Mold is not only in our homes and offices but everywhere that we go and visit as we run our day to day errands. If you are an individual that has a lot of allergies when exposed to dirt, dust, and mold.
You must know how to reduce the mold allergies when you get in contact with them in these places. So instead of feeling as if you are fighting a losing battle with allergies to mold.
Take steps to limit your exposure to mold by being aware of the outdoor spore levels as you cannot limit your movement of going outside. In this article, you will learn of different ways that you can reduce mold allergies.
1. Inspect your landscape
Firstly, it is important to ensure that your landscape stays dry. So, inspect your landscape well and do any necessary maintenance practices that will keep it dry to reduce any possible mold spores. For instance, you can start by raking dead leaves around the surrounding of your home.
Additionally, you can hire AWA Environmental Texas that can help you inspectfor any mold in your landscape. It is important too that you check how your rainwater drains from your house, and also how fast. This is important, especially if your house is in a shady spot, as this shows you have a poor exposure to the sun and so it takes longer for any water or dampness to dry out.
2. Take precaution before you go
Since you have to leave your home to do many errands often. You must think before you go by taking the necessary precautions. This is important since mold is present in various stores and other business premises that you can visit during the day.
For instance, farms, construction sites, greenhouses, antique shops, and many other places. So, wear a dust mask if you know that you will visit an area with possible mold spores or dust. Also, you can take the allergy medication that will keep you calm and control any incontrollable sneezes and coughs due to inhaling the mold spores.
3. Control the moisture in your home
Moisture is one of the things that creates a perfect environment for mold to grow. So take the moisture out of your home by taking various measures that can be of help to ensure your home remains mold-free. Some of the ways to control the amount of moisture in the air in your home is using dehumidifiers and air conditioners.
Also, if you can check your humidity levels, ensure that it is below 60%. If it can go lower to between 30% and 50%, it is even better. The meters that will help you measure your humidity levels are easily available at hardware stores, and they are affordable.
4. Look into your basement
Many homes have basements that they rarely look after. These basements can be moldy places, and it is important to look into them as often even when you do not use them. If the humidity is high in your basement, use a dehumidifier or a thermostat and lower the humidity levels.
To add on, it vital that you choose the flooring that does not hold moisture such as concrete or linoleum. More importantly, look into what you are storing in your basement as mold can grow on clothes, old papers, bedding, wood, among other things. Thus, ensure what you store in the basement is waterproof, and in airtight containers that will not allow mold to sneak in easily.
5. Act fast in case of leaks
Leaks in the home tend to happen once in a while. Since moisture is one of the things that attracts mold to your home, it is important that with any leaks, you fix them as soon as possible. Also, spills that leave your rugs wet and other surfaces need to be dried quickly too to ensure that you control the mold from growing.
Quick action will always pay off and it should be a priority when you need to solve any leaks or spills when they occur. So fix leaky faucets and pipes too and also mop water off the floor right away to ensure that you do not create a place for mold to start growing in your home. Also, this includes your gutters that have moist leaves most of the time, as they are an ideal breeding ground for mold.
6. Maintain cleanliness
When you ensure that you keep it clean in various places of your home where mold can easily thrive. It is among the best ways that you can control mold allergies. Thus, places that are warm, damp, and humid are some of the places molds can thrive and need to be kept clean. When you clean your kitchen, bathrooms, and living rooms, the clean surfaces will not create any breeding ground for mold.
However, if it is left with spills, scum, and grease, they attract mold growth in your home. So for the kitchen, keep an eye for mold in the refrigerator drip pans, garbage pails, sink drain, and door seals. While for your bathroom to cut down the levels of humidity open windows or use an exhaust fan.
7. Avoid what you can
Since mold spores are everywhere and they cause your allergies to spike easily. It is best to know what to avoid to reduce your mold allergies. For instance, piles of damp leaves and uncut fields are some of the common places to find the mold, and hence it is vital to avoid them. Also, if you need to dig up plants, rake leaves or mow a lawn. Wear a dust mask if you cannot stay away. After doing these activities, you must take a shower to ensure you clear any mold spores that can be hiding in your hair and skin.
To conclude, the above ways are the best to reduce mold allergies, and when you can avoid them, it is best to calm your allergic reactions.
8. Vacuum Regularly
The 7 Best Vacuums for Allergies of 2020 rates the top vacuums in categories ranging from Best Canister to Best High-End.