Prevention
Recommendations for health behavior changes to prevent exposure
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| -Environmental Protection Agency |
1. Dry wet materials quickly
Mold can grow in as little as 2 days, especially if wet materials are accessible, like wet towels, wet laundry, or other items inside and outside of the apartment. It is imperative to remove wet materials quickly or dry them before mold can grow. If you plan to store clothes or camping gear, it would also be helpful to keep them in ventilated areas and to dry them before storing.
2. Clean, disinfect and dry surfaces
Surfaces that easily accumulate water like sinks or floors can be very susceptible to mold growth, but these surfaces tend to be non-porous (stone, tile) and easily disinfectable. Effective disinfectants include vapor steam cleaners, and it is important to completely dry these surfaces once cleaned to prevent mold growth. Using mold-killing products in bathrooms and kitchens when cleaning can also be helpful.
3. Limit moisture in the bathroom and kitchen
Moisture from showers and kitchens can accumulate in hard-to-reach places, making mold growth easy and often difficult to notice. Using exhaust fans or opening windows during and after using the shower and while cooking or washing dishes in the kitchen can lower moisture. It would also help to dry the walls and floor of the bathroom after a shower and limit the use of carpeting in places prone to moisture buildup like the bathroom or kitchen.
4. Fix leaks and seepage
Monitoring the plumbing and roof in the rental home is important because leaks generally come from old pipes, leaky roofs, or damaged gutters and lead to moisture buildup. Ensuring the responsible party is periodically cleaning gutters, inspecting for damage, and repairing outdated plumbing if needed can prevent leaks and reduce mold growth. It may help to watch for water stains, which can be signs of leaks, especially after storms or heavy rainfall.
5. Increase air flow
A more simple method of reducing mold is increasing air flow by opening doors and windows, and arranging furniture so as to permit ventilation within the home. Improving air circulation in dark, small spaces can also limit mold growth.
6. Reduce humidity levels
Humidity levels should be at most 50% and must be checked throughout the day because levels change with air. Moisture meters can monitor humidity and are available at most hardware stores. Using a dehumidifier or air conditioner can reduce humidity. Humidity might also cause condensation build up. To further reduce condensation, quickly dry wet surfaces where condensation is collecting
7. Be proactive in the case of a spill
If a water leak or spill happens inside the rental home, you must dry the site and any damp materials, such as carpets, within 24-48 hours. In the event of a flood, cleaning and thoroughly drying the home within 2 days of flooding is necessary to prevent rapid mold buildup.
Resources
1. 7 Tips for Preventing Mold In Your Home. (2015, July 09). Retrieved April 22, 2017, from https://moldblogger.com/7-tips-for-preventing-mold-in-your-home/
2. Facts about Mold and Dampness. (2014, June 17). Retrieved April 22, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/mold/dampness_facts.htm
3. Hill, H. (2010, April 16). How to prevent mold: 9 tips. Retrieved April 22, 2017, from http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/stories/how-to-prevent-mold-9-tips
4. A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. (2017, February 21). Retrieved April 22, 2017, from https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home
5. Interactive Mold House Tour. (2017, February 22). Retrieved April 22, 2017, from https://www.epa.gov/mold/interactive-mold-house-tour
2. Clean, disinfect and dry surfaces
Surfaces that easily accumulate water like sinks or floors can be very susceptible to mold growth, but these surfaces tend to be non-porous (stone, tile) and easily disinfectable. Effective disinfectants include vapor steam cleaners, and it is important to completely dry these surfaces once cleaned to prevent mold growth. Using mold-killing products in bathrooms and kitchens when cleaning can also be helpful.
3. Limit moisture in the bathroom and kitchen
Moisture from showers and kitchens can accumulate in hard-to-reach places, making mold growth easy and often difficult to notice. Using exhaust fans or opening windows during and after using the shower and while cooking or washing dishes in the kitchen can lower moisture. It would also help to dry the walls and floor of the bathroom after a shower and limit the use of carpeting in places prone to moisture buildup like the bathroom or kitchen.
4. Fix leaks and seepageMonitoring the plumbing and roof in the rental home is important because leaks generally come from old pipes, leaky roofs, or damaged gutters and lead to moisture buildup. Ensuring the responsible party is periodically cleaning gutters, inspecting for damage, and repairing outdated plumbing if needed can prevent leaks and reduce mold growth. It may help to watch for water stains, which can be signs of leaks, especially after storms or heavy rainfall.
5. Increase air flowA more simple method of reducing mold is increasing air flow by opening doors and windows, and arranging furniture so as to permit ventilation within the home. Improving air circulation in dark, small spaces can also limit mold growth.
6. Reduce humidity levels
Humidity levels should be at most 50% and must be checked throughout the day because levels change with air. Moisture meters can monitor humidity and are available at most hardware stores. Using a dehumidifier or air conditioner can reduce humidity. Humidity might also cause condensation build up. To further reduce condensation, quickly dry wet surfaces where condensation is collecting
7. Be proactive in the case of a spill
If a water leak or spill happens inside the rental home, you must dry the site and any damp materials, such as carpets, within 24-48 hours. In the event of a flood, cleaning and thoroughly drying the home within 2 days of flooding is necessary to prevent rapid mold buildup.
Resources
1. 7 Tips for Preventing Mold In Your Home. (2015, July 09). Retrieved April 22, 2017, from https://moldblogger.com/7-tips-for-preventing-mold-in-your-home/
2. Facts about Mold and Dampness. (2014, June 17). Retrieved April 22, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/mold/dampness_facts.htm
3. Hill, H. (2010, April 16). How to prevent mold: 9 tips. Retrieved April 22, 2017, from http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/stories/how-to-prevent-mold-9-tips
4. A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. (2017, February 21). Retrieved April 22, 2017, from https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home
5. Interactive Mold House Tour. (2017, February 22). Retrieved April 22, 2017, from https://www.epa.gov/mold/interactive-mold-house-tour
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