PREVENTING BLACK MOLD
The best way to control mold growth is to control the presence of moisture in your home. Have a dehumidifier on hand for those humid summer days, and always run the ventilation fan in your bathroom when you take a shower. If you don’t have a ventilation fan, try either cracking a window or opening the door. Wipe up any spills as quickly as possible before they have time to seep into your carpet or hardwood or laminate flooring.
It’s also wise to take a look at your home’s infrastructure. Make sure your plumbing isn’t leaking anywhere and your concrete walls, windows, and metal pipes are free of condensation.
Some people like to wash their clothes and then hang them to dry in the laundry room. This may seem like an effective way to conserve energy as you avoid using a clothes dryer, when in actuality it raises the humidity in the air as water from the clothes evaporates into the air. Use an outdoor clothesline instead.
If you’re planning on building or renovating a home, you have the option of building with mold-resistant sheetrock or drywall, as well as mold-resistant interior and exterior paints. It’s also important to make sure the ground slopes away from the foundation instead of toward it, thereby preventing water from pooling and mold from growing under your home or in your basement.
As far as the air goes, a HEPA filter and central HVAC system both help stabilize temperature and humidity in your home. And, of course, it’s never a bad idea to clean and dust your home furnishings often. Preventing black mold doesn’t have to be as complicated as you might think.