Mold Removal and Prevention Tips and Resources

All areas of a building or home affected by mold and mildew must be cleaned and dried. Non-porous surfaces like tile can be cleaned with detergent, bleach and water. You can attempt to clean porous surfaces like carpet and textiles, but it may be wiser, not to mention healthier, to replace them. Other semi-porous surfaces like walls and wood floors may also be cleaned and dried with either detergent and water or detergent, water and a small amount of chlorine bleach.

Preventing Mold and Mildew

Reducing indoor humidity and moisture will reduce mold and mildew growth. The indoor humidity levels can easily be measured with a humidity gauge. If you do not have humidity gauge, you can get one at any hardware store or home improvement center. The ideal indoor humidity range should be no more than 55%.

Be sure that all of your vents exit to the outdoors and not into crawl spaces or attic. This would include dryer vents, bathroom fans and kitchen exhaust fans. Make sure that all stacks on your home are covered and that the seals around the stacks are good.

Air conditioners do a great job of removing humidity from the air. Attic fans also help by moving a lot of air and lowering the humidity. If you have areas of your home that are prone to being damp, do not install carpeting and keep upholstered items to a minimum. This should reduce any chance of mold or mildew from developing.

Tips for Detecting Mold and Protecting Yourself from It
Most molds live on organic surfaces or on surfaces containing organic matter.