As a homeowner you will want to do everything you will work at preventing mould in the home. It can become a big problem without you realising it. The visible mould you see is only a small part of the problem so if you neglect to clean or ventilate your home it can become a big problem very quickly.

Preventing mould in the Home – Top Tips

Mould sends tiny spores into the air that you can’t even see that are spreading throughout your home and causing health problems and looking for new places to grow. Mould can damage your home and your health. In this article we have put together some tips to help you keep mould out.

Clean up liquid spills quickly 

When water spills in the home, you are at risk of growing mould after only a couple days. Clean up the liquid spills as soon as they happen. That way you will avoid creating an environment where mould likes to grow. Make sure you have cleaning tools on hand, like mops and towels. That way you can tidy up any spills quickly and completely. You may also want to set up a fan or other ventilation system on the wet area to dry it up completely. The sooner you clean up any spills in your home, the more effective your mould prevention will be. 

This is especially true when water or some other liquid spills onto fabric. Liquid can be absorbed into the fabric very quickly and create a great environment for mould to grow. To get water out of fabric, it’s best to dry up the affected area as much as possible with an absorbent towel and then set up a fan or blow heater to dry out the fabric afterwards. You can even use a handheld hair dryer to work at the soaked fabric and dry it out quickly.

Ensure proper ventilation

Mould doesn’t like fresh air. So if you keep fresh air circulating throughout your home, you’re less likely to have mould growing on the surfaces. Fresh air also helps to dry up liquid and keep mould from taking root and spreading anywhere. When you can, open windows and doors and ensure proper airflow throughout the house. If you have rooms in your home that are closed off, you may notice a musty smell there after a while. That could be caused by mould, spurred on by poor ventilation.

Clean your home frequently and thoroughly

Mould struggles to grow in clean homes, particularly homes that are routinely cleaned and tidied regularly. Edward from a top maid service says,

“If you clean those problem areas of the home, where water tends to accumulate, mould will have a difficult time growing. I’m talking especially about rooms like the laundry room, bathroom, kitchen, and basement. These are where you’re most likely to see mould growing because of the high risk of spills and pooling liquid.”

If you’re not able to keep up with the cleaning yourself, you may want to hire professional cleaners. This can be very helpful for ensuring a thorough clean and for keeping mould out of your home.

Top tips for preventing mould in the home

As you clean, make sure you look for mould. You’ll recognise it from the white, black, or green growth. Look for any spills that need to be cleaned up as well as leaks in your plumbing or appliances. This is important because they may lead to mould growth in the future.

When cleaning mould, you may be able to just wipe it away so it can no longer be seen. However, if it is established it may take specialized cleaning chemicals to really destroy the mould and keep it from coming back. In some cases, you may even need to hire a special mould remediator to get rid of it.

As you clean in your home, make sure you clean periodically under furniture and behind appliances. This will help you find any hidden sources of mould. And it will help you to eliminate them before they can get worse. If you’re not doing a thorough cleaning, you may miss mould or any pooling water, and that can cause a bigger problem in the future. It’s best to clean frequently so that you catch problems early on, before they get out of hand.

Handle leaks quickly and clean up

If water is leaking in your home somewhere, the water can spread to places that can be hard to see or reach. Mould can start growing under appliances and furniture and out of the way where you might not notice it. You’ll want to deal with any leaks you know of as soon as possible. The longer they’re allowed to continue leaking water out into your home, the more likely you are to have a mould problem develop.

If you’re not sure where water is leaking from but you suspect that you do have a leak, you may need to hire a plumber to inspect your pipes, faucets, and fixtures.

If you’re not able to fix a leak right away or you can’t find the source, you can at least stop the water from spreading through your home and creating mould by shutting off the water. In many homes, you can shut off the water to particular rooms or parts of the house. This can help to reduce the problem while you’re trying to figure out how to correct it. There should also be a mains shutoff valve for the entire property situated somewhere outside your house and close to the road. Look for it by your water meter.

Reduce humidity levels

Mould grows best in humid environments. So preventing mould in the home means that it is essential to manage the degree of humidity in your home at all times. Try to keep it below 50% every day. The lower humidity levels are, the easier it would be to manage.

If you use a humidifier, clean it out out regularly to prevent mould from growing within its structure. If you use an electric kettle or coffee maker, dry these items out frequently to keep mould from growing in there as well. Any place in your home that condensation can collect, like windows, showers, and in drains, can become a place where mould can also grow. Check these areas frequently for signs of mould and deal with it quickly.

FURTHER READING ON HOMEMAINTENANCE FOR HOME & PETOWNERS

At Housesitmatch.com we like to offer useful and practical articles on topics for our readers. In this selection we offer some references from our own blog on renovating and maintaining a home.

Removing pink mould from the home

How to get rid of black mould

Renovating a home for the first time – What to remember

Ideas to help you establish a new home quickly

Housesitters keep pets safe at home and save money