Mold Growth At Home: What You Should Know And What You Can Do

Published on: 15 October 2022 Last Updated on: 29 July 2024

Molds are common problems in many homes.

They can cause more than just unpleasant smells, though. These notorious fungi can also expose you to several health risks and damage your home’s structure.

Although their effects may not be noticeable at first, molds will eventually make their presence felt. By this time, however, the damage they have wrought could already be irreversible.

What Is Mold?

Molds belong to the fungi family. They can be found in both your home and out in the natural environment. Outside, molds play a crucial role in the ecosystem by breaking down animal and plant matter.

Molds inside your home, however, are a different story. These can cause serious health problems. This is especially true for people with vulnerable conditions like asthma.

Where Do Molds Grow?

Certain areas of your home are more susceptible to mold growth than others. The following should be included on your mold watch list:

1. Bathroom

According to deepwaterco.com, molds love the bathroom because the place is always damp, and many don’t have adequate ventilation. Bathrooms practically have everything that mold spores need to grow and multiply.

2. Kitchen

Molds can attach themselves to kitchen surfaces such as countertops and sinks. Dishes that aren’t washed properly are also good breeding grounds for molds. In the refrigerator, expired food items can likewise attract mold, so regularly check your fridge for any food that should already be thrown away.

3. Ceiling

Molds can grow anywhere in your home, and the ceiling is hardly an exemption. Mold growth in the ceiling, however, can be somewhat hard to determine, although if this has an earthy odor, it’s a good sign that the fungus is present.

What to Do With Molds at Home

If you notice signs of early mold growth in your home, it’s best to contact a mold removal specialist. Other than that, you can do the following:

1. Check for Leaks

Mold growth is primarily driven by moisture. Given this, you should inspect your home for water leaks from time to time. If you find one, it is important that you have it fixed immediately. This should stop molds from growing and cut down on your water bills at the same time.

2. Reduce Home Humidity

Mold growth is also affected by excess humidity in your home. To reduce this, you can open the windows, use a dehumidifier, turn on your exhaust fans, and hang the laundry outside.

Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that your home’s humidity levels should be set between 30% and 50% but should not go over 60%.

3. Limit Condensation

When the air cools to its lowest point, it can produce moisture and promote the growth of molds. You can prevent this by reducing the number of times that condensation takes place. To do this, you can open a window whenever you cook. It will increase the rate of airflow and also create better ventilation.

4. Maintain a Dry Bathroom

Molds thrive in moist areas like the bathroom. Work on keeping this part of your home dry and clean to ensure molds don’t flourish here.

The Role of Mold Damage Repair Experts

At first, glance, removing molds from your home seems like a relatively easy job. This is not exactly correct because there’s a proper way of getting rid of these fungi. It’s best to let the professionals handle the job for the following reasons:

1. Mold Management Expertise

Mold damage experts have the knowledge and skills to determine the extent of fungi damage, the source, and the type of mold involved. For every mold type, a different approach is needed.

2. Proper Equipment

Dealing with molds requires proper handling, including using the correct tools. Mold experts have all these, along with the necessary protective gear and cleaning equipment. They will not only clean mold-infested surfaces but also remove mold spores from the air.

3. Effective Treatment

Mold remediation experts are completely trained to handle these fungi. They follow a thorough and rigorous process to ensure the problem doesn’t get out of control.

4. Prevent Future Issues

Mold cleaning experts address the root cause of the problem to protect you and your property from the harmful effects of molds. This gives you the assurance that the same problem will not happen again.

Key Takeaway

Molds are common household problems, but many are not aware that they have these fungi living inside their homes. The realization often comes only after serious damage or family members start to feel sick.

If you believe you have molds at home but are unsure, there are several places you can check. Any home area rich in moisture is a potential mold breeding ground, with the kitchen and the bathroom being prime candidates.

Contact companies that provide mold removal services if you find mold growth in these places. They are in the best position to resolve a nagging mold problem.

