The kitchen is the last place where you want mold to grow; it’s where all your edible products are kept, and you do NOT want mold near your favorite snacks. However, with enough moisture and no proper maintenance, mold can hide in various places in your kitchen. And if you ignore it, it can become a real problem.

Luckily, you don’t have to worry too much because the experts at RestoPros know a thing or two about avoiding mold growth. Below are some kitchen mold prevention tips to ensure your favorite space at home is mold free!

1. Keep an Eye on Moisture Levels

Mold requires a consistently humid environment to thrive. That is why it’s important you keep an eye on the moisture levels in your kitchen and do your best to get rid of excess humidity. Here are some effective ways you can control the moisture levels in your kitchen:

• Perform frequent pipe checks to make sure there are no leaks under your kitchen sink. A consistent leak in a damp, dark space can lead to mold growth within a few hours. To find a leak under your sink, look for water stains or use a dry tissue to wipe the pipe connections, then look for a wet spot on the tissue. 
• The humidity in your kitchen can be on the higher side during summer or when you’re cooking frequently. Turn on the exhaust fan to get rid of the excess heat and humidity in your kitchen. Open your windows for more thorough ventilation.
• Make sure the caulk around your sink is doing its job. The caulk around your sink is the waterproof seal that keeps water from seeping under your kitchen’s sink.

2. Clean Out Your Dishwasher

You might think that every time your dishwasher runs a cycle it is cleaning itself along with your dishes. That’s simply not true—your dishwasher requires proper maintenance like all the other appliances in your home. Without proper cleaning and upkeep, your dishwasher can become an ideal place for mold growth. Below are some things you should remember about preventing mold in your dishwasher:

• The rubber seal or gasket around your dishwasher needs to be cleaned frequently as food particles and dirt can build up here.
• The spray arms in your dishwasher often have holes in them with some leftover food particles. Soak these arms in warm water then gently use a toothbrush to remove the food build up.
• Vinegar has antibacterial properties. Once a month, fill a dishwasher safe container with vinegar, place it in the top rack of the dishwasher and run a cycle.

3. Clean Up Your Fridge and Pantry

One of the most common kitchen mold prevention tips is to maintain cleanliness, specifically in your refrigerator and pantry. Often food might spoil, or liquid might spill and if it’s ignored for too long, it can lead to mold growth. Take a few minutes every weekend to make sure there is no rotting or expired food in your fridge and pantry.

Pro tip: When doing any through cleaning inside your fridge or pantry, try using DIY mold cleaning solutions as they are non-toxic alternatives to other cleaning solutions.

4. Keep Your Garbage Disposal Bacteria-Free

Your garbage disposal is one of the many places in your kitchen where mold might settle down because food scraps are often left in there. Avoid filling up your disposal with food scraps it can’t handle such as pieces of bone, potato peels or grease. These items might not go down the drain and will be left in your disposal to spoil.

Clean your disposal every month or so by pouring 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain. Let them sit for 10 minutes then pour hot water to wash the baking soda and vinegar out.

Call the RestoPros Team!

As experts in mold removal, we have several solutions to prevent mold from overtaking your kitchen. If you are looking for professional help with mold testing, removal or remediation, call RestoPros today at 855-587-3786 or fill out a service request form on our website!