5 tips for preventing mould growth

Moulds can grow pretty much anywhere inside the house. They only need sufficient water, oxygen, and the lack of sunlight. Though they may seem harmless at first, moulds can harm you and the house. For starters, mould can damage the material it grows on, so it can potentially cause structural damage to your home. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to mould spores can cause respiratory issues, sickness, and allergic reactions.

On the bright side, it’s still possible to prevent mould growth in certain parts of the house or at least slow down the growth rate. Below are five tips on how to pull this off.

1 – Repair potential sources of water leaks in your home

Water or moisture is one of the three ingredients moulds need to grow. Experts advise homeowners to keep their houses as dry as possible. Unfortunately, that can be more challenging than you may imagine. After all, water can come from anywhere.

Water leaks, flooding and condensation, are just a few examples. Though there’s not much you can do to prevent the last two as they occur, naturally, you can at least take care of leaks.

You can do this by simply looking for a repairman or professional to fix the issue. For instance, immediately look for roof repair services if a leak is coming from your roof. Other potential sources of water leaks include damaged pipes, clogged drains and high-water pressure. You should also consider booking a free mould inspection since they specialise in these tasks.

2 – Clean your house regularly

Moulds are organisms that require food. That’s why they often grow on bread but not as often on inorganic surfaces. However, their nutrition isn’t limited to human food like bread or fruits.

Mould can eat pretty much any organic matter, like leaves. For that reason, they can grow in places like the roof. Therefore, you must clean your house regularly to eliminate materials that moulds can feed on to boost their growth. These may include your hair, a pet’s fur, dead insects and other organic matter. Since moulds can start to grow within 24 to 48 hours, cleaning daily should be enough to combat the growth.

3 – Open your windows once in a while

If possible, try to open your windows now and then. Doing so will allow the air inside your house to transfer, improving air circulation. This can reduce the overall moisture built-up in your living areas. But that’s not the only reason for this particular advice.

On top of moisture and organic food, moulds also require a lack of sunlight to grow. This is because even the slightest amount of radiation from the sun can inhibit mould growth. That’s why moulds often grow in the darkest areas of the house. Therefore, opening your windows every couple of hours allows sunlight to enter your home and eliminate mould.

4 – Pay attention to clothes and carpets

Though not all clothes and carpets are made of organic materials, some are. This means they can allow mould growth under the right circumstances. For that reason, you must pay attention to your clothes and carpets. Clean your carpets regularly to remove the mould before they get out of control. In the same way, do this to carpets you periodically use to deal with spills or leaks.

As for clothes, you simply have to prevent any exposure to water while they’re in the laundry basket. And after you wash them, dry them outdoors so sunlight can inhibit mould growth.

5 – Get an air conditioner or a dehumidifier

While it’s a bit expensive, if you truly wish to prevent mould growth, you might want to consider getting a dehumidifier. If you’re not aware, a dehumidifier is a device that extracts excess water inside a room, thereby reducing overall humidity and moisture. In a way, a dehumidifier can prevent mould growth by eliminating one of its three ingredients – moisture (water). Alternatively, you can install an air conditioner since it also removes humidity and heat.

In addition to reducing moisture, a dehumidifier can also help clean up water leaks by working as a vacuum cleaner for water. But of course, it cannot eliminate all the water by itself. And lastly, these devices can improve your comfort indoors, further increasing their value.

Going forward

Keep in mind that these are primarily tips to ‘prevent’ mould growth that may occur in the future. They’re not meant to help you kill or remove existing mould. For that, you must take a different course of action, like ordering a mould removal service. It’s also important to remember that these won’t reduce the chances of mould growth to 0%. Still, you must regularly check for moulds around your house and remove them accordingly.

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