Christmas has come to a close again, which means it’s time to store your Christmas decorations. (We won’t judge you if you let this chore linger into the new year, but it’s good to be thinking about your storage options anyway.) Did you know that your attic is especially prone to mold growth? Storage locations in general are also susceptible to mold growth, usually due to neglect (no one is cleaning or maintaining the area). Here’s how to protect your Christmas decorations from mold:
Seasonal Cleaning
Spring cleaning gets all the hype, but it’s important to do a thorough cleaning of your entire home about once per season. This can help you spot signs of mold before things get out of hand. And that goes for any area of your home, not just the part that stores your Christmas decorations. When you clean, be sure to put everything up, dust, and sweep.
Donating Christmas Decorations
Consider this: The fewer Christmas decorations you have to store, the less likely you are to attract mold. The idea here is that there are fewer items that go unsupervised during the year, making it less likely for mold growth to sneak up on you. Go through your Christmas decorations and only keep the items that “spark joy.”
Checking for and Repairing Leaks
Moisture is the number one cause of mold growth. Add to that a warm, cozy environment where mold can thrive, unbothered, and you’ve got yourself a real problem. When you go through your house and perform your seasonal cleaning, you should also use this time to check for leaks. Catching them early can make water damage minimal and mold remediation much easier.
Ensuring Ideal Humidity
Even in areas where there are no leaks, there’s still a chance that mold could grow and thrive. If your home has high humidity levels, then that’s all the moisture it needs to call your house a home. Ensure that your home’s humidity level is ideal, not too dry and not too moist. If you see condensation on your windows, that’s a sign you have too much moisture in your home. Consider purchasing a dehumidifier.
What to Do If You Find Mold
These are all preventative measures you can take this year to keep from finding mold growing in your Christmas decorations next year. But what happens if you find mold in your home anyway, despite your best efforts to protect your Christmas decorations from mold?
The best thing to do is to contact a professional right away, and do not try to remediate the mold on your own. Mold spores and fumes can be dangerous. Coming into contact with it can make you sick and may even make the mold spread. The mold remediation specialists at RestoPros have the training, the skills, and the equipment needed to remove mold from your home. We’ll keep you and your family safe all year ‘round. Call today to schedule service with one of our friendly representatives.