Mold Prevention Tips:

• Keep humidity between 35%-50%. If your humidity is too high, you can grow mold
easily - if it is too low, it can be irritating to your sinuses.
• Always run the exhaust fan in the bathroom when showering - turn it on when you
enter the bathroom and let it run for at least 30-45 minutes after your shower. If you
have a window in the bathroom, open that as well.
o Make sure your toilet is not wobbly - this would indicate that the wax seal inside
has been broken and the toilet could be leaking without you knowing it.
o Make sure your shower curtain is inside the tub and all the way to the front of
the shower so water does not leak out onto the floor.
o Look for missing grout in between the shower tiles - any missing grout could let
water in when you shower. Cracked tiles should be replaced or fixed as well.
o Check caulking along the bathtub so no water can get under the flooring.
• Leave blinds all the way open during the day or at least raise them approx. 4 inches so
air can circulate behind them to avoid getting condensation on the windows that leads
to mold growth. Open curtains also to let air circulate during the day. If you see
condensation on the windows, wipe it up immediately. Check your humidity level if you
keep getting condensation, it may have to be lowered.
• Opening windows and allowing fresh air to get inside helps keep mold spores down. In
addition, using a 'True HEPA' air purifier on the main level and upstairs is always a good
idea to keep the air clean in your living space. Make sure it is not undersized for the
space you have it in or it will not make a difference.
• Running just the fan on your furnace or AC continually will help circulate air and give
mold less of a chance to grow. (Mold likes still air to grow, moisture and a food source.)
• NEVER use a humidifier that is attached to the furnace! Only use portable room
humidifiers. Putting moisture into an enclosed duct system that is dark, and has lots of
dust, dirt and mold spores in it is a good way to grow mold and spread it throughout the
house.
• Use the highest rated MERV filter you can for your furnace. I suggest the 3M Filtrete
brand you can get at Target. For older furnaces, you may have to use a lower MERV
rating – check your owner’s manual. Furnaces that are 90% + efficient usually take
higher MERV rated filters. Avoid cheap filters, they are not worth the money. Change
filters every 3 months or more often if you’re having issues.
• Get your ducts cleaned at least every 5 years. More often if you have pets or allergies.
Make sure to get the roto brush service at a minimum to get all the gunk out! Some
companies also offer a mold fog that can go inside the ducts which is also helpful.
• Keep ice dams at bay and rake – rake – rake that roof!
• Make sure your downspout extensions are attached at all times and extend at least 5 +
feet straight out into the yard. After mowing or yard work, double check that they
didn’t get knocked off.
• If you have a sump pump, in early spring when the ice melts, take a large bucket (5
gallons if possible) of warm water and pour it into your sump pump. Have someone at
 the other end to make sure it is coming out properly. If your sump pump float is not
working or there is another issue, you’ll have a flood in your basement because it won’t
be working when you need it most. Make sure the end of the hose outside is at least 6 +
feet from the house so the water is not just going back into your foundation.
• Keep furniture and shelving on the main levels/upstairs at least 3-4 inches away from
walls to allow air circulation behind things.
• If you bring used items into your house make sure to clean them appropriately
• If you buy used Persian rugs have them cleaned first by a professional company – I’ve
notice high levels of mold spores in all the ones I’ve seen
• Basic maintenance to keep your air cleaner and help prevent mold –
o Vacuum and dust thoroughly every week (all the nooks and crannies)!
o Get the cobwebs out of the corners and everywhere else – especially check
windows and the basement ceiling
o Check windows and doors for excessive dirt and dust and clean them (look in the
tracks of both and keep the dirty out)
o Keep moisture and frost out of window corners in the winter. Constant water on
the windows damages the wood finish making it ripe for mold growth.
o Clean window screens once a year
o Vacuum out heat supply vents regularly (take off the cover) and the outside of
the return vent cover even if you’ve had your ducts cleaned
o If you have a radiant baseboard heater vacuum the fins at least once a year
o Have carpets and large rugs deep cleaned once or twice a year by a professional
o Wash drapes, bedspread, blankets/throws at least 4 times a year
o Don’t pile wet bath towels on the floor or any wet clothes…..!!!!! Hang them to
dry or wash them right away
• If you have musty things that can be washed, use Micro Balance’s EC3 Laundry Additive!
It takes out the musty/moldy smells. Online order only.
• Basements –
o Keep supply vents open! Even if you don’t use the basement, you must keep air
circulating to prevent mold. Heat will always rise to keep you warm upstairs.
o Never put carpet in a basement! Concrete is very porous and eventually, over
time, just a bit of moisture will get onto the backside of the carpet and feed the
mold spores in the carpet. Mold will start to grow and have a party at your
expense! This is the ‘musty’ smell you notice in many basements…..it’s really
mold.
o From spring to fall, always run a dehumidifier in the basement and set it for
around 35%-40% humidity level. Upstairs will always have more humidity than
this so you should be good on the main level.
o In storage rooms or basements, use only metal shelving to prevent any chance of
the shelves absorbing musty smells or holding onto mold spores.
o Keep shelving at least 3-4 inches from the walls.
 o Never pile or stack items in the corners of storage rooms or the basement
because it keeps air from circulating. Corners can often have less air circulation
anyway, and mold likes to grow in stagnate air where stuff is piled up.
o Any doors in the basement that are not opened on a daily basis should either be
left open for air flow, or replaced with a louvered (slated) door. This includes,
but is not limited to: doors for storage under the stairs, closets, utility rooms,
storage rooms, etc.
o Get a good quality ‘True HEPA’ air filtration unit and run it in the basement
continuously. Make sure it is sized correctly for the square footage of the room.

Bottom line – keep your humidity in check, keep the air flow flowing, and you will
have a much healthier, happier home!