Does Cleaning Stop Mold Growth?

It is important to stop mold from growing because a myriad of health problems can result when you breathe in the spores from a mold infestation. These health problems can range from mild to severe. Mild health problems are sneezing, itchy watery eyes, and headaches. Severe health problems can be asthma or severe breathing problems, fatigue, learning disabilities, bloody nose, spots on your lungs, and pulmonary hemorrhage in infants.

Keeping your home free from mold growth can be done by cleaning the area that is prone to mold. According to Bristol, "You should do what we call a deep cleaning once a month. If you have kids, it should be more, maybe twice a month." Wiping the mold away with a, "biocide, or ammonium chloride" according to Bristol is most effective. According to Consumer Reports Magazine wear rubber gloves and a face mask when you clean up mold. Work in a well ventilated area. Bleach and water mixed together works to clean up mold, but do not mix ammonia and bleach as it can create a poisonous gas which will make you sick. A strong household detergent works to clean mold, as well as ready made mold and mildew sprays that you can purchase in the grocery store. Once you have cleaned the mold from an area allow it to dry thoroughly, even if you need to use a fan or blow dryer to do so. If the area in your home that has the mold infestation is larger than 12 feet you might want to consult a mold remediation specialist.

Preventing the growth of mold is probably the most important thing you can do. Keeping the humidity level in your home to below 50% is the first step. If you live in a humid climate you will want to avoid the use of a swamp cooler. Bristol advices, this quick tip, "when people go away for vacation and cut off their AC unit, that's the perfect environment for mold to grow. Anything above 55% humidity, mold will start growing. So in order to keep it below that, you need to make sure that the AC unit is running and kept between 74 degrees and 75 degrees." You can also keep the humidity low and the air flow moving if you have a well ventilated home. You should have a ventilation fan in all of your bathrooms. Install a de-humidifier or air conditioner in your basement. If your home has a leaky pipe or water seepage, fix the problem. If your basement has a mold problem check to see if the water is seeping in through the walls or the foundation and have it repaired. Do not put wall paper or carpet in bathrooms or basements where mold is most common.