Do you have a suspicion that mold is growing in your home? If so, you'll definitely want to know more about how to identify, clean, and prevent mold growth. 

Identifying Mold Growth

One of the first things you may notice is visible mold growth. Mold can appear in various colors, such as brown, green, white, and black patches on various surfaces. It can grow on walls, floors, ceilings, and even on furniture.

If you do not see mold, then you may smell its musty odor. This is going to be more likely in parts of your home that are cold and dark, which is an ideal place for mold to grow. This includes your basement, crawl space, or even within a bathroom vanity.

Some people in your home may develop an allergic reaction to mold. Look for anyone that is coughing or sneezing more than usual, since this could be a sign that they are allergic to mold. If you do find mold, it is worth having that person allergy tested to verify if they have a mold allergy. 

Cleaning Mold Growth

It is always a good idea to wear protective gear when dealing with mold —including a face mask, gloves, and goggles. You should then contain the area with the mold so that the spores do not travel to other rooms of your home. 

You can make a homemade cleaning solution with bleach and water, which can be applied directly to an affected area. Then scrub down the surface to remove that visible mold. You'll also need to get rid of porous materials that have mold growth, such as drywall and carpeting. These materials are simply too difficult to clean and are better off being replaced. Finish by drying the area thoroughly. 

Preventing Mold Growth

If you want to take steps to prevent future mold growth, it will help to reduce the humidity inside your home. This can be done by running a whole-home dehumidifier or purchasing a portable dehumidifier in problematic areas. You'll just need to drain the water container when it becomes full.

You'll also want to fix any potential leaks where water could be dripping out of a pipe. Check those faucet connections underneath sinks, as well as water lines running to a washing machine or ice maker. You should clean up water spills as soon as possible as well, rather than let it sit and allow humidity to get into the air

Use mold-resistant products on surfaces that would be more prone to seeing moisture collect on them, such as the walls of your bathroom. You simply coat the surface with the product and mold will have a much more difficult time growing on the surface. 

For professional help with mold removal, contact a mold remediation service in your area.