Controlling Household Mold

To prevent mold from growing in your home, keep everything as dry as possible. Regularly check pipes for drips and leaks.

By Krisha McCoy, MS
Medically reviewed by Niya Jones, MD, MPH
Article reprinted with permission from EverydayHealth.com

If you have a mold allergy, you are allergic to the fungal spores that are released by mold. Mold lives everywhere, and there is no way to completely eliminate it from your environment. If you have mold inside your home though, you can take steps to reduce its growth.

"Molds need some sort of food source for growth," says Julie McNairn, MD, an allergist and immunologist in private practice in Middletown, Ohio. "Having things that are not well cleaned can allow the molds to grow."

Mold Allergy: Mold Loves Water

Before you attack your problem, it's good to know exactly what you're up against.

Mold spores move constantly through the air, both inside and outside the home. Once they find a damp spot, they claim it. That damp spot could be on paper, food, wood, plaster, and carpets.

Since mold loves anything wet, the way to control its spread is to keep everything as dry as possible.

Mold Allergy: Pinpointing Mold in Your Home

Mold will seek out damp locations in your house, like the bathrooms, kitchen, and basement. Combine a humid environment with an organic "food source" for mold, such as rotting food or houseplants, and mold can thrive in your home.

One way to determine if you have excessive mold growth in your home is to pay close attention to your allergy symptoms. Many people who have a mold allergy will notice that their symptoms worsen when they enter damper areas of the home.

Another clue to an underlying mold problem in your home is a musty odor, notes Dr. McNairn. She says that if you detect this type of smell, it is probably time to take steps to "eliminate the source of the moisture and the mold."

Mold Allergy: Cleaning Up Mold

Try to minimize your exposure to mold even while you're cleaning it up. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests you wear gloves and a special mask called an N-95 respirator. It comes with a cartridge to capture the mold before you inhale it. The mask costs about $15 and can be purchased at most hardware stores. Just be sure to read the instructions on how to wear the mask properly.

Visible mold on surfaces such as your walls or tiles can be gently scrubbed away with detergent and water. After washing away mold, dry the area completely to discourage mold from returning. Carpeting that has a moldy, musty odor may have to be discarded since it's often difficult to clean and dry it thoroughly.

Controlling Mold Growth: Water

To prevent mold growth, check your home for:

Standing water. Standing water is a playground for molds, so regularly wipe up any puddles of water that may accumulate in your kitchen and bathrooms.
Leaks. Leaks in your plumbing or roof can cause water to congregate which will promote the growth of mold. Promptly repair any leaks that you detect.

Controlling Mold Growth: Air

Remember that mold spores travel through the air, so it's helpful to catch them before they land on surfaces in your home. To do this:

Ventilate. Ventilating your home can help move the air around and lower the humidity. Opening your windows and using a ventilation fan in your bathroom can be critical to mold prevention.
Replace air filters. Regularly replacing your air filters can also reduce the amount of mold in your home.
Use a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier placed in your basement can eliminate moisture and discourage mold growth.

Preventing Mold Growth

Be sure to clean areas where mold can thrive frequently with detergent and water. These areas include:

Grouted areas of your bathrooms and kitchen
Garbage cans
Humidifiers
Air conditioners
Refrigerator doors
Drip pans

Again, don't forget to dry all of these surfaces thoroughly.

Other strategies to prevent mold growth include:

Clear clutter. Old books, newspapers, clothing, and bedding that are no longer used can promote the growth of mold, so clear these items out of your house.
Store food. Put food away in sealed containers to decrease the chances of mold growth.
Avoid carpeting. Having carpeting in damp areas, such as your basement, kitchen, or bathroom, can lead to mold growth. Choose solid surface flooring in these areas to prevent mold growth.
Limit houseplants. Since houseplants can harbor molds, removing them can help reduce your mold allergy symptoms.

Controlling Mold Growth: Remember the Outdoors

If you have an air filtering system that brings outdoor air into your home, make sure the area around the intake unit is cleared of leaves, mold food sources, such as decaying vegetation, compost piles, and hay.

Keeping the humidity in your home below 45 percent, and regularly cleaning potential mold sources is your best defense against indoor mold. Since there is no way to completely avoid coming into contact with mold, talk with your allergist about whether medications or allergy shots could help to reduce your mold allergy symptoms as well.