Creating a healthy, positive, and harmonious home environment requires attention-to-detail cleaning. Banishing common household enemies such as dust bunnies, pollen, and other allergens can make a huge difference, providing a safe and welcoming ambience to your family. However, the most challenging part is preventing mould infestation and its impact on our health.
Moulds and mildews are a type of fungus that grow in dark, humid and damp areas, such as bathroom walls, shower curtains, grout lines, kitchen sink areas, wet or dirty carpets, basement walls, and much more. The mould spores tend to multiply instantly and pose serious health concerns, such as respiratory disorders, allergies, skin infections and even trigger pre-existing asthma symptoms.
It can further damage the surface, leading to rental disputes and other serious obstacles. Therefore, it is imperative to identify the initial signs, such as musty odours in a particular area, condensation, persistent breathing issues, and black/white/grey/brown/pinkish patches on curtains, walls and other damp areas. So, it is better to focus on prevention methods.
Here is a comprehensive guide to help prevent mould and mildew in your home and promote a hygienic and refreshing indoor environment. To avoid hazardous fumes, ensure you tackle the mould stains using safe and sound products.
1. Control Humidity Levels in Your Home
There is no denying that mould spores love moisture and high-humidity environments. Certain household activities, such as cooking, cleaning, bathing, doing dishes or drying clothes inside can increase the overall humidity level in your home. Thus, ensure you control the levels by keeping the humidity below 60 per cent. You can install a hydrometer to check the moisture levels in your rooms for optimal results. Here are a few things you can do to reduce indoor humidity:
- Turn on exhaust fans when preparing your meals or bathing
- Avoid cleaning mistakes, such as using excessive water on carpets, leaving floors wet, etc
- Wash only full laundry or dishwasher loads
- Vent your dryer and range hood appliances outdoors
- Don’t hang wet clothes to dry inside
- Install dehumidifiers and keep the levels between 30 to 50 per cent.
2. Promote Air Circulation and Cross Ventilation
It is good to keep your windows open to allow the fresh air inside your rooms, especially after bathing or cooking. This will prevent the bathroom condensation or moisture buildup in the air. Before that, ensure you deep clean your windows inside and outside to prevent dust and other allergens.
According to professional end of lease cleaners Melbourne, use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the loose dirt from window sills, panes and frames. Use white vinegar spray and gently scrub with a sponge for stain removal. This will help you achieve clean and sparkling windows. Remember that leaving windows dirty could become one of the common reasons for bond deductions.
Also, use ceiling fans for better air circulation in damp areas. Installing heating and cooling systems throughout the home elevates indoor air quality, removes moisture, and prevents mould infestation.
3. Consider Potential Leaks and Fix Them
Ensure you check and fix leaking pipes, roofs, and faucets in your bathroom and kitchen areas to prevent moisture from flowing and keep mould spores at bay. Overlooking plumbing issues can cause infestation, leading to serious property maintenance issues.
As a homemaker, you are responsible for sealing cracks in the walls, roofs, HVAC air vents and windows to avoid water intrusion. This will make a world of difference.
Tip: Hire experts for a thorough home inspection to find potential moisture issues in your home.
4. Dry Wet Areas Proactively
Keeping indoor surfaces dry is crucial to prevent moisture buildup in your room. Thus, ensure you regularly wipe down bathroom walls, tiles, kitchen countertops, floors and sinks.
It is good to keep a cloth or a rubber squeegee handy to remove shower doors and tiles after a shower. No more excuses when it comes to maintaining a healthy and mould-free home. However, if you are moving out of your rental property soon, book experts for a quality end of lease cleaner Melbourne to secure your hard-earned bond money.
5. Pay Attention to Proper Drainage
It is imperative to keep gutters unclogged to prevent water from standing near your home. Over time, this will cause structural problems and lead to mould growth. You can hire cleaning experts to deep clean the gutters and unclog the drainage system, which is crucial for overall home maintenance, especially during the rainy season.
6. Make the Most of Mould Resistant Products
This is one of the best ways to prevent mould infestation in the home. Whether you're constructing a new home from scratch or renovating an old one, use mould-resistant products to ensure a healthy and pest-free home environment.
For instance, you can use mould-resistant plasterboard and insulation. In fact, wall paints are also available with mould inhibitors to prevent mould-related illnesses in the home.
7. Banish Mould Spores Naturally
Tidying up the entire home can help prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Make sure you regularly dust the top-level surfaces, wipe down lower-level areas and pay attention to nooks and crannies.
If you see black, brown, or pinkish mould spores in your home, tackle them immediately. Spray white vinegar and tea tree oil on the surfaces and gently wipe down with a brush or sponge.
End of lease cleaning Melbourne experts recommend using a 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide spray. It can also help remove mould and mildew from surfaces like grout lines, bathroom tiles, and walls. Make sure you rinse and dry the surface to prevent further growth on the same areas. You can create a weekend cleaning checklist and include moisture-prone areas for optimal results.
Tips to Prevent Mould and Mildew In Your Home
Wrapping Up
Maintaining a clean and hygienic indoor environment is crucial to keeping your family healthy and secure. Follow these preventive tips to keep mould and mildew at bay. Make sure you regularly check the sources of condensation and moisture buildup and control the levels through simple activities to ensure a tidy, well-maintained, and mould-free home all year round.