How to eliminate mold from our homes
Does mold often visit your home uninvited and you don't know how to get rid of it? Don't be discouraged! In this article, we'll give you some tips on products to use to eliminate mold. But first, understand the causes of its appearance and the solutions to eradicate it.
Causes of Mold Appearance
Mold that appears in our homes is usually the result of humidity. This problem affects not only the aesthetic and decorative aspect of our homes but also our health.
Therefore, by eliminating this problem we are safeguarding our well-being and the comfort of our home.
What is Mold?
According to the European Lung Foundation, mold “is a type of fungus that grows in damp areas. It releases tiny particles, called Aspergillus , which can be harmful when inhaled.”
Mold is found in rooms or objects where there is:
- An excess of humidity;
- Little or no sunlight;
- And inadequate ventilation.
In addition to the aesthetic aspect of mold in homes, the biggest problem is related to respiratory health. People who live or work in humid environments are more likely to contract diseases such as:
- Asthma
- Pieira
- Respiratory Infections
- Rhinitis
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Tips for eliminating mold
In order to prevent the appearance of stains and the proliferation of fungi, it is common to wipe the infected areas with the same cloth. In reality, using the same cloth without rinsing it with clean water or not replacing it with another clean cloth only encourages the contamination of the problem, making it worse.
Although wiping with a cloth may seem to solve the problem, it is only masking it. Below, we give you some tips on how to eliminate mold and the best products to eradicate it.
Get rid of humidity
Rectify rooms where you suffer from humidity:
- There is no type of water infiltration that is contaminating the walls;
- That your rooms are ventilated (by opening windows to air the house or through ventilation systems such as fans, air conditioning or dehumidifiers);
- Avoid drying clothes indoors, as this increases humidity in the air. If you don't have the option of hanging your clothes outside, use a dehumidifier in the room where you have your clothesline.
Precautions to take to get rid of mold
You may have already had occasion to experience mold in some room in your house and, if that was the case, you tried to clean it but the mold stains came back or were not cleaned very well, leaving stains on the wall or other surface?
As we have already mentioned, cleaning several surfaces with the same water or even the same cloth makes the situation worse and only helps the fungus to spread to other areas.
Products to use to eliminate mold
To eliminate mold from rooms, we give you some product suggestions, such as our ally – Cleaning Vinegar – which is an ecological product that will help you with this task .
The best way to use it is to spray adequate amounts on the area where you want to remove the mold, and then use a cloth dampened with warm water to rub the problem area. Remember that the water must be changed frequently to prevent the fungus from spreading.
Another suggestion is to add a tablespoon of baking soda to vinegar. This combination is very effective in cleaning surfaces, walls, ceilings, ceramic furniture such as those in bathrooms, household appliances such as refrigerators and objects such as mirrors, glasses and salad bowls or fruit bowls made of wood, bamboo or wicker.
Also, be extra careful when cleaning: you can protect your face with a mask and your hands with our eco-friendly latex gloves ! This is because when cleaning mold you can spread the fungus into the air and inadvertently inhale it, which can be harmful to your health.
And if you're removing mold from the ceiling, cover the floor and remove furniture and textiles from the room. This will help prevent staining.
Care to be taken after cleaning
After removing the mold, you must take certain precautions to prevent it from appearing again!
It is essential to ventilate the room, open the windows every day and, if possible, let in natural light. However, if the room does not have windows, use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity created in the room.
If mold is something you're struggling with at home, don't despair. Follow our tips and make your own suggestions.
We are counting on you to help eliminate this fungus in our homes!