Attack mold in your home before problems occur
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- If water seeped into your home during the floods this week, the next thing you need to think about is mold.
Mold can grow quickly causing damage to your home and your health, but it can also be prevented quickly with a few store-bought products.
"All it needs is a little moisture and a little dark space, and it can grow so quickly," said host of Today's Homeowner Danny Lipford. "It can be there and you won't know it at all. Especially very porous materials carpet, carpet pad, and insulation that's in walls."
But preventing it can be simple if you start now.
"The first thing you need to do is dry out your house," Lipford said.
Take everything outside that you can, then turn on every fan.
"Your ceiling fan, make sure you're using it in a counter-clock-wise position so it's creating a breeze throughout the house. Any type of small box fan. Also, exhaust fans in your bathroom, range hoods in your kitchen. Then open every window and door you have in the house," Lipford said. "When you think it's all nice and dry inside, it's not. Keep the fans going 24 hours a day for at least another week or so."
In the meantime, sanitize with a solution of bleach and hot water to wipe out the mold spores. Once that dries, it's time for the most important step.
"This is something most people don't know about, it's an anti-microbial spray. You can pick it up at any of the home centers," Lipford said.
Lipford said long after the flood is over, you may think you're in the clear, but take notice of any changes.
"You think everything's clean and all of a sudden a month or so later, you see the white specks. It looks like dust but it's actually those mold spores that are growing. Sometimes it's white and sometimes it dark black mold," Lipford said.
For tips on preventing water damage before the flood begins: www.todayshomeowner.com.
