One of the most overlooked ways one cares for their home in terms of hygiene is with mold and mildew. Both can be serious health hazards if left unattended. Indeed, they can compromise the structural integrity of your home. How to Prevent and Remove Mold and Mildew ? Fear not, however, for with proper techniques and a little elbow grease, you will be able to banish these pests from your home. The following guide will outline how to remove mold and mildew efficiently to keep breathing easily and enjoy a much healthier place to live.
Mold and Mildew Prevention: Understanding What They Are
First, let’s talk about mold and mildew before you go deep into mold prevention and removal. Mold is a type of fungus that grows in multicellular structures, which then appear as patches that are black, green, or other colours. Moreover, it grows on wet, mist surfaces and can cause sicknesses such as:
- Allergic reactions
- Asthma
- Respiratory problems and more
On the other hand, mildew simply refers to mold itself that usually presents in the form of a white or grey powder-like appearance on surfaces, common in areas such as bathrooms or places with much moisture.
Prevention is Way Better…
Before one confronts such health risks, it’s wiser to consider the ways how to prevent mildew. For example, the following tips go a long way in ensuring that these nasty visitors are kept as far away as possible from your residence.
Keep Humidity Levels Under Control
Molds love humidity. Keeping indoor humidity below 60% can be a masterstroke for you in controlling both uncomfortable habitats and molds. However, a compatible dehumidifier can help you the most in such scenarios.
Indeed, dehumidifiers are great for areas of the house that are most prone to dampness, such as cellars or bathrooms. Also, purchase a hygrometer, which is a device for measuring humidity. And, it will help you catch up with the part of mold prevention.
Improve Ventilation
Apart from aiding in dehumidification, consider ventilation in the picture. So, allow ventilation in your house whenever possible and such a simple step can go a long way. How can you improve ventilation in your house, by the way?
Utilize the exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom for air circulation and removal that is filled with excess mixture. If your house is not rigged with these, you might want to install them to keep the chances of mold and mildew growth away. Also, opening up your doors and windows from time to time can provide a good means of airing up your home and removing the humidity.
Catch Leaks and Fix Them ASAP
The game is to keep your home free from moisture. Leaks in pipes and roofs give mold an opening to take hold. so, always pay attention to leaks and fix them as quickly as possible. Among other mold and mildew cleaning tips and preventive measures, clear the leaves and other debris from your gutters and downspouts.Thus, water can flow freely, with no buildup that could seep into your house.
Use Mold-Resistant Products
Are you currently into building or remodelling your home? Well, this is the best time to ace up the mold prevention game because you can now consider mould-resistant materials. For example, you can keep the following things on your chart:
- Mold-resistant paint
- Mold-resistant drywall, etc.
For your information, in mold-resistant drywall, additives are used to prevent mold and mildew growth. On the other hand, mold-resistant paints contain ingredients designed to kill mold even before it has a chance to get a foothold on painted surfaces.
Keep Your Home Tidy and Dry
Keeping your residence clean and dry will eventually prevent the growth of mold and mildew. So, give extra attention to those areas under your sinks and behind your appliances. Undoubtedly, these areas are always a bit moist. In case of water or any liquid spill, make sure you clean it immediately. Furthermore, never leave wet clothes or towels lying around, as they are capable of giving you headaches from mold.
Removing Mold and Mildew
Of course, if mold and mildew have already appeared, there’s nothing to panic about. The following steps will depict exactly how to get rid of mildew and mold:
Shield Yourself
First of all, protect yourself before you actually begin to clean mold and mildew. For instance, wear gloves, a mask, and goggles to avoid inhaling mold spores or mold into the body. In areas where the impact can be more serious, it’s better to wear an N95 respiratory mask for maximum safety.
Clean Non-Porous Surfaces
Among effective mold and mildew cleaning tips, start by cleaning hard non-porous surfaces. For such surfaces, like those made of tile or composite countertop materials, simple solutions f water and detergent will be more than enough.
Then, scrub the area of your concern with a brush and afterwards, give it a thorough rinse. Also, you can try 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water for tougher cases. Just make sure you ventilate well while using bleach. And importantly, don’t mix it with ther cleaning products, especially those that have ammonia in them.
Deal with Porous Materials
Porous materials, like wood or drywall, are more sensitive to deal with for mold or mildew cleaning because the mold can sink below the surface of the material. In less critical cases of mold prevention, you might be able to scrub it off with a brush and some cleaning solution.
In most cases, however, it is advisable to replace the parts of the material that have been wholly overcome with mold, if one wants to make sure that the mold will be taken out properly. Otherwise, you must consult professionals in cases of doubt.
Eliminate Reoccurring Mold
If mold keeps coming back at you and your home, then the problem needs to be further investigated. Undoubtedly, returning mold denotes there are hidden problems in the structure, such as leaks and poor ventilation. You must cancel both problems to get rid of mold and mildew forever.
Throw Affected Things Away
Items that are heavily contaminated, such as carpets, upholstery, or insulation, should not be in your home furthermore. These items are practically impossible to clean and can continue harbouring mold spores long after leaning.
So, check for local regulations for the proper method of disposing of contaminated materials.
Aftercare and Maintenance
Even after applying mold and mildew cleaning tips, there are a couple of things you need to follow so you don’t have them for revisit:
Regular Inspection
Besides mold prevention techniques, be on the lookout around your house for any trace of moisture or mold growth. Thus, you can monitor the tiny problem and cancel it right away.
Maintain Proper Humidity
Also, continuously monitor the humidity level in your house and regulate it. Check the humidifiers and dehumidifiers from time to time if they are functioning appropriately.
Keep Up with Cleaning
Regular cleaning around your home helps you stay away from nasty mold and mildew truble. However, you can include cleaning sessions in your home maintenance plan. This will save you from bigger problems as you would easily find the affected areas.
Education is Key
Discuss mold and mildew issues with family members or housemates so they too will know how to prevent it or correct the problem in the home. The more people are aware of the problem, the better the prevention and cure will be.
Call us today for best maid services dubai
Well, mold and mildew are not things to toy with. From the above, one can learn how to maintain a healthy mold-free house just in case one does everything right. So, pay attention to the mold and mildew prevention strategies.
Keeping the humidity low, enhancing ventilation, and taking care of a leak will decrease the chances of mold growth. And, if you have already encountered these unwanted guests, knowing how to remove them will help to avoid their coming back. Roll up your sleeves and defy all thse damp spots, since you are in control. Otherwise, you can knock on maid services Dubai for a through cleaning privilege.
