Mold can quickly get the better of your home if you’re not careful, and can manifest itself no matter what the season. Although typically more of a common problem in the winter (when our homes aren’t aired as frequently and damp conditions may prevail) mold can still occur in the warmer months if you don’t pay close attention.
What causes mold to grow in our homes?
Poor air quality is the main reason behind the growth of mold spores in the home, along with too much moisture (in the form of condensation) and a lack of frequent ventilation. These conditions go on to create an environment that encourages harmful toxins and bacteria to be produced, leading to the growth of mold.
How much of a problem can mold really be?
Mold has been a historical issue for home owners and research over the years has shown it to be harmful not only to buildings, but to our health as well.
When mold settles onto a surface and continues to thrive, the spores that it releases can go on to cause a variety of health concerns. Over an extended period, if your immunity is compromised (this can be an issue for the very young and the elderly), mold can damage your lungs and cause the person to have difficulties breathing. Mold can also exasperate some allergies, and while it may not be a threat in small amounts over a short space of time, if allowed to continue producing spores, the long-term side effects could be very nasty.
How best to tackle mold in the home?
- Open windows whenever possible
If your bathroom has an extractor fan, that may be sufficient for removing the moisture in the air caused by showering, and even just from breathing, bur ideally, you should open windows whenever possible. Water vapor is then able to escape, and closing the door when you’re showering helps the steam to stay contained in one room.
- Heat up your home
Water vapor in the air turns into condensation when it meets a cool enough surface, such as a wall in winter, and if left, mold can quickly develop there. Regulating the temperature in your home is one of the best ways of preventing mold.
- Don’t dry laundry inside your home
Drying clothes inside, particularly in the winter months when the weather isn’t so good, plays a big part in encouraging mold to grow resulting from the excess moisture it creates. Dry laundry outside wherever possible, or if you must dry them inside, try to do so near to a ventilated area.
- Keep your carpets clean
A lot of dirt, dust and grime can be found in the average carpet, with much of it not being visible to the naked eye. Cleaning your carpets regularly, even if they don’t appear to be dirty, can really help to improve the air quality inside your home, and therefore help to prevent mold from being encouraged to grow.
If mold is getting the better of your home and the problem is too large or time consuming for you to tackle alone, then you should consider getting the help of a professional cleaning company. Left too long, mold can seriously damage your home and your health.