How to Prevent Mold From Forming In Your Laundry Room

3/19/2019 (Permalink)

The key concept to preventing mold in your laundry room is keeping it very dry and very clean. Since mold feeds on moisture and food sources, keep them at a minimum. Wash your laundry often, dry clothes straightaway, maintain your appliances, and use a dehumidifier. Here’s how to prevent mold in your laundry room in more detail:

Do laundry often:

• The dirt or food that may be on your clothes can provide a source for mold to cling to and grow. Keeping piles of laundry sitting in the room can attract a lot of moisture and lead to mold growth. Don’t leave stacks of laundry piled up in the room for days, they need to be washed sooner than later!

Dry washed clothes immediately:

• Leaving clothes damp is not the way to go! They become musty, soiled and it eventually will spread mold spores into your laundry room. Don’t leave clothes inside the washing machine wet.

Maintain and clean the washer:

• Keep the washing machine dry as possible and leave its lid open when not in use, do not close lid! Leaving the lid open will help keep it dry and not trap moisture. Check for leaks or cracks coming from hoses attached to the machine. If your washer overflows and floods the area, SERVPRO can help suction out the water and clean up for you.

Maintain the dryer:

• Remove lint often to allow moisture to escape from the vent. Removing the lint will also help prevent a fire from happening also.

Clean appliances regularly:

• Your washer, dryer, and any other machines like your dishwasher, also need to be cleaned regularly. Don’t let moisture, debris, and grime build up on your appliances!

Use a dehumidifier in the laundry room:

• This will help control the amount of moisture in the air. Keep the humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent.

Properly ventilate the laundry room:

• When you are using the washer and dryer it would help opening up a window or running a fan to keep moisture from building up and allowing mold to form.

If your laundry room is in the basement:

• Control the temperature and moisture in the basement. Basements are hot spots for mold growth as leaks can happen frequently in this area.

If you see mold in your laundry room, try to remove it immediately. Mold spreads very rapidly! Call SERVPRO of Corinth/Iuka today at (662) 287-7881 if you notice a mold problem. We are always here and happy to help!