Additionals:

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9 Feng Shui Tips for a Calmer Kitchen

Everybody wants a little more health and prosperity in their lives. Kitchen feng shui is one of the ways to do it and it isn't as difficult as you might think. In feng shui, the kitchen symbolizes wealth and prosperity. As the place where your food is prepared, it also symbolizes nourishing and sustaining life. Try incorporating these 9 kitchen feng shui tips into your home. With good Chi energy flowing, things just might take a turn for the better. 1. Location : If your house is already built, you can't do much about the location of your kitchen. But if you're building a new home or planning to remodel, keep these location-related kitchen feng shui tips in mind. If you're remodeling in anticipation of a sale, read this blog for more ideas. The best location for the kitchen is not the same in every home. Feng shui principles consider the age of the home and the direction (on the compass) that the house is facing. 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You should even take it so far as to throw out chipped bowls or cracked dishes. Plus, make sure your knives are sharpened. Taking care of your things helps good energy flow and helps you take care of yourself. 5. Keep it Clean : Along the same vein, you should keep your kitchen clean. There are several important tasks you should do every day. Keep the counters cleared off and clean. Only store appliances you use every day on the counter. We'll talk more about this in a minute, but your stove is important in feng shui, so keep it spotless. Wash the sink often and keep the fridge clean. On occasion, you'll need to do a deep clean. Pull everything out of your cabinets and clean out the back corners. You may even want to put down new shelf liners if necessary. 6. Keep it Orderly and Organized : As you put everything back, organize it. Put similar things together. For example, put sweet spices together on one side of the cupboard and savory on the other. Adjust the shelves to make the most of your storage space. Put taller items together in a tall space and fill a short space with little items. If you don't already have them, add some space savers. Lazy susans, stacking shelves and tray racks are all helpful items. Toss out items that you don't use any more. What is the point of cluttering up your cupboards with unnecessary stuff? 7. Fill It Up with Healthy Food : Promote health and wellness by filling your kitchen with healthy food. Organic, fresh fruits and vegetables are excellent choices. Not only is the nutrition good for you, but also they bring healthy healing vibrations from the earth. This type of energy is very good for your body. 8. Add Some Life : Bring life into your kitchen by setting out something living. This helps to bring positive energy into the mix. A petite potted plant, a vase of fresh blooms, or a bowl of fruit all work nicely. 9. Use a Mirror Over the Stove : In feng shui, the stove is a very strong symbol. 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Important Things to Know Before Starting a Home Improvement Project

When planning for a renovation project in your home, you may have a lot of small things to keep track of such as time, money, cost, fixtures and other details that need attention. Due to the number of things that you need to worry about you can easily lose focus. So here are some interesting tips that you can use during your home improvement project to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Essential Factors To Consider Before Going For A Home Improvement Project There are several essential factors that you need to consider for your home improvement project are as follows:- Consider creating a long term plan: One of the most common mistakes that most homeowners make is lack of planning. Most people get too wrapped up with the idea of living in the present and have not considered planning for the future. To avoid this from happening, think about what your living conditions would be in the next five to ten years. There are things that you might not need today but will be essential in the future. If you have a party wall in your house, then renovation can be quite complicated. Before doing anything, it is best to seek advice from a professional party wall surveyor Cheshire offers regarding the next steps to take in fixing your wall. Besides, hiring an expert will also help you save money in renovation work. Work on a checklist: A checklist is essential in making sure that the renovation project goes smoothly as planned. It is vital to note everything in detail, so you will not miss out important things. Skipping steps can cost you more money and inconvenience in the future. Set a realistic timeline for the project: If you want to see amazing results after your home renovations, you need to understand that it takes more than just a day or two to fix things especially if you are thinking of having major work done on your kitchen, bathroom or bedroom. If you want to save money and do the manual labor all by yourself, then expect the project to take longer than expected. However, if you have the budget, then it is okay to hire a contractor to work on your requests promptly. Know the numbers: Home improvement projects can range from a few hundred to thousands of pounds depending on the type and amount of work that needs to be done. It is easy to make suggestions, but the real question is how much money can you afford to spend right now. If you are on a limited budget, then it is okay to start with small changes such as repainting, grouting and decluttering in the meantime. Once you have saved more than enough money, then it is time to think about bigger things. Do a background check of your contractor: Before finalizing renovation deals with a contractor make sure to do a full background check. Many homeowners have experienced dealing with horrible, unprofessional and overpriced contractors and you do not want to experience this kind of nightmare. Take time to check the business license, physical office, insurance and reputation of the contractor before closing the deal. Home renovation is not an easy thing to do, but it can be fulfilling once you start seeing the results of your project. Read Also: Basic Idea On Power Tools For Home Improvement 10 Tips To Pick The Best Table Saw For Home Improvement Projects Home Sweet Home Improvement: How To Find The Best Home Improvement Loans

Bathroom Remodeling Tips and Ideas

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Mold Growth At Home: What You Should Know And What You Can Do

What Is Mold?