Mold has a habit of showing up and spreading fast, turning everyday spots like the corners of your bathroom, your window frames and behind furniture pieces into unhealthy-looking mold patches.
Mold thrives on warmth, moisture and limited airflow, so even clean, well-kept spaces can end up covered in mold spots. Preventing mold doesn’t always require harsh chemicals, but a few consistent habits can tackle the conditions mold needs to grow.
Spot The First Signs Of Mold Early
Look for mold dark spots on walls, ceilings and around your windows. Mold stains often start as tiny specks, but they can spread fast if you don’t treat them quickly.
Trust your nose too, as a musty and damp smell often appears before you sell the mold. The mold “smell” comes from the mold spores, and the mycotoxins released into the air.
Check the areas with moisture in your home, like under the sinks, behind appliances, in basements and around any leaky pipes. Mold growth needs water, so fix any leaks and dry wet areas within 24 to 48 hours, to prevent mold and mildew.
Look for any peeling paint, bubbling wallpaper or discolored grout, as these are signs that moisture is trapped, and mold could be growing behind surfaces.
If you spot or smell mold, you need to act quickly. Small patches of mold can be cleaned safely with detergent and water, or a diluted bleach solution, but walways wear gloves and a mask. For large or toxic-looking black mold, you’ll need a professional for proper mold removal.
Improve Airflow In The Rooms That Trap Damp
Start by opening your windows when the weather allows, as even short bursts of fresh air will cut the humidity, and stop damp from settling on walls and furniture.
Use ventilation fans in your kitchen and bathroom, and turn ghrm on during/after cooking or showering, to move moist air outside.
Dehumidifiers are helpful in rooms that stay damp. Place one where air circulates, and not tucked away in the corner, and use a unit designed for the size of your room.
Ceiling fans move air across surfaces and speed drying. Run them on a low setting to keep the air moving, all year round. They also use less energy than central heating, and reduce the reliance on heaters which can raise condensation levels.
Clear away any clutter that blocks airflow and leave spaced between furniture and walls, so air flows freely, and prevents hidden damp spots.
Reduce Condensation On Windows And Walls
Condensation gives mold the moisture it needs to grow, and to stop that happening, you need to lower the indoor humidity, and improve airflow.
Open your windows for a few minutes, every day, when you can, and use any extractor fans when you cook, shower or run the dryer. This will move the moist air outside, before it can settle on glass or cold walls.
Try and keep your room humidity below 50%, by using a dehumidifier or running your heating at a low and steady level will help in the damper months.
Try and improve insulation on cold walls around your windows to reduce the surface chill. Add thermal curtains, foam sealant or storm windows to reduce cold spots where water forms. Better insulation will also lower energy cots, and slow mold growth on surfaces.
Wipe visible droplets and dry wet surfaces quickly, to remove water that feeds mold spores.
Use Extractor Fans Properly And For Long Enough
Extractor fans are good at pulling moist air out of bathroom, kitches and laundry rooms, giving mold less chance to grow.
Keep your extractor fans running effectively, but having them regularly serviced and maintaned, so they pull any excess moisture from the air, so it doesn’t settle on the walls or your soft furnishings.
Leave the fans running for at least 15 to 30 minutes after use to clear any lingering humdity. If your space steams up a lot, run it longer, or use a timer switch so you don’t forget to run it.