Mold erodes the surfaces where it is growing, creating poor indoor air quality and permanent damage to your home installations. In turn, you may develop health problems like eye, throat, and skin irritations and struggle to find a buyer for your home should you decide to sell it. Then, do you know how to keep your home mold-free? Let’s explore below:
Prevent Moisture Build-Up
The first step on how to keep your home mold-free is through prevention. Build a home that prevents moisture build-up, has optimal ventilation, and keeps humidity levels at favorable levels (30 to 50 percent). Hence:
• Opt for mold-resistant construction products like fiberglass drywall, fungicide-treated wood, and mold-resistant paint. This will save you unnecessary repair and maintenance costs later.
• Install a vapor barrier on the basement floor and concrete slabs.
• Have gutters to redirect water away from the house.
• Invest in a programmable dehumidifier to lower indoor humidity.
Clean Up and Remove Mold Growth Promptly
Do you suspect that your existing home is full of mold? Engage a professional home inspector to assess the extent of mold growth. The home inspectors will ask you about current moisture problems or water-damaged areas. Then, they will use their expertise to check for signs of mold. Based on the inspector’s assessment, you may hire an experienced contractor to clean up the mold or do it yourself. Homemade solutions such as white wine vinegar are effective in mold removal as well as being safe to use.
Then, regularly use mold-inhibiting cleaners in bathrooms and kitchens to prevent mold from growing again.
Fix Water-Damaged Areas
Often, a home inspection report may find minimal mold growth or that you need minimal repairs and maintenance to fix the cause of the mold growth. In this case, use this opportunity to carry out home improvements in your home. For example, check and repair any leakage on your HVAC, plumbing, and roofing systems. Check out ARS for your plumbing repairs in Long Beach. If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, add a plastic sheet between the carpet and the concrete floor. And, waterproof your walls and floors to prevent moisture from accumulating.
If you have cracks and leaks in the pipe and water supply lines in your kitchen and bathrooms, fix them right away. Some leakages do not require a professional. Just ensure you have all the tools and materials such as adhesives and sealants that are so simple to use.
Store items in dry areas.
Keep all storage boxes (especially cardboard boxes) at least a few inches up the concrete floors and away from the foundations where they can absorb dampness. Also, place the boxes on metal or plastic shelves, as wooden shelves tend to absorb moisture where mold can easily grow.
Have Some Indoor Plants
Not only are houseplants beautiful, but they help keep your indoor air clean. They also help regulate the moisture in the air. However, the moist soil in indoor plants can be an ideal breeding ground for mold, which may then spread to other areas of your house. Instead, add Taheebo tea to the water you give to your houseplants. Taheebo tea resists fungi hindering mold growth on the indoor plants’ soil.
The easiest way how to keep your home mold-free is by controlling the moisture levels in the home. Engage a professional contractor to help you build a mold-proof home. Then, be proactive in noticing and addressing any signs of mold growth. And, work with a professional in fixing water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours of noticing the damage.
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