How Can I Prevent Mold From Coming Back If Treated?

Anyone who has had a previous mold problem knows that mold is very likely to regrow in the same room. Perhaps maybe even in the same spot. This can happen over and over again, leaving you to fumble in a cat and mouse game of killing each resurrected mold growth in an annoying cycle. This cycle is very likely if you’ve had recent water damage in your home. It would begin to seem like no matter what you do, the mold keeps coming back. This is not an unusual occurrence, but it is still a problem.

Why Mold Tends To Reoccur

There are two major reasons why mold could reoccur in the same room or the same spot.

1. Improper removal: Mold is more than just an annoyance in your home, it is a living organism. It can take root like a plant. Just as you could cut the branches of a tree but since the root is unharmed, it will grow back, that is how it is for the mold. If you clean mold off a porous surface with something that is not strong enough to kill it down to the roots, then you will certainly have a mold problem again when it regrows.
2. The presence of further water damage and mold spores in the air: Mold spores are everywhere in the air. Tiny microscopic seeds of mold, ready to sow themselves anywhere that is conducive for growth. This means that even the slightest of water spillage or wetness will trigger the mold growth as the spores will land on those wet spots and regrow. So if you remove mold from a spot and have that spot wet again, you will definitely find more mold there the next time you look.

Methods of Prevention

While mold is a very persistent fungus, it is not unbeatable. With the right method, you can very well defeat mold in your household, permanently.

These are a few ways to discourage mold growth:

1. Fix all leaks: It has been established that leaks and water spillage or wetness are often the major reason for mold regrowth, so to avoid said regrowth, fix leaks. Fix all the leaky pipes and faucets that you are able to, and call in a professional for the ones that you can’t. The absence of water will reduce the chance of the mold growing anywhere again.
2. Ensure that your clothes dry properly: Wet fabric greatly attracts mold, so it is important to make sure all wet clothes are properly dried, whether they are good clothes, or old clothes that no one would wear again, or even fabric that can’t be worn like curtains for example. Make use of a drier, or you could go old school and hang them up in an airy place until they dry.
3. Start using a dehumidifier: A dehumidifier is a device that pulls out all the moisture in the air. You can use it in the rooms where you know there are high levels of humidity, like your kitchen, and your bathroom. It would suck up all the moisture, leaving clean, dry air, and leaving the mold with no way to grow.
4. Ventilate your bathrooms and kitchens: If you cannot use a dehumidifier, then it is alright to simply ventilate your humid rooms. When moisture has an escape route, it won’t stick around and encourage mold growth, so open up windows and doors leading outside so air can flow in and out in your bathrooms and kitchens.
5. Choose a good cleaner: Unfortunately, most household cleaners aren’t equipped to fight things like mold. Bleach is usually last resort for all cleaning in the home, and it can even deal with some cases of mold on non-porous material, however, bleach is not the best, it is not only dangerous to inhale, but it is also not effective on porous material with mold. There are natural cleaners that are very potent and work without harming you and your family. Spraying a solution on affected areas and in the air to kill spores, will also deal with any future chances of mold development.
6. Know when to throw items out: It is not unusual for us to have issues letting go of old, worn out things, even if they aren’t being used. Or being too lazy or busy to take out the time to actually make changes. However it is necessary to know when to throw out moldy items. Some items are not salvageable and you will be forced to do away with them.

 

The Takeaway

Mold is a problem that tends to repeat itself, but with the proper steps, you can do away with it for good. If you have a mold problem that you don’t know how to handle or that you feel is out of your hands, don’t hesitate to call Dry Effect and let the professionals handle it for you.