Healthy Homes: Mold and Moisture

This is the second post in our series on Healthy Homes.

At some point, you have probably seen mold or moisture somewhere around your home. But did you know that it is alive?! It grows on wet or damp surfaces, so if you live in a damp climate you probably have to work even harder to prevent mold from growing in your home. It’s important to fix moisture problems to prevent mold from growing because mold can cause health problems, such as watery eyes, sneezing, trouble breathing, and headaches.

Some common areas that have mold are bathrooms, wet or damp basements, leaky sinks, on wet clothes that are not dried quickly, and in your air conditioner.

Here are some steps you can take to prevent mold from growing in your home:

• Use downspouts to direct rainwater away from your house.
• Repair leaking roofs, walls, doors, or windows.
• Store clothes and towels clean and dry.
• Run a fan while bathing or showering.
• Run a fan vent to the outside when cooking.
• Use a dehumidifier to dry out damp areas.
• Throw away wet carpeting, insulating, and other things that are very wet for more than two days.

If you already have mold in your home, here are some steps you can take to clean up the mold.

• Scrub hard surfaces with a mix of laundry detergent or dish soap and water.
• Rinse the area with clean water and dry quickly.

You may be wondering what mold looks like. Here is an example of mold growing on  bathroom ceiling.

If you have more than 15 square feet of mold, it’s best to hire a professional to remove it. If you have further questions about mold, you can contact the Cooperative Extension Service or your local health department. The Forsyth County Department of Public Health can be reached at 703-3100.

Thanks to the United States Department of Agriculture and the Healthy Homes Initiative for providing these tips. Check back tomorrow for more tips on healthy homes!