It’s getting to be fall here, and that brings with it abundant moisture that falls from the sky. It also brings a moist environment indoors, and that means mold.
Black mold is a danger to your health. Where I live, mold spores have entered numerous buildings and have thrived inside the walls, leading to massive renovations at large expense. Mold can cause allergic reactions and breathing difficulties.
In your home, like mine, mold might wage a small but successful battle to exist. Our main problem area is windows, since they get damp overnight. Our secondary problem area has been the bathroom, another chronically damp place.
Our first line of defense is to make these areas as dry as possible, since the mold loves wet conditions. We wipe off the bathroom walls and tub after using it and use the fan to remove moisture from the air. So far, so good for the bathroom.
The windows are another affair altogether. We live in a moist climate, and it’s hard to keep them perfectly dry. Also, the windows have small corners that are hard to dry out.
To keep the windows clean, I use a half and half vinegar and water solution to make things unhappy for the mold. Occasionally I also use an old toothbrush to scrub this into the corners of the windows. After that, I pat everything dry.
If the mold has really taken hold, tea tree oil is an exceptional antifungal. It’s expensive, but you can dilute it a little with water. Wipe it or scrub it on and then wipe it off, or use the oil by itself in small quantities on the end of a toothbrush and keep it on there. Tea tree oil does smell, but the smell is fresh and fades over time.
What do you do to control moisture and mold in your home?
Image courtesy of stray muse at stock exchange.