How to Prevent Mold Growth in the Laundry Room

The key to preventing mold in your laundry room is keeping it dry and clean. Since moisture and a food source (like dirt or cellulose) are the two ingredients of mold formation, 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 your laundry frequently. The dirt or food on your clothes can provide a food source for mold. Moreover, piles of laundry can attract humidity and lead to mold growth. Don’t stack up dirty laundry for days on end!
• Dry washed clothes immediately. Damp clothes can become musty and spread mold spores into the laundry room. Don’t leave clothes inside the washing machine and avoid storing them in bags made out of plastic.
• Maintain the washer. Keep it as dry as possible and leave its lid open when not in use. Check for leaks coming from hoses connected to the washer. The washer connections must be properly attached. If your washer overflows, check out how to handle washing machine overflows.
• Maintain the dryer. Remove lint frequently to allow moisture to escape through the vent unobstructed. Removing lint also helps prevent the risk of dryer fires. In addition, make sure the dryer ventilation is correctly directed to the outside.
• Clean appliances regularly. Your washer, dryer, and other machines also need regular cleaning. Follow the cleaning instructions in the manufacturer’s guide. Don’t let moisture, debris, and grime build up on your appliances!
• Use a dehumidifier in the laundry room. This device helps control the amount of moisture in the air. For a mold-free environment, keep the humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent. Note that dehumidifiers help prevent mold but they don’t actually kill it.
• Properly ventilate the laundry room. The simplest way to ventilate the laundry room is to open windows and doors when the washer and dryer are running. Using a powered fan also helps.
• Place desiccants in the laundry room. Silica gel packets you find in your purchases come in handy not just for keeping products packages dry. Place some silica gel packets in areas prone to mold growth.
• If your laundry room is in the basement, control the temperature and moisture in the basement. Basements are notorious for mold growth as leaks are frequent in this area. Check out tips to keep water out of your basement.

If you see mold in your laundry room, remove it immediately. Mold spreads rapidly, posing health risks and structural damages. Call a mold remediation company, such as PuroClean, who can remove the mold using professional tools and expertise.