Mold growth is one of the most common problems that a lot of people, especially home owners, always think about and are often faced with. The main reason as to why almost all people will encounter such issues one time or another is because homes are already filled with items and things that support and promote the growth of these fungi, such as organic, construction, and building materials. The two other things that they need aside from this is oxygen and moisture, which is of course, can and is most likely to be found inside homes, including yours.
Now, you need to understand that there will always be a little mold wherever you look. This is completely natural, since these fungi can grow on almost anything that they consider a source of nutrient. This is particularly true for mold spores, which are more special compared to regular molds, since the former can live in extremely harsh conditions that even molds cannot survive in. These spores will continue to stay there and will begin to grow once the environmental conditions for their growth are met.
Reducing Molds by Performing a Few DIY Steps
After having read all of these, you may already be thinking of just getting your mold problems done and over with by hiring a mold removal or remediation service and paying its employees with a considerable amount of money. If you are extremely rich, and spending is not an issue, then by all means, go ahead and proceed with your plan. However, if you are like most other consumers, your budget will not be able to easily afford these costly services. Fortunately, it is possible that you actually really do not have to shell out this kind of money. There are several steps that you can take to combat mold growth. The following are the most tried and tested ways to reduce molds at home.
Prevent Excess Moisture to Prevent the Growth of Molds
In a lot of cases, the only thing left lacking in homes that molds need to grow is moisture. The rest are already available, such as organic materials and oxygen. So once excess moisture becomes present in the air, the spores that have already been brought into your home will have everything they need to start growing. Just allowing moisture to stay in your home for 24 to 48 hours is already enough for these spores. So if you leave suitable items to stay damp or wet for this period of time, you are already running the risk of allowing mold to begin growing.
Prevent Water Leaks and Prevent them from Happening Again to Reduce Mold
One of the best ways to reduce molds (or the risks of them developing and growing in your home) is to check any possible water leaks. There are several things that you should inspect for such integrity problems, such as your roof, walls, pipes, taps, and shower systems. As soon as you see these leaks, make certain that you get them fixes as soon as possible. You should also know that there are some types of structural damages that result in excess moisture that you may not know about, therefore, comprehensive inspection of your home on a regular basis is strongly recommended.
Ensure that Too Much Condensation is Not Present to Lessen the Chances of Mold Growth
Too much condensation is another typical cause of moisture inside homes. This forms on any cold surface when the water vapor present in the air cools down and liquefies. You will find this frequently on concrete walls, windows, water tanks, and metal pipes. Condensation of water almost always happens when the temperature is low, so make it a habit to check out these areas of your home for water formation.
One of the most effective methods to reducing condensation is to increase the temperature in your room. This can be done by installing an installation system. For example, you can install insulation on the surfaces of the above mentioned areas. Keeping the humidity down in your property will also help you reduce condensation.
Bring Down the Rate of Humidity Level in Your Home to Reduce Molds in Your Home
Many of the hundreds of thousands of mold species can grow in a very short time as long as the humidity level in the environment is high enough. In fact, the level of humidity just needs to be more than 55 percent so that these fungi can grow. Again, since almost everything that molds need in order to develop and grow is already present in your home, having a humidity level of about 55 percent is already perfect for these fungi.
Ventilating your home properly is one of the best methods to reduce humidity. You can do this easily by opening the windows throughout the day, particularly if the temperature is high, since this is often the time when humidity levels outdoors are the lowest. Once the temperature begins to go down though, you should already close your windows. If it rains, make sure that anything that will allow rain water to get inside your home is also sealed.
It is especially crucial for you to ventilate the areas of your home where moisture and steam are most likely to be generated and become accumulated. Bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms are such places. Installing exhaust fans and using them whenever you perform your activities in these rooms will help keep humidity down, which then results in moisture being kept low.
Dry Out All Other Organic Materials before they Stay Wet for More than 24 Hours
Last, but not the least, is to make sure that you have all organic materials that have become wet or damp dried out in less than 24 hours. As mentioned above, given that the conditions are right, molds can already start growing in just a matter of a day. So if there are any organic materials in your home that have come into contact with water, say for example, your floorboards have been flooded or you have wet clothes, dry them out as soon as possible to prevent molds from growing on them.
