How to Prevent Mold from Growing in Your Home

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Molds are a type of fungus that naturally grow in many places, but inside your house they can pose a health risk and negatively impact air quality. Therefore, preventing mold in your house is important for the health and safety of your family and visitors who spend time in your home. The good news is that preventing mold is quite simple, and the key is controlling moisture and humidity in your house.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Controlling Moisture

PDF download Download Article
  1. Mold grows where there's moisture, so keeping your house dry is one of the most important ways to prevent mold. Install a hygrometer in your home, as this will measure the moisture levels inside.
    • Ideally, you want to keep the humidity level in your house below 60 percent to prevent mold growth. [1]
  2. To prevent too much moisture from building up in the bathroom when you shower or bathe, open a window in the bathroom to vent out moisture.
    • If you don’t have a window in the bathroom, leave the door open and open the closest window you can.
    Advertisement
  3. Moisture from a shower or bath that sits on the walls of the shower or tub can lead to mold growth. The best way to stop this from happening is to wipe down the walls with a sponge, towel, or squeegee after every time you bathe.
    • It’s important to get your whole family on board with wiping down the walls after every shower.
  4. When you're doing laundry, don’t leave wet clothes to sit in the washing machine, as mold will start to grow on the clothes. As soon as the washing cycle is complete, remove the clothes from the machine and transfer them to the drier or the line.
    • If you need help remembering to transfer clothes, set a timer when you do laundry.
    • Similarly, never leave damp clothes or towels lying around on the floor or bunched up in a laundry basket. Always hang wet things to dry.
  5. If you don’t have a drier or prefer to line dry clothes to save energy, always hang the clothes outside. Any water that evaporates from the clothes will otherwise hang in the air in your home, and this can lead to mold growth on walls, floors, and other surfaces. [2]
    • In winter, if you have to hang clothes to dry inside, make sure the room is well-ventilated, that air is circulating, and that air and moisture from inside are pushed outside with fans.
  6. It only takes between 24 and 48 hours for mold to begin growing on wet surfaces. [3] To prevent this, address standing water as soon as the spill, leak, or flood occurs. This includes water on:
    • Carpets and floors
    • Furniture
    • Clothing
    • Bedding
    • Foundation walls and basement floors
  7. Exhaust vents are important in many rooms in your house, including the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. In the kitchen and bathroom, turn on exhaust fans anytime you cook or bathe. In the laundry room, make sure the drier is being vented to the outside.
    • You should also make sure that your crawl space and basement are properly ventilated. If the air isn't circulating enough, install vents or fans. [4]
  8. Some appliances are equipped with drip trays that catch water and moisture. This includes refrigerators, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. Make sure you drain and clean these regularly to prevent mold from growing in them.
    • Emptying drip trays will also prevent spills, leaks, and overflows, which can lead to moisture problems under the fridge, near window sills, and on basement floors.
  9. Keeping the air moving in your house and providing a source of fresh air will really help to control the humidity in your home. When the weather allows, open the windows to vent out stale air, and use ceiling fans year-round to circulate the air inside.
    • If you don’t have ceiling fans, you can also use standing or oscillating fans to circulate air.
  10. A dehumidifier will remove any moisture from the air that you aren't able to prevent, and will help you control the humidity in the house. It’s particularly important to have dehumidifiers in damp areas, such as basements and crawl spaces.
    • If you have a large home, consider setting up at least two dehumidifiers in different areas of the house.
  11. Areas that are prone to being wet shouldn’t be fully carpeted. This includes basements that are damp or prone to flooding, and bathrooms. Instead, remove the carpet and install area rugs if necessary.
    • Area rugs are better than carpet because they can be removed, cleaned, and dried if they get wet. [5]
  12. Cold surfaces such as walls, pipes, and tanks are susceptible to having condensation form on them. You can prevent this with extra insulation. Outfit metal pipes with insulating sleeves, wrap toilet and water tanks with insulating blankets, and add more insulation to basement, exterior wall, and attic floors, ceilings, and windows. [6]
    • If condensation has formed on any of these surfaces, dry it immediately and inspect it regularly to keep it dry.
  13. Leaks are a main cause of moisture problems in a house, which can come from pipes, appliances, the roof, and faucets and taps. Inspect your home regularly for leaks and signs of water damage, and repair issues immediately. Don’t forget to check for leaks:
    • Under sinks
    • Around fridges, water coolers, and ice makers
    • Under floors, especially in the basement
    • Around air conditioners
    • Near toilets, tubs, and showers
    14. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Keeping Moisture Out of the House

