3. Don’tbring mold indoors: Outdoor clothes and shoes can trap mold spores. Store them near the door so you don’t carry allergens into your living spaces. Avoid keeping firewood in a damp shed. Chances are it’ll get damp too and we know what that means.
4. Monitor your home’s humidity: Buy a hygrometer to measure your indoor humidity levels. Anything between 30% and 45% is fine. Above 50% creates a breeding ground for fungi. Central air-conditioning or using a dehumidifier regularly can help bring humidity down. Just remember to clean the filters.
5. Ventilate well to reduce mold: Use an exhaust fan in areas where there may be excess moisture. Like the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room (if you’ve got one). Open windows and close internal doors when cooking or washing to stop steam escaping to other rooms.
6. Look for leaks and fix them: Plumbing leaks can create damp areas on walls and ceilings, and places you can’t see like inside cupboards. So fix problems before molds grow. If it’s too late, strip the wallpaper and repair. Leaky roofs are prime targets for mold. And rain gutters can fill up with rotten leaves and other debris causing yet more leaks – so keep them clear. All this can help prevent mold growth.
7. Clean moldy hot spots: That means fridge, dishwasher and washing machine seals; refrigerator drip-pans; window frames; the walls behind kitchen units and cupboards; the grout between bathroom tiles. You can remove mold with soap and water, standard cleaning products or a diluted bleach solution. Make sure you open windows and doors for fresh air if you’re using bleach. And wear gloves and eye protection.
Let’s be honest, some of these tips to reduce mold are a chore and others feel like it too. But mold exposure can affect sleep, make you snore and cause day time drowsiness even if you don’t have allergies. So keeping it out of your home could have other benefits too.