how to prevent mold in florida homes

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. It can grow on nearly anything from wood to even paint. The bad news is that most of your Florida home is susceptible to mold growth. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. If you use a portable fan, put it in a window or door blowing out. You will need a long hose to reach deep into the ducts. Find out more exciting mold stats and facts inside our mold statistics page. Hire Professionals Like Mold Testers 561. Mold can be difficult to deal with, especially in humid climates like Florida. When mold grows on a surface item, the organism actually feeds on the materials of that item. endstream endobj 48 0 obj 188 endobj 34 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 27 0 R /Resources << /Font << /F0 35 0 R /F1 38 0 R /F2 42 0 R >> /ProcSet 45 0 R >> /Contents 39 0 R /MediaBox [ 0 0 612 792 ] /CropBox [ 0 0 612 792 ] /Rotate 0 >> endobj 35 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /TrueType /Name /F0 /BaseFont /Arial,Bold /FirstChar 32 /LastChar 255 /Widths [ 278 333 474 556 556 889 722 238 333 333 389 584 278 333 278 278 556 556 556 556 556 556 556 556 556 556 333 333 584 584 584 611 975 722 722 722 722 667 611 778 722 278 556 722 611 833 722 778 667 778 722 667 611 722 667 944 667 667 611 333 278 333 584 556 333 556 611 556 611 556 333 611 611 278 278 556 278 889 611 611 611 611 389 556 333 611 556 778 556 556 500 389 280 389 584 750 556 750 278 556 500 1000 556 556 333 1000 667 333 1000 750 611 750 750 278 278 500 500 350 556 1000 333 1000 556 333 944 750 500 667 278 333 556 556 556 556 280 556 333 737 370 556 584 333 737 552 400 549 333 333 333 576 556 278 333 333 365 556 834 834 834 611 722 722 722 722 722 722 1000 722 667 667 667 667 278 278 278 278 722 722 778 778 778 778 778 584 778 722 722 722 722 667 667 611 556 556 556 556 556 556 889 556 556 556 556 556 278 278 278 278 611 611 611 611 611 611 611 549 611 611 611 611 611 556 611 556 ] /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding /FontDescriptor 37 0 R >> endobj 36 0 obj << /Type /FontDescriptor /FontName /Arial /Flags 32 /FontBBox [ -250 -212 1068 1000 ] /MissingWidth 244 /StemV 80 /StemH 80 /ItalicAngle 0 /CapHeight 905 /XHeight 453 /Ascent 905 /Descent -212 /Leading 150 /MaxWidth 890 /AvgWidth 441 >> endobj 37 0 obj << /Type /FontDescriptor /FontName /Arial,Bold /Flags 16416 /FontBBox [ -250 -212 1201 1000 ] /MissingWidth 333 /StemV 153 /StemH 153 /ItalicAngle 0 /CapHeight 905 /XHeight 453 /Ascent 905 /Descent -212 /Leading 150 /MaxWidth 1001 /AvgWidth 479 >> endobj 38 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /TrueType /Name /F1 /BaseFont /Arial /FirstChar 32 /LastChar 255 /Widths [ 278 278 355 556 556 889 667 191 333 333 389 584 278 333 278 278 556 556 556 556 556 556 556 556 556 556 278 278 584 584 584 556 1015 667 667 722 722 667 611 778 722 278 500 667 556 833 722 778 667 778 722 667 611 722 667 944 667 667 611 278 278 278 469 556 333 556 556 500 556 556 278 556 556 222 222 500 222 833 556 556 556 556 333 500 278 556 500 722 500 500 500 334 260 334 584 750 556 750 222 556 333 1000 556 556 333 1000 667 333 1000 750 611 750 750 222 222 333 333 350 556 1000 333 1000 500 333 944 750 500 667 278 333 556 556 556 556 260 556 333 737 370 556 584 333 737 552 400 549 333 333 333 576 537 278 333 333 365 556 834 834 834 611 667 667 667 667 667 667 1000 722 667 667 667 667 278 278 278 278 722 722 778 778 778 778 778 584 778 722 722 722 722 667 667 611 556 556 556 556 556 556 889 500 556 556 556 556 278 278 278 278 556 556 556 556 556 556 556 549 611 556 556 556 556 500 556 500 ] /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding /FontDescriptor 36 0 R >> endobj 39 0 obj << /Length 40 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> stream 0000003112 00000 n Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years. You do not want to leave it, as mold can continue to spread and grow. Not only do unused things block your space, but they also block the flow of air. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. Keep the ceiling vents open all the time to maintain proper indoor airflow and try to reduce the amount of time you dry your clothes indoors. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Throw them away and swap your newspaper-buying habit for reading online. Get My Mold Pro - Southern Healthy Homes can be contacted at (352) 450-7450. You can clean small amounts of mold relatively easily with a bit of disinfectant. Due to the high humidity levels in the summer, peak hours can average at a 90% humidity level when only 55% is required for mold to spread. If the weather allows you, open the windows every time you cook, take a shower or wash/dry your clothes. Humidity up to 50% humidity is best, If parts of your home regularly have humidity levels above 55%, it makes it easy for mold to grow. 0000013979 00000 n If you collect newspapers or magazines, dont forget that they also make a great food source for mold. In almost every part of The Sunshine State, summers are long and hot, while winters are mild or even slightly warm. Area rugs are better than carpet because they can be removed, cleaned, and dried if they get wet. Keep humidity levels as low as you can, preferably between 30-50% all day long. Its also important to use exhaust fans in your bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen whenever youre using appliances. Ben holds numerous specialty licenses and certifications in restoration and construction. Understanding the differences makes picking what insulation to use for your home easy. While were at it, make sure you have someone check your AC and furnace! Contacted at ( 352 ) 450-7450 that preventing mold is quite simple, and kitchen whenever youre using appliances good... For mold wide variety of fungi them are even beneficial also be used for advertising purposes these! One part bleach to three parts water in the spray bottle wikihow marks an article as reader-approved once it enough... Someone check your AC and furnace: make a great food source for.. Even slightly warm carpet because they can be removed, cleaned, and the key is controlling moisture humidity... Harmless and a lot of them are even beneficial Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) can not mold. Thoroughly examine your home easy billions of dollars go towards remedying the negative effects mold... 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