Who wants to live with damp and mold? Damp often causes mould on the walls of your house, furniture, and windows causing rot. When mould is present in your home it can also be extremely harmful to your health and well-being.
Condensation or moisture present in your home also causes dampness. After some time, this forms into mould – a black mold, and you will see it in the form of little black dots on your walls.
Condensation or dampness arises when saturated air from outside bumps into a colder surface such as walls, windows, mirrors, etc. Then the air is unable to absorb the moisture, and you see the tiny drops of water on your walls. Similarly, both these can arise in the places where airflow is less, and air remains still. These places include corners of your home/rooms, behind furniture, or in the cabinets.
Top 10 Tips To Prevent Damp And Mold In Your Home
If you are thinking how to stop it, below are some top tips to stop mould and damp in your home.
Tips to stop damp and mould
Identify affected areas in your property.
The first step is to identify the affected areas of mould around your property. Did you check the basement? Do you have damp on any windows? Or are there any water stains on the ceiling due to leakage? Preventing damp and mould from spreading in your home looks simple, but in some cases, it can be a lengthy process and requires much of your efforts. Whatsoever, address this mold and the damp problem now. Dealing with it timely might cost some money in the start, but it will be a wise investment in the long run.
Dry damp/wet areas
Remember that moisture is a fuel of mould, in simple words. It will never grow without moisture, so treat the wet spots immediately. If you have a leakage in your basement after a rainfall, or there is a leaky pipe or a spill on the carpet, you can dry them within 24 to 48 hours.
In some severe cases like a flood, you cannot dry some items, and you will have to remove them. But common incidents need your immediate attention, and never leave damp items untreated around your property. Besides, try to dry your bathroom’s floor and walls after a bath. Similarly, don’t leave your wet clothes in the washing machine for too long as it can spread mold quickly, and always hang them to dry outside your home.
Proper Ventilation is the key.
In some cases, it is seen that routine activities in our home are arising the damp and mold issues in your home. Some simple activities like cooking, bathing, washing your clothes don’t attract mould by improving and maintaining consistent ventilation in your bathroom, laundry rooms, kitchen, and other high-moisture places. Similarly, limit the use of appliances that generate moisture like dryers, stoves, or use these appliances outside. Use AC and whole home dehumidifier system (especially in humid environments), but ensure that these do not generate condensation by themselves. Besides, ensure the proper maintenance and cleaning, as stated by the makers. Your energy-efficient appliances can be causing moisture or dampness in your home, so when using these appliances, open windows when performing these routine tasks or use an exhaust fan.
Try to use Mold-Resistant Products.
Whether you are building a new house or repairing an old one, try to use mould-resistant products, mould-resistant drywall or sheetrock, and mold inhibitors for paints. Standard drywall includes a gypsum plaster between layers of paper. However, mould-resistant drywall is entirely paperless and makes the surface waterproof. If you already have this damp and mould issue in your home, moisture-resistant drywall is beneficial to use in the affected areas or areas prone to moisture like the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry rooms. Another vital thing you should know is that standard drywall is more prone to mold compared to paperless and removing mould from them is also very difficult.
Check Humidity Levels Indoors
The ideal humidity level as per EPA is between 30 and 60 percent. You can use a moisture meter to measure humidity. And by using the moisture meter, you can quickly detect the exact moisture level in your home, especially in the affected areas. If you see condensation or moisture on your walls, windows, and pipes, these are significant indications and will lead to damp and mold issues later on. If you have these signs, dry the areas immediately and treat the main source of the problem.
Keep water away from your property.
If the surface around your property is not sloppy enough, water may accumulate on that spot and seep into your property or home.
Keep an eye on your roof gutters.
A mold or damp issue can also occur due to a leaking roof or damaged gutters. So, check them frequently for damages. Repair them properly and timely, similarly check for the water stains after rain.
Improve Air Flow
As the temperatures will drop, the air will absorb less moisture, but if you have proper airflow in your home, you will not see the excess moisture on your walls, windows, or floors. To improve the air circulation, open doors between rooms, don’t keep furniture and fixtures closed to walls, and open the doors of closets placed in the colder rooms. Fresh air will decrease the moisture level in your home and keep mold and dampness at bay.
Maintain Household Plants
Household plants are beautiful and enhance your home’s looks and appearance, but do you know that mold also loves household plants? This is because the damp soil in plants is ideal for mold breeding, and it may spread all over your house. A quick and effective hack to deal with this problem is adding Taheebo tea into the water you give to your plants. This mixture will prevent dampness and mold growth in the soil. You can easily buy this Taheebo tea from local stores.
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