Tips to Keep Your Home Clean, Free of Mold

(NewsUSA) – Keeping a clean home is one of the most important
ways to ensure that you and your family are happy and healthy.

Excess moisture in your home can cause many problems, not the least of which is
mold. Mold poses a serious health risk. Symptoms associated with mold exposure include allergic
reactions, asthma and other respiratory complaints.

Mold produces tiny spores to reproduce and needs very little encouragement to begin growing
at an alarming rate.

Mold can be found almost anywhere. Some molds grow in the refrigerator, while others spread
on wood, in the walls and throughout your living space. Mold also thrives in areas where there has
been recent flooding or perpetual moisture.

And while there is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores that
infest your home, there are ways to control its growth.

Here are some tips from the Consumer Federation of America to reduce mold and make
your home the most hospitable place possible for your loved ones.

* Keep dampness to a minimum. Reduce indoor humidity by venting bathrooms and dryers to the
outside, using air conditioners and de-humidifiers, and using exhaust fans in your bathroom and
kitchen.

* Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces, like windows, piping,
exterior walls, roofs or floors, by adding insulation. In areas where there is a perpetual moisture
problem, do not install carpeting.

* Fix leaks and seepage immediately. If water is entering the house from the
outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and
waterproofing.

* You cannot always control your environment the way you would like to,
particularly when nature has other plans. In case of a flood, be sure to clean the affected area
within 24 hours to 48 hours. After this period, mold begins to spawn rapidly in stagnant water and
on soaked surfaces.

* Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent and dry completely.
Absorbent materials may need to be replaced to eliminate the mold.

To learn more about how to prevent mold in your home, consult the Environmental
Protection Agency's Web site at www.epa.gov/mold.