Mold and A Few Prevention Steps

Unfortunately for us, mold and its spores happen to be just about everywhere we are and there is not much that we can do to escape it, short of living in an environment where the air supply is strictly controlled. Not many people want to live out the rest of their lives in a laboratory or the most clean areas of a hospital.

Most people are aware of mold’s existence, but not many people know exactly what it is. Some people do not even realize that mold is a fungus just like mushrooms are, only that it can do us harm if left growing unchecked in large amounts. These fungi grow in almost any color that you can think of and even though some of them are fairly toxic and can cause you significant harm, most of them are harmless. Not only can they cause significant health problems, but they are also fairly unpleasant to look at and this is generally an important factor when you are selling a home that is contaminated with it.

Some molds are allergenic and they can cause not only aggravation of existing allergies or respiratory conditions, but they can also cause the onset of completely new allergies that did not exist prior to exposure.

Mold typically grows in homes that have moisture problems. This not only includes water seeping into the house at some point, but also having a high amount of humidity indoors. This can be controlled somewhat by putting the temperature in your home at about 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can help with the humidity in certain rooms of your home that are exposed to moisture every day such as the bathroom, laundry room, basement, and kitchen by installing exhaust fans in their ceilings. This will help remove the excess moisture and warm air from the room.

Another way to prevent mold is to clean up any water spills as soon as possible. Water damaged surfaces are common to have mold growing on them, since when something organic stays wet or in a humid environment for more than 48 hours, mold will start to grow on it. Try to keep water spills cleaned up and dry them as quickly as you can.

Mold also grows on wet items in the laundry room or the bathroom that have been forgotten about. Unfortunately, most people add to the problem simply by throwing dry clothing on top of them before they become moldy and making the problem worse.

Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Los Angeles water damage and restoration services and Denver water damage restoration companies.