Unfortunately, most homes contain the ideal conditions for rapid mold infestation. From unfinished basements to poorly insulated attics, it’s not uncommon for mold to grow—and spread—rather quickly when gone untreated in easy-to-miss areas. In addition to the hefty costs associated with mold removal services, toxic mold infestation can cause serious health complications to you and your family, as well.
As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Monitor these problematic areas throughout your house to protect yourself, your home, and your wallet from mold damage in the future.
Basement
With dark and damp environments and a lack of air circulation, most basements feature the ideal conditions for mold growth. The trapped moisture evaporates, leading to elevated humidity that can cause carpet mold growth in finished basements and drywall mold growth in unfinished basements. Basements are also subjected to frequent water damage from flooding—even if it’s just through tiny cracks in wall foundation or windows. Cardboard boxes in the basement are a bad idea.
Solution: Use a dehumidifier and regularly check your basement for flooding and leaks.
Bathroom
Evaporation from frequent steamy showers and hot baths cause high humidity levels in your bathroom, which can easily lead to mold growth in your bathtub, toilet, tile floors, and walls. With repeated use, these areas tend to be damp most of the time. If you aren’t properly ventilating during and after your shower or bath, mold spores will thrive. Considering bathrooms usually aren’t well-ventilated, the mold spores have a better chance of surviving when gone untreated.
Solution: Shower with the doors and windows open to decrease humidity levels. Run the bathroom fan during and after showering.
Attic
Typically, attics are poorly insulated, which—in addition to air leaks—causes rising moisture from lower levels of the house to be trapped into the confined space. In some homes, warm air from dryer vents, kitchen vents, and bathroom fans are circulated into the attic, creating the perfect environment for mold spores to thrive. Attics are one of the least used “rooms” of the house, so it’s easy for mold to go undetected for weeks, months, and even years at a time.
Solution: Make sure the attic is properly insulated, and don’t forget about routine mold checks every 1-2 weeks.
Carpet
Let’s face it—carpet spills are a part of life, but it’s extremely important to clean them immediately to prevent mold growth. The corners of carpets and rugs easily trap moisture and dust mites, which can lower the air quality in your home and increase humidity for secondary mold growth.
Solution: Keep carpets dry as much as possible, use air conditioning in high-carpet areas of your home, limit spills and pet accidents, and always clean any messes immediately.
Kitchen
The kitchen sink is a hot spot for mold. Between piled up dishes, food stuck in the garbage disposal, wet sponges in the sink, or accumulated bacteria, your sink has all the makings for mold growth. Kitchen mold also forms from leaky faucets, sinks, dishwashers, freezers, and refrigerators that collect moisture. And, unfortunately, the mold isn’t always visible.
Solution: Keep your sink clear and dry, check underneath your refrigerator and other tight spaces for leaking water, and clean your stoves and microwaves.
If you’re dealing with mold issues or a mold infestation, Mold Medics is here to help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about our six-step mold remediation process, environmentally-friendly services and fair pricing!
I think the trapped moisture evaporates, leading to elevated humidity that can cause carpet mold growth in finished basements and drywall mold growth in unfinished basements.