Mildew In The Bathroom
Few rooms in the home see as much moisture and humidity as the bathroom. The first step to preventing mold and mildew is making sure your bathroom stays well-ventilated. An exhaust fan will help circulate the air and remove moisture more quickly. These additional actions will help keep your bathroom fresh and mold-free.
If you’re dealing with a mildewed shower curtain made of durable fabric, follow these steps for cleaning it.
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Can Mold Cause Health Problems
Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens , irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances . Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash .
Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing.
This provides a brief overview it does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. For more detailed information consult a health professional. You may also wish to consult your state or local health department.