May 2004

Don't Be a Victim of Household Mold

Your home could be the perfect place for mold to grow. It could be growing in your home, without you even knowing it.

"Mold can be a serious hazard, and it comes in a variety of forms," said Sharon H. Cook, a Family and Consumer Sciences agent for the Gwinnett County Cooperative Extension Service. "Mold could trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions if you don't take some measure to prevent it."

Mold likes to grow in moist places. This includes poorly ventilated rooms and unclean areas in homes. If you're able to control the moisture in your home, then you won't have mold problems.

But once you discover mold in your home, you must get rid of it. Unless you control the source, you'll never eliminate the problem.

The most common areas of your home that are prone to moisture problems include the bathroom, kitchen, crawl spaces, attics and basements. These areas tend to be warmer, and warmer air can hold more moisture.

Moisture becomes a problem due to several factors. If your roof or plumbing leaks, or your tub or toilet continually overflows, you'll have excess moisture in your home.

Did you know that even breathing affects your home's humidity level? Not significantly, but when you combine it with other household activities, such as cooking and cleaning, then you're contributing to potential moisture problems.

The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service offers ways to control your home's moisture:

• Decrease bathing time.
  
  
• Don't over-boil liquids while cooking.
  
  
• Wash only full loads of laundry.
  
  
• Vent appliances to the outside.
  
  
• Open windows often to allow for circulation when the humidity level outdoors is not too high.
  
  
• Use a dehumidifier and exhaust fan.

"Exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms are under used," Cook said. "They are the main ways to draw moisture out of the house."

To remove mold in your home, the Extension Service also offers these steps:

• Fix the moisture problem. Mold can't grow without moisture.
  
  
• Dry wet materials immediately.
  
  
• Treat or dispose contaminated materials.
  
  
• Clean and disinfect surfaces.
  
  
• Stay alert to future moisture problems.

"You can do all the cleaning in the world, but it won't help until you get rid of the source," Cook added.

Are you living in a mold-friendly environment? It's time you fixed the moisture problem so you can protect you and your family from potential health hazards.

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