Mold spores are not visible to the naked eye and can be in the air without us being aware. Mold exposure may lead to many health problems, such as allergies, asthma, fatigue, and more serious lung problems. Respiratory problems in children, seniors, and even healthy adults are often caused by airborne mold spores. That’s a fact, not a theory.
According to a rigorous two year study, the World Health Organization states, “occupants of damp or moldy buildings have up to a 75% greater risk of respiratory symptoms and asthma than occupants of buildings with better indoor air quality.”
Not only are mold spores airborne, they can also be found on surfaces in the form of mildew. Even after you clean mildew from your shower or the tile surrounding your kitchen sink, it may reappear within days. Mold is stubborn and difficult to get rid of when it’s already growing on surfaces, so what can be done to bring you peace of mind?
1. Use an air purifier
If you want to win the war on mold, a good start is to invest in an air purifier. Because mold can be very tricky and difficult to remove, having an air purifier in each room of your home can help tremendously. An effective air purifier uses HEPA filtration to capture and remove mold spores.
Air purifiers are the easiest and most cost effective way to combat the fungus. There are many major brands that offer quiet, reliable, and energy efficient purifiers at affordable prices such as Airpura and Alen.
2. Reduce excess moisture
Mold thrives in moisture, which means kitchens and bathrooms are especially prone to its growth. Be sure to rinse and dry any cleaned surfaces that may contain water or moisture, such as kitchen counters. Next, fix any water leaks from sinks, showers, toilets, or other sources as soon as you notice the leak. Mold spores grow by attaching to wet surfaces, so a damp wall or floor from a persistent leak can easily become an ideal home for mold.
3. Ventilate properly and maintain low humidity
As mentioned above, mold requires moisture and high humidity levels to grow, which means having good ventilation is incredibly important. Make sure that after showering or using your stove you use your bathroom and stove exhaust fans to remove excess moisture, and that these vent outdoors. Ideally, your home or office should be at 30% – 50% humidity.
These tips are also important to use for basements, attics, and crawl spaces, which can be dark and damp — ideal conditions for mold to thrive.
30-Minute Mold Prevention Checklist
If you’re using an air purifier to reduce and prevent mold in your home or office, set aside half an hour to go through this checklist of steps to maximize your efforts:
- Mentally go through each room of your home or office and reflect on which rooms exhibited a moldy odor.
- Create a strategy for the air purifier(s) you have to keep the mold spore count down. Consider how you can move the unit(s) around to ensure that key rooms are covered.
- Make sure the filters in your air purifiers are not overdue for replacement.
- Arrange to have your carpets cleaned so they adequately dry before cold weather arrives.
- Turn your air purifiers on high when you vacuum.
- Close the windows of your house when you rake leaves.
- Prepare a place for shoes and gardening clothes to avoid bringing mold from organic matter into the house.
