You may do a pretty good job of keeping your house tidy, but are you regularly practicing mold prevention? Even in a clean house, mold can still grow in places you may not expect. Use these tips from ServiceMaster By Rice to keep your house safe from a mold outbreak.
Where to Look: Bathroom Mold Removal
Shower & Bathtub Mold Removal
Even if you give your shower a weekly wipe down, you may not be doing enough to stop the spreading of mold. Consider using bleach and some serious elbow grease, and be sure to take your time with scrubbing every inch of tile, grout, stall surface. A shower is an obvious place for moisture to exist, and even ignoring one area of your bathtub stall could mean allowing mold to spread. Also, be sure to frequently wash or replace your shower curtain liner – an often overlooked culprit.
Sink & Toilet Mold Build-Up
Oftentimes, we may just think about scrubbing the inside of the toilet bowl and keeping our bathroom counter surfaces clean and clear. Thanks to the humidity of a bathroom, however, mold spores can hide and grow on the outside of your toilet, as well as build up in your sink.
Bathroom Walls & Floor Mold Remediation
Be sure to scrub the nooks and crannies of your bathroom floors, and even send your bathroom floor rugs through the wash every couple weeks. The grout and cracks along the base of your toilets, showers, sinks, and more can be sneaky places that need mold remediation.
Where to Look: Kitchen Mold Removal
Kitchen Sink Mold Growth
Even if you are frequently washing everything down your garbage disposal and you are using soap to wash dishes constantly, it is not enough to keep mold at bay. Without regularly scrubbing and using effective cleaning products both in, around, and under your sink, you’re providing an ideal environment for mold to grow.
Food Storage Areas
Don’t underestimate the damage it could do to leave expired or spoiled food in the fridge or pantry. Mold may start growing on your lettuce but can easily spread to the walls of your fridge or other food.
Stove & Microwave
The build-up of food crumbs and spilled liquids can be a great place for mold to grow. Take extra precaution to scrub your stovetop with the appropriate cleaners, and don’t ignore the inside of your microwave!
Wooden Areas & Trash Area
If you have built-in wooden cutting boards on your counters, a wooden window sill above your sink, or a corner of the kitchen where your trash can sits, you may be at risk for mold growth. The porous nature of wood is an easy spot for bacteria to harbor and grow. Each time you use a wooden surface, be sure to disinfect and dry the area.
Where to Look: Bedroom Mold Remediation
Mattress Mold Protection
Although you can buy a mold-resistant mattress protector, you still should check for the growth of bacteria. The underside of mattresses that sit against a box spring can trap humidity and harbor mold growth.
Air Vents & Mold Growth
You may not have considered the importance of cleaning out your HVAC ducts due to the fact that they are often out of sight and out of mind. However, a good duct cleaning can do more than just improve your AC efficiency, it can also remove any mold growth taking place within the ducts.
Where to Look: Living Room Mold Cleaning
Upholstery, Rugs & Curtain Mold Cleaning
If you haven’t called a professional carpet mold cleaner to check and perform mold remediation on your living room carpets and rugs, now is the time! Even though it may not be visible to the naked eye, wet spots can soak into the fibers of your carpet and grow mold. It is also important to check curtains, couches, and furniture upholstery for mold spots.
Indoor Plants
If you are an avid green thumb and have indoor plants, be sure not to overwater them. Not only is it bad for your plants, but it is also bad for your home environment! Overwatered soil can be a perfect place for mold to grow if it goes unchecked.
Mold cleaning, remediation, and removal are nothing to put off for too long. Protect the health of your family by calling ServiceMaster by Rice for a mold inspection. Contact us today, and rest assured with a plan to control mold growth in your home.
