Molds such as fungus mold and slime mold are found most of the time in areas that have high humidity levels such as bathrooms, kitchens, damp basements and laundry rooms. It is most beneficial and preventive maintenance, to try and keep mold from growing in these potential mold-breeding areas. If it's too late, you can try mold remediation and mold removal.
Since mold and mildew release mold spores in the air that can float throughout the house, severe allergic reactions such as watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing, nasal congestion and fatigue, can occur. When mold begins to reproduce inside a home, it can eat away at the structure, cause thousands of dollars in damage, and possibly make someone in your family ill from mold exposure. There are several mold cleaning, prevention, and mold removal methods to deal with this persistent problem. I suggest using a combination of these products below, to reduce mold to safe levels throughout your home.
Step 1: You should start with a dehumidifier, since basements must be dried out, and humidity levels should be maintained at about 50% relative humidity or lower to prevent mold and mildew growth.
Step 2: An Air Purifier with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Absolute) filter will help filter your indoor air. HEPA air cleaners help eliminate airborne mold spores.
Step 3: The use of a HEPA Vacuum Cleaners, because vacuuming with HEPA filter vacuums can reduce mold spore concentrations in damp areas and carpets. A HEPA vacuum properly traps mold spores that can remain or be spread into the air.
Step 4: If you have a steam cleaner that would also help. A Vapor Steam Cleaner will clean, disinfect, deodorize, and kill dust mites and mold. They are the perfect tool for allergy sufferers and those with multiple chemical sensitivities- especially mold allergies.
Step 5: Buy cleaning supplies that inhibit the growth of mold and mildew without the use of harsh chemicals or toxins. There are many healthy and free of harsh chemicals cleaning products out there to help attack and prevent mold build-up in your home. I recommend products like Vital Oxide Mold Remover or Allersearch Aller Mold to attack mold areas. Some of these cleaners control mold and bacteria by oxidizing it instead of bleaching it.
Step 6: Mold test kits will help you identify a number of molds which contribute to asthma, allergic reactions and respiratory health problems so you'll know where your problem areas are.
Step 7: Another beneficial mold killer is a UV Sanitizer, to eliminate more than 99% of all household mold, germs, bacteria, viruses and other allergens.
Step 8: Mold can start to grow within 24-48 hours in mildew-prone areas of your home. The use of a Steam Mop would quickly clean up dirt, stains and grease and kill mold, spores and bacteria.
Lack of humidity in a home may be a major of various respiratory ailments. Fortunately, there is a method to improve the humidity levels within your home that will help reduce ailments related to dry respiratory membranes.
It is recommended that a home's humidity level should be between 30 and 50 percent. However, during extremely cold weather, a home loses humidity to the outside and the level can drop to as low as 10 percent. When humidity levels fall, it is ideal to have a humidifier on hand to make sure that the correct level of moisture is present in the air.
Controlling the amount of moisture in the air is needed for your family's health. when you don't have enough dampness in the air, it can cause dryness in the membranes of the nose, throat and bronchial tubes and may become the source of various health-related problems. Respiratory infections and repetitious attacks of winter colds could be the result of not enough humidity during the cold winter months. Relative humidity also has a tremendous effect on controlling the occurrence of airborne infections.
In addition to the health benefits, you need a humidifier to keep room environments comfortable. Whole-house humidifiers work like old-fashioned room humidifiers. They put moisture into the air, making harsh, dry air easier to breathe. Water mist instead of hot steam is used, keeping the entire home at the comfortable humidity level. A humidifier uses from 1.5 to 12 gallons of water per day, which is just enough to elevate the humidity to the comfort level but not enough to make a difference on your water bill. Because a humidifier is installed in the duct work, there's no need to tote one from room to room.
Many factors should be considered when selecting a humidifier. Size is important. A humidifier's capacity, the amount of moisture it can dispense, should match your family's needs. The capacity is measured in gallons per day of operation. Consider not only the purchase price of the unit, but also the operating and maintenance costs. Several models are less efficient than others, so choosing a model that is right for your home and budget is extremely important. Remember, regular maintenance is needed to keep your humidifier in top working condition.
Installing a humidifier is an easy job when also replacing a furnace. But a humidifier can also be fitted to a current system with minimal labor since it is installed in the duct work.
