Mold-proofing your home, basement
Why are molds a concern?
Is there a mold problem?
How can you tell if it is mold?
How much mold is growing?
How to clean mold?
Dealing with an ongoing mold problem.
Preventing mold.
Mold-Proofing your home, basement.
Mold-Proofing your home, bathrooms, kitchen, laundry.
Mold-Proofing your house, closets and bedrooms, exterior.
Should I have my house air tested for mold?
The air feels dry, can I humidify?
What advantages do HEPA vacuums provide?
Is vacuuming with a HEPA or externally exhausted vacuum cleaner recommended for serious mold problems only?
Where do you find a HEPA vacuum cleaner?
- Reduce the amount of clothes, paper and furnishings stored in the basement. Discard badly damaged materials. Eliminate clutter to improve air circulation. Only washable items should be stored.
- Dehumidify the basement during the warm months.
- Avoid carpets on slab-on-grade or below grade floors.
- Periodically clean the drain in your basement floor. Use half a cup of bleach, let it stand for a few minutes, then flush with plenty of water. Keep the drain trap filled with water.
- Avoid standing water. Keep sump pits covered (you can use plywood wrapped with plastic).
- Regularly clean and replace furnace filters. Use a pleated one-inch filter, not a coarse filter.
- If you have a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), clean the filter inside the HRV often.
- If you notice molds or signs of dampness, such as water on your windows or wet spots elsewhere, do not humidify. Disconnect furnace humidifiers that are no longer used.
- If you have electric baseboards, vacuum the units, or have a professional clean them for you.
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