Be bold in your fight against mold!
Mold is a living organism that grows and spreads through spores. You can think of them as microscopic seeds, and they are always wafting through the air. For people who are sensitive to it, mold can cause health problems, including allergic reactions, asthma and other respiratory problems.
One way to help fight mold is to eliminate what it needs to survive: excess moisture.
In the winter, when your house is closed up, it tends to hold in moisture. Humidity builds up. And so does mold. Try to keep your indoor humidity level below 60% to fight mold. (Ideally between 30% and 50%.) And look for signs of excess indoor moisture: Beads of water inside your house, especially on windowpanes. If you do spot mold in your home, clean it as quickly as you can.
Mold can grow on nearly any surface. It only needs moisture and a tiny amount of nutrients – and there are molds that consider carpet, wood, paint and even ceiling tiles to be “food”! If you have mold that covers a large area (greater than 10” x 10”), you should call a professional to have it removed.
If you’re doing the job yourself, use detergent and water to wash mold off of hard surfaces, and be sure to dry the area thoroughly. Porous surfaces such as carpet or cloth may need to be replaced.
Dry these areas completely, and reduce humidity immediately. Because taking water out of the air is the best way to break the mold!
You can find more, helpful information on preventing and addressing mold issues in the Filtrete Air Care Journal, “For the Air You Breathe: A Journal for Improving Indoor Air Quality.” Receive a copy when you join the Clean Air Club at Filtrete.com. You can also gain information at The American Lung Association®: www.lungUSA.org, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Air Quality Information: www.epa.gov/iaq.
