The Mold Top 3
According to
Michael Pugliese, author of “The Homeowner’s Guide to Mold,” there are three
main necessities that mold spores need to grow and thrive :
1) Moisture
Mold spores
need moist or damp areas to grow and reproduce. Watch for flooding, leaky pipes
or windows, etc.
Also excess
moisture in the bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms are prime areas for mold
growth.
2) Food
Mold spores
need food – in the literal sense as well as other materials ie cotton, leather,
wood, paper products and others. The most dangerous materials mold loves to
grow on, are porous materials (beds, couches etc).
Its often
impossible to remove mold growth from these items.
3) Optimum Temperatures
Mold spores
thrive in temperatures 32 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures from about
70 – 90 degrees are the most conducive for mold growth.
Chances of mold
growth are heightened greatly between those temperatures.
You may be
wondering why mold can grow in your freezer. Mold doesn’t die when temperatures
drop below 32 degrees, they lay dormant until temperatures raise, or they are
set out to warm up.
Favorable
Conditions for Mold
Michael
Pugliese, author of the same book previously mentioned, also offers 5 tips
describing favorable or unfavorable conditions for mold growth :
A relative
Humidity of roughly 50% or higher
A good
preventative measure would be to purchase a hygrometer to measure humidity
levels in your home.
Damp or Dusty
Conditions
Avoid
developing piles of rags, clothing or other mold food sources.
Stagnant air
This explains
why overly “tight” homes designed for energy efficiency can have mold problems.
Unfavorable
Conditions for Mold
Ventilation
Good
circulation throughout the home is important to eliminate dampness or potential
moisture; especially in attics, basements, crawlspaces, laundry rooms.
Dry Air Indoors
Make sure to
keep your home’s relative humidity down below 50%. Original Article Water Damage Local.com is available 24/7 to handle all of your mold removal and remediation problems. 
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