Keeping a clean home is one of the most important ways to ensure that you and your family are happy and healthy.
Excess moisture in your home can cause many problems, not the least of which is mold. Mold poses a serious health risk. Symptoms associated with mold exposure include allergic reactions, asthma and other respiratory complaints.
Mold produces tiny spores to reproduce and needs very little encouragement to begin growing at an alarming rate.
Mold can be found almost anywhere. Some molds grow in the refrigerator, while others spread on wood, in the walls and throughout your living space. Mold also thrives in areas where there has been recent flooding or perpetual moisture.
And while there is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores that infest your home, there are ways to control its growth.
Here are some tips from the Consumer Federation of America to reduce mold and make your home the most hospitable place possible for your loved ones.
* Keep dampness to a minimum. Reduce indoor humidity by venting bathrooms and dryers to the outside, using air conditioners and de-humidifiers, and using exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen.
* Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces, like windows, piping, exterior walls, roofs or floors, by adding insulation. In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting.
* Fix leaks and seepage immediately. If water is entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing.
* You cannot always control your environment the way you would like to, particularly when nature has other plans. In case of a flood, be sure to clean the affected area within 24 hours to 48 hours. After this period, mold begins to spawn rapidly in stagnant water and on soaked surfaces.
* Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent and dry completely. Absorbent materials may need to be replaced to eliminate the mold.
To learn more about how to prevent mold in your home, consult the Environmental Protection Agency's Web site at www.epa.gov/mold. - NU |
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