Mold spores are some adaptable little critters. They float through the air, and land throughout surfaces in your home, lying dormant until they receive the proper amount of moisture and heat. Then BAM, they spring into action, propagating on your surfaces and throwing their off-
-spring spores into the air to colonize other regions of your beautifully decorated ranch style 3-2-2. That’s why the EPA insists you have any water damaged areas completely dried within 24-48 hours after a flood or major leak. That’s also the reason that we recommend adding a mold prevention additive to your paint before painting any mold prone area of your home. Upgrading your paint with a mold and mildew preventative transforms painted surfaces into a barrier of defense against any dirty little mold spores that may be floating through your home.
We, obviously, are partial to Paint-Guard, but since we created the only minimum risk mold prevention solution for paint, we think some partiality is in order.
The crack where your surround meets your bathtub or shower pan is one of the most important interfaces in your home. Caulking SHOULD have this gap filled in completely, creating a barrier that prevents moisture from running down the shower walls and into the crevasse behind your tub.
Because this area experiences so much moisture, it is a hotbed for mold and mildew growth. That is why most caulks meant for bathrooms and kitchens are
pre-loaded with materials that resist mold and mildew. However, the mold and mildewcides eventually lose effectiveness – leading to the dreaded black crack syndrome. This is a sure way to kill any scrub-a-dub-dub morning vibes. To prevent it from happening in your shower, be sure to examine all the caulking in your shower a few times a year to make sure that it is still fairly flexible and fully adhered to both the surround and the pan.
If your caulking is showing signs of fungus growth or has disengaged itself from the wall or shower, you can totally recaulk your bathroom like a champ! Be sure to remove the old caulk completely before replacing with new bathroom or kitchen specific caulk.
This short job will decrease the time you spend scrubbing bathroom scum while also protecting those unseen areas behind your tub from mold and mildew growth.
The most simple way to eliminate excess moisture in your bathroom is really as easy as flipping a switch. So please, for the love, TURN ON THAT BATHROOM VENT FAN. Yes, it those fans actually have a purpose greater than serving as a sound barrier to disguise the more audibly displeasing bathroom activities. For real, evacuating the steam from your shower sesh is possibly the most important step in preventing mold growth. This is why so
many older homes (in which bathroom fans aren’t as common) suffer from habitual mold and mildew. So, if your bathroom has a fan – turn it on. If it doesn’t have a fan, open a window. If you are stuck without either, you should strongly consider installing a vent fan (go ahead and purchase some of this awesome cleaning and odor hiding potion in the meantime).
If you are searching for a more covert method for dealing with excess moisture (and unflattering odors), activated charcoal filter bags are a great solution. These simple devices have gained traction recently because they absorb moisture and odors without the use of volatile chemicals (air freshening spray) or heat (candles, wax warmers).
The incredibly high surface area of charcoal allows it to trap moisture and airborne
particulate within its pores. This functionality of charcoal has been utilized for water purification for hundreds of years and is now being employed to help purify air as well.
Do note, these are seriously just bags of specialized charcoal. No motorized fan or talking beaver magically pulling stinky air into the bag and spitting cinnamon infused air back out. However, they have gained incredible popularity over the past few years and our team has used them with positive results.
All mold is caused by one key issue: water is somewhere it is not supposed to be. To prevent the growth of mold in your bathroom (or any other room within your home) MAKE SURE that there are no leaks that are allowing water into the area in question. Check the ceiling for moisture (or better yet, hop up into the attic with a flashlight and check the roof decking).
Next, make sure that all windows are fully functional and sealed. A good indicator of an unsealed window is mud or damp debris piled on the windowsill. Finally, roll up those sleeves
and let the pants hang a little lower to get your plumber on. Give a thorough check to the sink faucet, handles, and (yes) even the pipes underneath the vanity. You are searching for any dampness or moisture staining that would indicate a potential problem. Once you identify any leaks, take steps to get them fixed as quickly as possible. Many simple jobs can be performed with a bit of Googling and simple tools.
Written by : Benton Allen
