Living in Utah, you may think we don’t have much to worry about when it comes to mold. But despite our very dry climate, mold is still a common problem. As long as moisture is present, there is a risk for mold. Although many molds aren’t toxic, those that are can be very hazardous to your health, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Here’s some advice for preventing growth of mold in your home, or how to deal with it if you already have it.
First, it’s important to know what you’re searching for. Mold can be hard to identify because it comes in various forms and colors. Another tricky thing to keep in mind is that often times mold grows where you can’t see it or wouldn’t think to look. For example, we found mold in our basement because some liquid had leaked from a can of food onto the cardboard box it was in and sat there for a long time. So moisture provided just the right environment for mold to grow on that box.
Make sure your home has ventilation. That means it should have some air flow through the whole house–especially in areas like the bathroom (use the ventilation fan during and after a shower) or basement where it’s common for moisture to cause mold growth. Make sure to use cleaners that will destroy or prevent mold growth in bathrooms and other areas of the home.
The Environmental Protection Agency has published a document called “A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and your Home,” which gives practical tips about how to identify and clean up mold if you find it in your home. If you choose to clean it up yourself then make sure to take precautionary steps to keep yourself from inhaling or touching it. Or hire a professional to take care of it for you.
