Although mould has its benefits of being essential in creating brie and penicillin and is crucial for the decomposition of matter, mould can be very bad when it grows undetected in your home. As mould spores are always present in air, mould can never be completely eradicated. Mould happily grows anywhere where there is moisture; right from carpet, drywall to even places you cannot see, like the backside of the drywall or a cupboard. Apart from being a costly fix, mould can also give rise to some serious health issues. Health issues caused by mould range from respiratory problems, sinus congestion, severe headaches to nose, eye, and throat infection. Not everyone reacts the same way to mould. Children, elderly people & pregnant women are at a higher risk of facing these problems while residing in a house with mould.
Well, as they say, prevention is better than cure. So here are some of the ways that you can prevent mould in your home. And in order to do this, you need to control the root cause, moisture. Outlined below are a few tips to restrain moisture indoors and subsequently prevent mould in your home.
- Identify where the problem can arise & deal with it beforehand.
It’s not possible to make your home mould proof but you can definitely control the mould growth. Look for signs that could potentially lead to mould growth like; does your basement get flooded? Did you observe repeated vapours on your upstairs window? Are there any marks on the ceiling due to persistent leaks? To prevent mould in your home, you can start with something as small as replacing the damp carpet in the basement with a mould proof product which does not get affected by water or moisture, in case the basement floods. In some cases, you may even have to do a major excavation & do a complete waterproofing. Although this may seem like a costly option, it definitely goes a long way to help you prevent mould at home.
- Get rid of water immediately.
Mould thrives on moist areas, which means, getting rid of water as soon as possible solves more than half the problem. Tackle water problems like water damaged basements, accumulation of water from a broken or a leaky pipe, rainwater accumulation within 24 to 48 hours. This prevents mould from actually settling down and growing in your home. Even everyday occurrences like leaving wet clothes on the floor, or leaving clothes in the washing machine can give rise to mould very quickly.
- Ensure proper ventilation in moist areas.
Make sure that areas that see a lot of water usage like bathrooms and kitchens are properly ventilated for all the moisture & water vapour to escape completely. Having an exhaust fan in the bathroom can help in completely airing out the bathroom preventing mould growth in the bathroom.
- Use mould-resistant products for your home.
Again, prevention is better than cure. If you’re building a new house or remodelling the old one, its best to use mould-resistant products. Moisture resistant dry walls can greatly help in reducing mould in areas which experience a lot of moisture and could eventually help prevent mould in your home.
- Make water flow away from your home.
Adjust the ground level in such a way that in case of rain or a storm, the water is always directed away from your home and towards the drainage. This will reduce the water damage to your home to a great extent.
- Don’t hesitate to toss.
If mould has gotten the most of your carpet, fabric, upholstery that it has gone beyond cleaning by yourself, then don’t be afraid to toss it. If you wish to recover these items, then it’s best to hire professional carpet cleaners to do the job for you.
Follow these tips that will help you prevent mould in your home. And if you ever face a mould problem, One Prime Remedial Solutions is always at your service. Call us at 1300 774 631 for mould removal services.