Mold Prevention Tips from the CDC

2/15/2016 (Permalink)

·         Keep humidity levels as low as you can—no higher than 50%--all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. Bear in mind that humidity levels change over the course of a day with changes in the moisture in the air and the air temperature, so you will need to check the humidity levels more than once a day.

·         Be sure your home has enough ventilation. Use exhaust fans which vent outside your home in the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure your clothes dryer vents outside your home.

·         Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow.

·         Clean up and dry out your home thoroughly and quickly (within 24–48 hours) after flooding.

·         Add mold inhibitors to paints before painting.

·         Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.

·         Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly. Consider not using carpet in rooms or areas like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.

·         To learn more about preventing mold in your home, see the Environmental Protection Agency's publication A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home at http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html.