New Year’s resolutions are all about starting fresh. We each make our own personal resolutions to reach our goals. However, we overlook the place that nurtures us, fills us with values, and makes us feel comfortable – our “home.”
You may be spending a lot of time battling mold growth in your Dallas-Fort Worth home, so consider incorporating some of these mold-free home resolutions into your list.
We have curated a checklist of 5 effective ways on how to welcome the New year with a mold-free home.
5 Mold-Free New Year’s Resolutions
1. Don’t let water accumulate in your home.
Getting rid of moisture from your home is essential to preventing mold growth since it can easily enter your home. Take a look at areas where moisture collects frequently.
All of these places are common spots for water to accumulate and mold to grow, including refrigerators, water tanks, windows, crawl spaces, and even household plants. If you find moisture in these areas, you need to dry it as quickly as possible and conduct proper maintenance to avoid more moisture settling in the area.
2. Monitor the humidity level in your home.
Mold growth can increase in your indoor air if you’re subjected to wet and humid weather, especially with the use of HVAC systems. Condensation and puddles formed in your home are common signs of humid air settling in. Look for them in places like windows, walls, and doors.
A humid environment is conducive to mold growth. Due to humidity often causing condensation, moisture can accumulate in your home, and it will take much longer for the dampness to dry.
An inexpensive and simple way to determine the humidity of your home is by installing a humidity meter. The humidity level should always stay below 50 percent. To learn whether you need to take additional measures to keep humidity down, you can keep them in problem areas, such as bathrooms or kitchens.
3. Purchase a dehumidifier
A dehumidifier is an excellent investment for a home, particularly if it has a high humidity level. The optimal level of humidity is about 40-50%. The best humidity level for the growth of black mold in the home is around 80%; however, some mold can begin growing above the level of 55%.
Several companies offer commercial-grade dehumidifiers that feature aggressive air filtration that removes 98% of dust, pollen, mold spores, and bacteria.
Keeping the air circulating also requires the use of ceiling fans, bathroom fans, attic fans, and kitchen fans.
4. A proper ventilation system
You may be encouraging mold growth in your home through routine household activities. By providing proper ventilation in your bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, and any other high-moisture area, you can prevent mold from growing even if you are simply cooking dinner, taking a shower, or doing laundry.
Make sure combustible appliances (clothes dryers, stoves) are vented outside (not in the attic). If living in a humid climate, use air conditioners and dehumidifiers, but make sure they don’t make moisture themselves by checking them occasionally and cleaning them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
You may encounter moisture inside your energy-efficient home during cooking, washing dishes, or showering. If this is the case, open a window or run an exhaust fan.
5. Invest in mold-resistant products
Are you aware that there are products on the market that help prevent mold from growing in your home? This can be achieved by making everything from carpets and caulking mold-resistant.
You should consider mold-resistant wood, paint, insulation, drywall, and other important building materials if you’re building a new home or renovating. The mold-resistant materials listed here can be used as preventative measures to deter mold cleanup.
Final Thoughts
You can easily prevent mold from growing in your home by following these tips. Some are simple things that can easily be done every day or every week. There are others that will take more time but will be worth your while in the long run since they will reduce your stress and time. This is when you need professional assistance.
Every year, homeowners ensure that they take on at least one mold-prevention project by hiring a mold remediation company like Kings Restoration yearly to spread out the work and continually reduce their mold growth risk.
