by Ryan Bendall

Created on: August 29, 2008   Last Updated: October 07, 2008

Mold can be a serious and unpleasant thing to live with. Mold is formed by micro-organisms that can multiply anywhere as long as it is moist enough. In homes particularly the environment is just right for these molds to grow and they will form quickly on any damp surfaces.

The first step to recognising mold in your home is to know what it is and what it looks like. Molds may appear as furry growths and the colours will often range from black, orange and sometimes white stains appearing on surfaces. They will often appear speckled and will fill a room with an unpleasant fusty smell.

When water gets into your house through leaks in the roof, mold can begin to grow on the inside of walls and under carpets. Look for walls or carpets that may have dark stains and seem dirty, this can be an indication of mold.

Another common sign is speckled patches of colour forming around and near windows where moisture turns into water when the air near the glass is more cool. Try and insulate your windows properly and seal any cracks with an appropriate filler to prevent condensation.

Mold can appear anywhere from ceilings to walls, carpets, showers, laundry baskets and even old books. A strong smell can sometimes be the only indication.

Mold can cause many problems for you or your family as it releases unseen microbes into the air. These can cause infections and allergies and sometimes asthma if subjected to an individual for a lengthy amount of time.

To remove mold you will need to wear protective clothing whilst removing it to prevent any of the dangerous micro-organisms touching you or getting into your lungs or eyes. Goggles and gloves are recommended.

The first thing to do is to scrub the surface thoroughly with a stiff brush and soapy water but do not use ammonia based products. After cleaning the surface dry thoroughly.

After this you should use a mixture of 5 cups of water with half a cup of house hold bleach and use this to thoroughly cleanse the surface. Make sure to open all windows in the affected room when you are working with bleach as the fumes can irritate your lungs. Always take care when handling bleach and follow all instructions of your particular brand.

The main thing to remember about molds is that they will only grow if there is enough moisture in the air to do so.

If you have got fans that extract moisture when you are cooking or taking a shower make sure that you always use them. If you don't have fans installed Id recommend looking into the cost of having good ventilation put into your home but if not you can always open windows to let moisture escape. Reduce the chances of mold occurring by taking shorter showers and covering any pots and pans that you may be using to boil water and so on. Even the steam produced by kettles can provide adequate releases of moisture and condensation for mold to begin to grow.

Try and dry clothes outside or within a clothes dryer that has an extraction method for releasing moisture. These sometimes come in the form of flexible pipes that can be placed in an open window as you dry your clothes.

The main rule to follow is to simply keep your home as dry as possible, do everything you can to keep moisture at bay and mold will never be a problem for you and your family.

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