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There are mold spores everywhere, searching for damp, dusty places to thrive inside of our homes. Our work then, is to try to manage our indoor environments in ways that don’t allow mold spores to grow. This means reducing moisture and dirt.
Remove dirt by regularly wiping down surfaces, reduce clutter to reduce the surfaces where mold can grow, and vacuum weekly to limit dirt and other toxics that come in on shoes and paws.
Managing moisture is key in preventing mold growth and tends to be most challenging in kitchens and bathrooms. One of the easiest things you can do is run fans for at least 30 minutes after using any kind of water – bathing or cooking. Make sure fans are working well, are clean, and vent to the outside of your home.
1. Working Well: For bathroom fans, put one square of toilet paper up to the fan. If the fan can hold it, it’s working fine. If not, it needs to be cleaned or repaired. If the kitchen fan can’t clear all of the steam from a pot of boiling water, open a window to help reduce moisture.
2. Keep them Clean: Clean bathroom fans at least once a year and clean the kitchen fan at least once a month or as needed to reduce grease and food build up.
3. Vent Outside: Make sure fans vent to the outside of your home and not into the attic or, in the case of a kitchen fan, into a cabinet. The vents should lead outside so moisture is ventilated outdoors, not into a different part of your house.
4. Use ‘Em! Run fans for at least 30 minutes after showering, bathing, and cooking. This will help most of the moisture clear out, completely.
If you don’t have fans that are working well or if they aren’t vented to the outside, keep a window slighly open in these rooms for 30 minutes after bathing or cooking. Use a squeegee or towel to remove extra water from windows and shower doors.
Trained professionals can help deal with moisture issues. Get help as soon as possible if you have an issue before it turns into a larger mess. The professionals on this list have all received training with certified healthy homes professionals from Thurston County Public Health to learn how to prevent and clean up mold. They can help evaluate a problem and do repairs if needed.
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