Basement Mold

When it comes to fighting mold, one of the prime areas of mold growth is the basement. This dark, damp area is a natural breeding place for mold. Worse still, it’s a commonly neglected area of the home as well. Here are a few ways you can help prevent the growth of basement mold in your home.

An ideal way to prevent basement mold is to keep groundwater from seeping into your home. This includes turning off the garden hose as soon as you’re through using it and pointing any sprinklers or other lawn watering devices away from your home if possible.

Another good way to prevent basement mold is to keep any drains completely unobstructed. This way, in the event of flooding, the water will have a place to go. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to accidentally cover this with a washing machine, storage boxes, or other large objects. Blocking it, however, promotes the growth of stagnant puddles. While mold doesn’t typically grow in stagnant water, it can nevertheless seep into the floor and promote mold growth.

Is your basement carpeted? If so, be sure that you check the carpet frequently for damp spots and do your best to dry any spills as quickly as you can. When your carpet is soaked, it’s all too easy for mold to form underneath it, and once it’s established itself, it’s next to impossible to get rid of. A sign of extreme basement mold is actually seeing the stuff growing on top of your carpet rather than underneath.

Should you encounter a small patch of basement mold, you have a chance of treating it by scrubbing it with a solution of boric acid. However, if you discover that you have a significant amount of mold, no amount of scrubbing or scouring will prevent it from spreading. In this case, it’s better to simply remove the mold by removing its source. While replacing chunks of drywall or older wood may be expensive, it’s not worth the constant battle of reappearing mold.

These are only a few ways you can combat basement mold. While it’s not typically an easy task, the more preventive measures you take, the better off you’ll be. To prevent mold from spreading to other areas of your home, be sure to have regular mold tests, clean up stagnant water, and clean your ventilation systems regularly to prevent it from circulating throughout your home. Learn more today!