Come the rains and a faint smell fills the dark corners and basement of your house. That damp, musty smell reminds you of a room locked for ages, receiving no sunlight. Yes, it is the ever-spreading white, black, grey clusters called mold that we are talking about here. That mold that spoils everything from clothes to food to furniture! Many wait eagerly for the sunlight to get rid of mold but smart homemakers simply switch to easy ways to dump it. We have tried to compile few simple steps to get rid of mold. A look:
Circulation of Air: This has to be the first and foremost step to get rid of mold. To discourage the growth, we first need to increase the circulation in the problem areas. Wet areas like bathrooms are always more prone to seepage which helps in the growth of mold. Using small fans, air conditioning, exhaust fans can help with the air circulation and keep the place dry. If you use shower curtains, pull them closed even when not in use. Air can still circulate in the tub and if left bunched up, the shower curtains remain damp longer and will eventually become victim to fungi. Most importantly, do not leave damp towels or wet clothes lying around; hang them out to dry properly. If natural lighting is not available in your bathroom, leave the lights (mainly bulbs) on for longer than usual.
Tea tree oil and Vinegar: You don’t want to fill your house with disinfectants and chemicals to get rid of the sticky and stubborn mold. Going natural is what will do the trick here. Applying small quantities of tea tree oil on the area of mold growth, helps immensely. Tea tree is an essential oil found easily in most health food stores. On the other hand, the acidic properties also leave the mold powerless in minutes. If you are looking for something cheap, then Vinegar is by far the cheapest way to get rid of it, though one may have to bear with the strong smell for days. Tea tree oil is expensive, but it is a broad spectrum fungicide and kills all the mold families it contacts. Needless to mention, these products are most environment friendly. Besides if you have to use an effective and faster chemical based substance, try chlorine bleach. But remember to dilute the liquid adding ten parts water to one part bleach.
Plastic sheeting: Identify how much mold is present and where it is located. If the mold is on furnishings (carpets and rugs) or boxes simply discard the materials. Moldy materials are considered hazardous waste; they can be sent to a regular landfill. However, the smart thing to do is to seal the mold material in heavy plastic to even protect others who handle it in transit. This may prevent spreading large amounts of the mold into other things and objects and even in your buildings.
Dehumidifier : Works wonders! You’ve all heard about humidifiers but this time it is the dehumidifiers that will help you get rid of the stubborn mold. For health reasons, it's important to maintain a proper humidity level in your home. While too little humidity can cause some discomfort, too much moisture can make your home a breeding ground for mold and mildew, which can lead to some very serious health issues. A dehumidifier can act as a remedy to excess moisture problems. Dehumidifiers might not be readily available in stores but can be easily bought from online shopping websites like indiamart.com and dehumidifierinindia.in
Lastly, make the mold disappear permanently by installing a hygrometer in your household. Install a hygrometer to monitor your relative humidity in the basement. Humidity levels above 50% indicate the environment is ripe for growth of mold. Besides this, waterproofing major areas of your homes will also help you bid goodbye to the mold, not just in the rainy season but all throughout the year.
