How to Prevent Mold
Controlling moisture is the key to preventing mold from growing in your home. The following tips will help stop mold from becoming a problem:
• Keep the humidity in your house below 50%. Using an air conditioner or dehumidifier can help with this.
• Make sure your house is clean, dry, and well-ventilated.
• Fix any water leaks immediately.
• Use ventilation fans in your kitchen and bathrooms.
• Don't put carpet in rooms that are likely to become wet such as the basement, kitchen, or bathrooms.
• Make sure wet floor mats are dried quickly.
Find and destroy the mold. The most important part of removing mold is finding and removing its water source. Mold can't grow without moisture. Keep the following tips in mind when you're cleaning up mold:
• Items that can't be dried quickly should be discarded if they show signs of mold or water damage. Porous items such as carpet, padding, drywall, and paper soak up moisture.
• Do not paint or caulk over moldy surfaces. Remove the mold and dry the surfaces before you paint. Paint applied over mold will peel.
• Use plastic sheeting to block an area with mold from the rest of your house and keep the spores from spreading.
• Scrub hard surfaces with mold with detergent and water and dry them thoroughly.
• Put any moldy items in a plastic bag before you take them out of the room to prevent mold spores from spreading.
• Use a HEPA filter in your air conditioner and furnace to capture mold spores that may be airborne in your house.
• Consult a specialist if you're not sure of the best way to clean a valuable or sentimental item.
Be careful with bleach. Take the following extra precautions if you're using bleach to clean mold:
• Never mix bleach with any other household cleaner, especially any containing ammonia. Mixing bleach and ammonia will produce a poisonous gas that can kill you.
• Make sure you read and follow the manufacturer's directions on bleach or any other cleaning product.
• Open your windows and doors to let in fresh air when you're using bleach.
• Wear rubber boots, gloves, and goggles to protect your skin and eyes from the bleach.
Excerpt from webmd.com
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