PDF download Download Article
  1. Water can also get into your house from outside, and preventing this will protect your house from excess moisture inside. Along with fixing leaks in the roof and elsewhere in the house, you can also get rid of water by making sure that water is drawn away from your house. [7]
    • One way to do this is by installing extra gutters if necessary to direct rainwater away from your home.
    • If you have trouble with groundwater coming in, consider installing vapor barriers in the basement and a sump pump system that will collect water.
  2. Gutters are an integral part of the system that keeps water away from your house, so it’s important to keep them clean and well maintained. Clean the gutters every fall and spring to remove dirt, debris, leaves, and other matter. [8]
    • Address leaks in your gutters as soon as you notice them. If you can't repair the leak, replace the section of damaged gutter.
  3. A crawl space that has a dirt floor is susceptible to mold, because moisture coming up from the ground can make the area wet all the time. To prevent this, dry out the area with fans, and then cover the dirt with a sheet of plastic. [9]
    • Covering the dirt won’t necessarily prevent moisture from coming up, but it will stop mold from growing in the crawl space itself.
    4. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Keeping the House Clean and Cool

PDF download Download Article
  1. Keeping your house vacuumed and dusted will remove mold spores that enter your home, and this will prevent the mold from taking root and growing. For the best results, vacuum and dust your entire home weekly.
    • Ideally, you should use a vacuum that has a HEPA filter, but this isn't strictly necessary.
  2. Along with vacuuming, running filters or air purifiers in your house will also help to eliminate mold spores in the air. Filters can be particularly useful in damp areas like bathrooms, basements, and attics, as well as near entryways like doors and windows.
    • HEPA filters are among the most effective filters, and are able to remove over 99 percent of pollutants from the air. [10]
  3. Mold grows best in dark areas, so allowing natural light into your house can prevent it from growing. During the day, open all your curtains to allow natural light in. The heat from the sun will also help to dry up any moisture in the house.
    • In summer, outfit your windows with lighter drapes and curtains that allow light to pass through. This isn't always practical in winter, because lightweight drapes allow too much cold air in.
  4. Just as mold prefers dark spaces, so too does it grow better in warm areas. In the summer, use your air conditioner to keep your house cool, dry, and comfortable.
    • Most molds cannot grow if the temperature is below 70 F (21 C). Keeping your house at this temperature would be very expensive and inefficient, but you can still use the air conditioner to keep the air dry and relatively cool.
    • In winter, keep the heat as low as possible while still being comfortable.
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Why does my shower keep getting mold?
    Ashley Matuska
    Professional Cleaner
    Ashley Matuska is a Professional Cleaner at the Founder and Owner of Dashing Maids in Denver, Colorado. Ashley has over seven years of experience in the cleaning industry. She and her team specialize in offering sustainable deep cleaning and maintenance cleaning services. She received a BS in Biology and Sociology from Indiana University.
    Ashley Matuska
    Professional Cleaner
    Expert Answer
    If you're having trouble with mold in your shower even though you're cleaning regularly, it may need to be re-caulked.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
  • Question
    What causes mold growth in your home?
    Community Answer
    Leaky roof, leaky pipes or any general accumulation of moisture/humidity anywhere in the home can cause mold to grow. First, you need to stop the source of the humidity. Try a dehumidifier to dry out some of the moisture in the house. Using air conditioning in the warmer months will help keep humidity down inside of your home as well.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 15
  • Question
    How do I clean the mold up when I find it?
    Community Answer
    Try reading this: https://www.wikihow.com/Kill-Mold-With-Vinegar
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 19 Helpful 32
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Get Rid of Black Mold Safely & Effectively
      How to
      Get Mold Out of Shower Caulking
      How to
      Remove Mold and Mildew
      How to
      Dehumidify a Home
      How to
      Humidify Your Room
      How to
      Waterproof Your Basement
      3 Easy Ways to Waterproof Wood
      How to
      Clean Black Mold
      How to
      Dehumidify a Room
      How to
      Remove Moisture from the Air
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/lung/mold-mildew
      2. ↑ http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/laundry-dried-inside-health-hazard
      3. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-and-indoor-air-quality-schools
      4. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/lung/mold-mildew
      5. ↑ http://www.floridahealth.gov/Environmental-Health/mold/index.html
      6. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/lung/mold-mildew
      7. ↑ http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/stories/how-to-prevent-mold-9-tips
      8. ↑ http://www.bobvila.com/articles/19-quick-tip-cleaning-your-gutters/
      9. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/lung/mold-mildew
      1. ↑ http://www.livescience.com/43200-best-air-purifier-reviews.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Mold can be a health risk and impact the quality of air you breathe. To prevent mold from growing in your home, keep humidity levels low. Open windows when you shower to vent out moisture and wipe down your walls afterward to remove any extra water. It’s also important to use exhaust fans in your bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen whenever you’re using appliances. If you have a dehumidifier, set it up in places that are prone to mold, like basements or attics. Since mold grows best in dark areas, open your curtains during the day to let the sun in. You’ll also want to vacuum and dust regularly to prevent mold from building up. To learn how to add insulation to prevent mold growth, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 201,055 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Ken Johnson

        Feb 4, 2021

        "Very educational and informative. I will definitely utilize what I learned."
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement