Mold growth is a common issue that is difficult to avoid especially when you live in a humid area. It not only ruins your property but also causes many health issues. So, it is important to take rapid measures to prevent it from increasing. This article will discuss the indication of the presence of mold, and tips to avoid it. Read on!
Flood Problem
Flood is one of the most common reasons for mold on your property. If you have a flood problem, there are chances that you also have mold issues that have not appeared on the surface yet. Mold tends to appear in deep moist places, make spores and spread through the air to make colonies. If you do not take action right away, it might grow more and more. To clean the mold, you must consult a professional cleaner to eradicate it completely. To avoid mold growth, you must follow the instruction given below:
Dry Everything up
Dry up the walls and other exposed surfaces as soon as the moisture appears on them with the help of a dehumidifier. This way, you can prevent mold from appearing.
Use Non-phosphate detergents
Non-phosphate detergents are the best material to prevent the growth of molds. Do not use materials such as ammonia, acids or bleach because they cannot treat the molds permanently.
Ventilate the Property
Ventilation helps a lot in saving your property from mold. You should keep the doors and windows to allow the air to pass from the property. Before doing this, make sure that the humidity level should be less than 60%.
A musty odor in the House
If you feel a musty odor in the house, there are chances that mold has perched within the walls of your property. The reason for this stale odor is the production of the hodgepodge of mVOCs by mold. This odor increase and become more unpleasant with the growth of mold. It is better to take action when you feel it the first time.
Before taking any action against old based on stale, it is important to confirm the source of the smell. Other things that might give out a stale odor include:
- Pet odor
- Gas leak
- Pest issues
Unexpected Allergy Response
Sudden allergy responses can also be a sign of mold growth. According to the Institute of medicine, mold can cause upper respiratory tract symptoms even in healthy people. People with asthma problems are more prone to be affected by it. You might face the following symptoms:
- Regular Sneezing
- Unexpected influenza
- Skin rash
- Asthma
- Constant Fatigue
- Malaise
- Wheezing
- Itchy eye or skin
Spots on the Walls
Molds can appear in several colors, including green, white, black, orange, or brown. So, if you see even small spots or specks in the corners of your house, there are high chances that mold is present in the depths of your walls. So, it is better to take action when you see such spots appearing; otherwise, you might have to make a lot of effort to get rid of it.
Distorting Floors and Discoloration of Walls
Floors warping is generally because of dampness in the house which eventually causes mold. So if you see that your floors are warping and the wall colour is fading, you must take it as an indicator of mold’s presence.
How to prevent mold
- Keep track of humidity levels. It must not be more than 50%.
- Take care of plumbing issues
- Deep clean the house with mold-killing materials.
- Try to keep the areas like kitchen, bathrooms and laundry fully dry.
Things a Renter Should Do to Remove Mold
Following are some of the steps a tenant needs to follow if mold starts appearing on the walls or any other part of the house:
Report the Issue
If you see the mold in any corner of the house or feel any indication, i.e. stale smell or warping wall paint or floor, the first best thing to do is to take pictures of the mold for proof and send the complaint to the landlord. The smart thing to do is to send complaints in written form via regular mail instead of writing an email.
One thing to remember is that the landlord is responsible for the mold issues if it is present on the interior walls because of any leakage. However, if it appears on the exterior walls because of the process of condensation, he is not responsible for that. In such a case tenant will have to take some action himself.
Clean the Mold
It is important to clean the mold as soon as possible. Before cleaning, you must wear gloves on your hands and a mask on your face to avoid direct contact with it. If you have issues related to your respiratory tract, including asthma, or other allergies, try to hire a professional or ask for help from a friend.
Hot water and other commercial products available in the markets will help on hard surfaces such as bricked walls.
If the mold has taken over the soft surfaces such as upholstery, then wiping will also help if the mold has not gone deep into the surface.
Precautionary Measures
Here are following some of the tips that you can use to prevent the mold from appearing on the walls:
- Keep your exhaust fans on
- Keep the house heated
- Keep the furniture at a distance from the walls
- Dry the window panes to remove condensation
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