It’s never pleasant to find mold in your home. Luckily, most of the mold you encounter isn’t a threat to your health. Mold on bread and cheese is easy to dispose of: simply put it in the trash. Mold growing in your bathroom is commonplace and also easy to eradicate. However, mold that grows in unseen areas of your home is more difficult to find and combat.
Luckily the mold remediation experts at RestoPros can help identify those unexpected places mold can grow and flourish.
What Mold Needs to Grow
Mold needs a few things to grow: moisture, organic material, and temperatures between 40- and 120-degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, there are many places in your home that contain one or more of these components. And, while it is easy to get rid of moldy food, mold in your home is both harder to remove – and potentially dangerous.
- Chimneys
Chimneys are often out of sight – out of mind. Unfortunately, so is the mold that grows inside them. Crevices in bricks collect water, dirt, and other organic debris over time. And sometimes, faulty chimney caps and damaged flashing will let in even more moisture. This makes the inside of chimneys a great home for mold spores. The first step to fixing this issue is to repair the chimney caps and flashing. Then, make an appointment with a chimney sweep for a cleaning.
- Refrigerator Drip Pans
The refrigerator drip pan collects condensation from the fridge, as well as spilled sauces, drinks, and food particles – making it a haven for mold. Mold growth in the drip pan can be removed by wiping the pan down with a hydrogen peroxide solution.
- Front Loading Washing Machines
Front loading washing machines have taken over from their top-loader predecessors. While the front door makes loading and unloading easier, it also invites mold into your home. Because the washing machine door stays closed, even when the washer is not in use, the seals are always wet. So, all mold spores need is a little lint to snack on in order to multiply. Running a hot water cycle with a splash of chlorine bleach will remove the mold.
- Window Sashes and Seals
Much like the seals of front-loading washing machines, the seals of windows are great candidates for mold growth. To prevent mold growth on your window seals, wipe them down regularly to remove the condensation, dirt, and dust mold uses to thrive.
- In Your Filing Cabinets
Filing cabinets are perhaps the last place you’d expect mold. But, the pulp in paper makes excellent food for fungi, and if your home is particularly humid, spores have enough moisture to multiply.
- Air Conditioner Filters
Mold growth in the previous locations is relatively easy to clean, and more importantly, won’t injure the health of your family. However, if you have mold in your air conditioner ducts, it is more difficult to remove, and can threaten your family’s health. If you have mold in your HVAC ducts, call a professional to do a cleaning as soon as possible.
Worried About Finding the Unexpected Places Mold Can Grow? Call us today!
We know how important your family’s safety is to you, so if you have a question or concern about mold in your home, we are here for you. RestoPros is the leading mold remediation company in the DFW Metroplex. Call us at 855-587-3786 or schedule your service online.