15 Mar Great Tips On Unexpected Places Mold Can Hide in Your Home
Mold can be sneaky. These are the places where mold can be found. Mold can appear behind drywall in basements after flooding or on baseboards. Mold can hide in surprising places and be difficult to find and remove. To eliminate mold, think like you are a fungus. Look for these six moist areas where mold loves to grow.
Chimneys
Why mold can grow there: Brick crevices trap water, dirt and other organic matter. Mold can grow from faulty flashing and chimney caps that are rusted or worn.
How to clean it up: Replace the rusted caps and repair flashing. Next, contact a chimney sweep for a thorough cleaning. A chimney sweep will visit your chimney every year for $200-$300 to remove mold and keep it free from dangerous creosote. This will help you achieve peak efficiency.
Refrigerator Drip Pans
Why mold can grow there: This is a place that’s often overlooked under your refrigerator. It collects moisture from food spills and other liquids.
Front-Loading Washing Machines
Why mold can grow there: Because the front-loading washing machine is closed, the gasket around it often remains wet. Mold thrives on moisture and lint.
How to clean it up: Let the glass and gasket dry before closing the door. You can kill mold by running hot water with chlorine bleach (no clothes) in order to remove it.
Window seals and sashes
Why mold grow there: The moisture mold needs is provided by condensation; dirt and dust provide food.
How to remove it: Open windows after heavy rains and wipe out any moisture. To prevent condensation, it is necessary to replace or repair the seals between panes. Keep your windows clean to prevent mold growth.
Dishes
Why mold grows there: Mold thrives in dishes that are both wet and crunchy, even if they don’t get used every day.
How to clean it up: Run any moldy dishes through the dishwasher and wipe down cabinets with a vinegar-soaked cloth. Before you store dishes, dry them completely.
Air Conditioners
Why mold can grow there: AC units trap dust and pollen, which is a great food source for mold, and extract moisture from the air. In warm weather, if your AC unit isn’t being used at least once a day, the humidity in your home will rise and mold can grow on AC ducts, drain pans, or coils.
How to get rid of it: A mold remediation professional will clean your central air conditioner unit ($400 to $1,000). Mold can be found in window AC units by removing the front plate. Clean the blower with an HEPA filter vacuum. Flush out the coils with a 1:1 solution bleach and water.
Prevention is always the best treatment. Keep your AC running for 10 minutes each day if it is hot or humid outside. Also, keep humidity below 55% in your home.