What To Do If Your Home Is Full Of Mold

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Damp and mold are pretty common occurrences in everyday households. Mold is a type of fungus which forms in damp, warm environments such as bathrooms. It has a green-black colour, and often just looks like a buildup of dirt on the ceilings, walls or crevices of the room. Mold can be detrimental both to your home and to your physical health. Many households have small amounts of mold building up around these areas. So what causes mold to build up?

Mold Growth and Prevention

Mold occurs when it is given the perfect environment in which to grow. Mold loves moisture and dampness, and it is spread through spores, meaning it is airborne. This means that any moist or damp surface the mold spores land on can then grow and multiply into a mold cluster. Places like bathrooms and kitchens, in which a lot of steam is present on a daily basis, are ideal for mold to thrive.

In order to prevent mold from growing, you should use the following guide.

1. Ventilation

If your home is well ventilated, it is hard for mold to grow. Keeping your home well ventilated means regularly opening windows and doors to allow fresh air to pass through your home. This can not only dry up damp or moist walls and corners, which makes it harder for mold to thrive, but can also dry out any existing small patches of mold.

2. Getting Technical

If you live in a particularly humid part of the world and can’t seem to combat the moisture in your home, invest in a dehumidifier. These simple machines draw moisture out of the air, helping to prevent the buildup of moisture and therefore combating mold growth. 

3. Watch Your Laundry

If you live in a damp home, it is not a good idea to air-dry your laundry in the house. Either dry your clothes outside if the weather is fine, or invest in a tumble dryer. Your laundry, when air-dried, will release all its moisture into the air which can cause mold to grow.

Why Is Mold Bad For You?

All this information helps you prevent mold - but you might be wondering why it is so important to stop mold growing. Apart from the fact that it is unsightly, there are many reasons why mold should not be allowed to grow in your space. Here are some reasons why you should fight the mold in your home - and some solutions for doing so!

Breathing Issues

As we said before, mold spores travel on the air, meaning that if there is mold in your home, its spores are going to end up in your lungs. A small amount of mold will not be a problem for healthy adults, but mold, once it begins to grow, can spread rapidly and cause many problems. Excessive mold can cause asthma-like symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, chest pain and wheezing. If you are experiencing breathing issues due to mold colonies in your home, it is important you contact specialist mold doctors and make a plan to eradicate the mold immediately.

Skin Rashes

Mold spores can also irritate your skin to harmful levels. If your home has a mold problem, your skin can break out in rashes and/or hives, causing it to be itchy, red and painful. Similarly, your eyes can experience these symptoms too, causing your vision to be blurry as your eyes are watery and constantly itchy. As you can imagine, these are very uncomfortable symptoms which will be highly detrimental to your health.

Headaches and Tiredness

If you experience chronic fatigue or chronic headaches, these could have a number of different causes. However, mold is a high contender when it comes to causing you headaches and making you feel exhausted. These spores, when breathed in, are dangerous for your overall health.

How Can I Get Rid Of Mold?

If your home is overrun with mold, you should contact mold removal specialists who will help you scour all the mold out of your home. If you have just a little mold building up in your bathroom or kitchen, you can use neat bleach to scrub the mold from the wall. In addition, homeware stores will sell mold cleaners which will effectively get rid of the mold buildup. Always make sure you wear protective gloves and a face covering when removing mold from your home.

Conclusion

If you have a home with an out-of-control mold buildup, put your health first and get to work on removing it. Your health, home and family with thank you later!