Mold

And What You Can Do to Avoid Them

Three ways to reduce your exposure to mold:

1. Control mold growth indoors
2. Avoid places where mold is likely to grow
3. Avoid or reduce activities that can release mold spores into the air.

Avoid such breeding grounds for molds as:

• basements breed mold
• garages breed mold
• crawl spaces breed mold
• barns breed mold
• compost heaps breed mold
• woodpiles breed mold
• fallen leaves breed mold

Ways to discourage mold growth:

• Maintaining the humidity in your house below 50%. Use air conditioners and dehumidifiers if humidity is high, particularly in basements and other damp and enclosed areas.
• Removing humidity from the bathroom and kitchen by using exhaust fans placed in the ceiling or wall and over the stove to avoid mold.
• Letting damp clothes and shoes air dry before you put them away.
• Removing laundry promptly from your washer.
• Cleaning your refrigerator and empty its water pan at frequent intervals and promptly throw out food that’s “gone bad”.
• Making a regular schedule and clean shower curtains and bathroom tiles, grouting, and fixtures with mold-unfriendly solutions.
• Buying only machine-washable bathroom floor mats and wash them frequently.
• Stretching out the shower curtain when you leave the shower.
• Considering reducing or eliminating the number of indoor plants you keep because soil encourages mold growth.
• Always use a mask when transplanting houseplants or digging in soil.
• Being aware that holiday wreaths and dried flowers may contain molds.
• Storing firewood outdoors.
• Selecting hypoallergenic pillows, mattresses, and furniture rather than those filled with foam rubber because your body’s moisture and perspiration can encourage mold to grow in foam rubber.
• Humidifiers with mold can spray mold spores into the air you breathe. Be sure to clean humidifiers regularly, according to manufacturer’s directions.
• A HEPA air filter may help to remove mold spores from the air inside your home.