Rain rain go away, come again another day. Better yet, go west to where the wildfires are burning. We have enough rain here in the southeast! As of August 18, Atlanta had received 46 inches of rain. Compare that to 25 inches at the same time last year. With all that rain comes mold. The most important thing to know is that the key to mold control is moisture control. You can’t eliminate all mold in your home, but you can control it. Generally there is no need to do any mold testing.
Below are some tips to help reduce mold problems in your home.
- Keep the indoor humidity below 60% by using the kitchen fan when cooking; turning on the bathroom fan when showering; using the air conditioner; and venting the dryer to the outside.
- Increase ventilation in closets by leaving the closet door open; installing slatted doors; and removing about half of the stuff in the closet.
- Make sure that water does not pool around the foundation of your house. If it does, clean, repair or replace gutters and downspouts. Also, improve the grading of the soil around the foundation of your house to ensure that water flows away.
- If you find mold, use water and a mild detergent to clean it off surfaces. Generally there is no need to disinfect surfaces with bleach.
- Make sure damp or wet materials and furnishings are cleaned and dried within 24 – 48 hours.
Learn more about controlling and preventing mold from the University of Georgia Extension and the Environmental Protection Agency.
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