Toxic Black Mold

Mold

Mold in Homes

Mold Removal

Toxic Black Mold

Mycotoxins

How To Prevent Mold Growing In Your Home

Molds reproduce by spreading microscopic spores through the air. Once mold spores land on a damp surface they can begin to grow and digest the substance they are growing on. Nearly any organic material is suitable for mold growth as long as there is oxygen present and a build up of moisture. Most molds only need the surface to be damp for 24-48 hours before they can start to grow.

The primary way to prevent mold growing in your home is to minimize moisture. Mold likes materials high in cellulose, dark and warm conditions and humidity or moisture. However, in houses there will always be organic materials such as wood or drywall for mold to grow on, there will always be mold spores in the air, there will always be dark areas where mold can grow, and in most homes there will be enough warmth for mold to grow. The one factor you can control practically is moisture and that is the key to preventing mold growth.

What causes mold to grow in my house?

Mold requires the following conditions to grow in your home:

Mold Needs Moisture

Controlling moisture in your home is the easiest way to stop mold beginning to grow. To prevent mold growth you should make sure any areas which are wet are dried up in less than 24 hours. If a suitable surface is wet for more than 24 hours then there is high risk that mold will start to grow on it. You should also make sure there are no leaks in your house.

Dry your clothes immediately after washing them. Ideally dry them outside on the clothes line. Hanging them inside on a clothes horse will not dry them as quickly and will evaporate the moisture out of the clothes and into your home, raising the humidity. So will drying them in an indoor dryer if the dryer exhausts the air and therefore moisture into the house.

Condensation in cold areas on surfaces such as metal pipes, concrete walls, water tanks and windows can also create moisture which mold can feed off. Installing insulation in these areas will help reduce condensation. Also rooms where there is often a lot of moisture should not be carpetted as wet carpet is an ideal substance for mold to grow on.

Once mold has begun to grow, removing the moisture available to it may not be enough to kill it and instead it may lay dormant until conditions are right for it to continue growing again.

Humidity & Mold

Mold can also grow if the humidity in your home is above 55%. Ventilating your house by opening windows, especially in rooms where there is steam and moisture build up such as the bathroom or laundry, will help reduce humidity. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers also effectively reduce humidity in the home as well as using exhaust fans when cooking, washing dishes, cleaning, etc.

Ensure your house gets plenty of ventilation especially on hot dry days. When it is raining however close the windows because some mold spores become airborne during rain.

Dehumidifiers can be used to bring the level of humidity of the air in the house down.

Food Sources for Mold

Mold grows and feeds on organic substances such as wood or cotton. Mold should not grow on surfaces like plastic, metal or glass unless there is a layer of grease or some other organic substance which it can feed on.

Mold can grow on:


Clean often to reduce the sources of food for mold to live on. Dust and vacuum often, ideally with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtered vacuum cleaner to remove dust and other substances that mold can grow off of.

Mold Spores

Mold spores (and mycotoxins) are everywhere in the air outside. They float through buildings all the time and there is no practical way to remove all mold spores indoors. However mold spores start to cause health issues when their concentration in the air inside greatly exceeds their concentration outside.

Mold spores enter homes through ventilation, windows, doors, air ducts, etc. They can also be transported inside attached to skin, clothing, hair, pets, etc.

Although you cannot eliminate all mold spores inside your home, minimizing the amount of spores will prevent you from suffering mold related health problems and lessen the chance of mold beginning to grow in your home.

To minimize mold spores clean and dust often. Also vacuum your home regularly, preferrably with a HEPA vacuum cleaner to remove mold spores. HEPA air filters in your home also help remove mold spores from the air.

Darkness & Mold Growth

Mold loves dark spaces indoors to grow in. Keeping areas well lit will reduce the chances of mold growing there. Open the curtains in rooms during the day to let natural light in and use nightlights to keep rooms light during the nights.

Warmth Helps Mold Grow

Mold generally does not grow in cold environments. Warm, humid conditions are ideal for mold growth. Most molds need temperature of 70 degrees fahrenheit (20 degrees celsius) or more to grow and some can even grow in colder temperatures than that. Air conditioners to regulate the temperature of your house can help prevent mold growth.