Mold isn’t healthy for anyone – but it’s particularly unhealthy for children. If you want to protect your children, then you need to give them a mold-proof home.
Today, we’re going to explain the best tips you can use to make your home mold-proof and protect the health of your children.
Dry Wet Areas Immediately
When you have kids, spills are inevitable. When left untreated, a spill can quickly turn into a serious mold problem – especially if you live in a humid or wet climate. When your child spills something, it’s crucial that you dry the wet area immediately. Clean up spills on the floor. Dry water from the floor and bathroom after a messy bath. Dry the area around the sink.
If your child wets the bed, or spills water on the bed, it’s crucial that you dry the area immediately. If you don’t dry something within 24 to 48 hours, it can turn into a mold problem.
Don’t Leave Wet Items Laying Around the House or in the Washing Machine
Parenting is a busy lifestyle. However, don’t let your busy lifestyle turn into a mold problem. Don’t leave wet towels on the floor. Don’t leave wet clothes in the washing machine. Mold can spread quickly in a washing machine or on a wet towel.
Ensure Your Home Has Proper Ventilation
Some homes are prone to mold problems because they have poor ventilation. If your home has poor ventilation, then even a simple domestic activity – like cooking dinner or taking a shower – can cause mold to build up and affect your kids.
Ensure you have proper ventilation in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and other high-moisture areas of your home. Make sure your appliances – like your dryer or your stove – are venting outside and not to the attack.
Buy an Air Conditioner or a Dehumidifier
If you live in a humid or hot climate, then mold is more of an issue for you than if you lived in a dry climate. One of the best ways to fight back against mold is to buy an air conditioner or a dehumidifier.
An air conditioner naturally dries the air in your home. However, if you find that’s not enough, then a dehumidifier can give an extra bit of dryness to your home.
Buy Mold-Resistant Products and Components in your Home
One of the risks of buying a cheaply-built home is the use of poor-quality construction materials. Cheaper construction materials are more prone to mold problems and other issues.
You can solve this problem by investing in mold-resistant products, including mold-resistant drywall. Mold-resistant drywall has a gypsum core covered in fiberglass instead of paper. Traditionally, mold thrives on cellulose-based materials like paper. Mold-resistant drywall uses fiberglass to prevent this problem. Typically, mold-resistant drywall is used in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and similar areas. However, homes that have been poorly designed or cheaply constructed may not have this feature.
Paint your Child’s Room with Mold-Resistant Paint
Of course, if your home or basement is already drywalled, then you don’t want to replace everything. In this case, you might want to repaint using mold-resistant paint.
Consider using mold-resistant paint for your child’s room. It’s a great excuse to repaint the room, and it could give your child’s room an extra layer of defense against mold.
Use A Moisture Meter to Monitor Humidity
Excessive humidity can lead to mold problems over time – even if you’ve implemented all of the steps above. Consider buying a moisture meter – available online or from any hardware store.
Experts recommend keeping indoor humidity levels between 30 and 60%. People who live in humid or mold-prone climates will often install a moisture meter in problem areas of their home – like the bathroom or kitchen.
If you notice signs of humidity in your child’s room – like condensation on windows or walls – then consider leaving a moisture meter in their room.
Use Gutters Properly
Many moisture problems are related to poor gutter construction. Your gutters might be clogged or draining improperly, for example. Have your roof gutters cleaned regularly and inspected for damage.
Your gutters are designed to direct water away from your home. However, over time, gutters can change position or the ground around your home can change. Make sure your gutters are draining water away from your home, and make sure that water continues to drain away from your home after it leaves the gutter. Ideally, the water slopes away from your home downhill – not back towards your home and your foundation.
Avoid Leaving Plants in your Child’s Room
You might think it’s a nice touch to leave a plant in your child’s room. However, it increases the chances of your child being affected by mold. Household plants can quickly develop a mold problem. The soil in indoor plants presents the perfect breeding ground for mold, and that mold can spread to other areas of your home.
Conclusion
Spend some time and money mold-proofing your home. You can protect your family and reduce the chances of your children being affected by mold-related health problems.
