It may be true that mold is natural and found just about everywhere, but it isn’t necessarily a good thing. Yes, you can see mold buildup and growth both indoors and outdoors, but it is something you never would want to be around your property. For the most part, it is not really a problem when it is outdoors. But if it finds a way to grow indoors, that is when you need to address it. According to the EPA, the most effective way of dealing with mold is controlling moisture at home. It feeds on moisture, which means that if there is high moisture content inside your living space, mold growth is likely to take place.

Here are some more facts about mold as discussed by the EPA:

Potential Health Effects

When a person is exposed to mold, there are a handful of possible effects, mostly associated with respiratory issues. This includes asthma, allergies, and more. But because mold spores are so tiny, there really is no effective way of eliminating them from the indoor space. The only practical means of controlling the growth is by controlling moisture.

Ways You Can Prevent Mold Growth

As earlier said, there is no effective way of getting rid of mold spores once they are inside your indoor space. The least you could do is preventing them from multiplying and growing in many parts of the house that are mostly difficult to reach. Here are the simple things you can do without spending a dime:

• If there is a leak or water problem at home, fix it right away since leaking water leads to increased moisture, which in turn promotes mold growth.
• Reducing indoor humidity also reduces the chances of mold growth. The easiest way of doing this is by venting those areas that generate moisture the most, such as bathrooms and dryers.
• If you do not have air conditioning at home, consider installing one. And once you do, don’t forget to use dehumidifiers, too.
• Make some significant improvements on ventilation.
• If you do the cooking indoors, as well as other stuff like cleaning and dishwashing, see to it that you have exhaust fans installed.
• It is recommended that you clean and dry any wet building components and furnishings in your home within 48 hours so that mold spores won’t find them.
• If you see mold growth in hard surfaces, you can easily get rid of it using detergent and water, but make sure the surface is completely dry right after cleaning. Some absorbent materials like ceiling tiles must be replaced if you see that there already is considerable mold growth.

By adding insulation to your home, you are effectively preventing condensation, especially in cold surfaces. If you do not know it yet, the windows, piping, roof, flooring, even the exterior walls have the potential for condensation, thereby giving mold the ideal situation to grow. You can prevent this from happening through improved insulation.

Furthermore, figure out the areas at home that are likely candidates for a moisture problem to take place. Once you know what these areas are, be reminded that you cannot install carpeting in them. Examples are concrete floors with leaks, drinking fountains, and others. Know that mold is found anywhere, and they are quite persistent. They even can grow in any surface or substance, so long as there is moisture. The likes of carpet, food, wood, and even paper are not immune to mold growth.

Finally, if you already have a significant mold growth problem at home, it is best that you seek the help of a professional to solve the problem. The average homeowner might find it overwhelming to clean it themselves.