As a homeowner, mold and mildew is a serious problem. Not only can mildew smell, but it can also take a toll on some of the structural elements of your home – including the paint on your walls. If you live in an area that is tropical or experiences high humidity, mold and mildew may be a common problem. Also, if your home has a small bathroom with a limited amount of ventilation, you may also experience mold and mildew. When it comes down to it, finding ways to reduce the mold and mildew, or finding ways to make sure you prevent mold and mildew from ever happening, is critical – for your quality of life and for the sake of your home and family. Here are five mold and mildew prevention tips.

1. Make sure to increase the airflow in your home. Sometimes, a little airflow is critical to preventing mold and mildew in your home. Mold and mildew usually occur when there is stagnate, moist air. So, you want to allow fresh air to flow through your home because mold and mildew will have less of a chance to proliferate. Also, providing plenty of sunshine will also help prevent mold and mildew.
2. Put away wet clothes, towels or any other items that are wet. After you do laundry, it is important to immediately put the clothes in a dryer. Even clothes that are slightly moist can start to grow mildew spores that will start to have an incredibly pungent smell. Also, if you have wet rugs or any other area of your home with moist fabric, you want to put it in a warm, dry area, because that will prevent mold and mildew spores from proliferating and spreading. If you have a wet rug, it could be a magnet for mold.
3. Open your bathroom windows when you take a shower. If you don’t have ventilation in your bathroom, you want to make sure to open the windows during and after a shower. A shower room can be a literal hotbed for mold and mildew, so it is important to let moisture escape after you take a long shower. What can happen is that the moisture from the bathroom can travel to other rooms when you open the door. So, you want to open the windows first.
4. Use a whole house dehumidifier. A dehumidifier can be used to lower the humidity levels throughout the home. A dehumidifier may also be the best way to save money on your air conditioning expenses. When it comes getting the most bang for your energy buck, lowering the humidity levels will allow you to rely less on your air conditioner. No matter what, though, keeping the humidity levels low will also prevent mold and mildew.
5. Make sure that your air vents are not blocked. Having proper circulation throughout your home is important when it comes to reducing mold and mildew. So, if you have large items in front of your air vents – or if you haven’t cleaned your vents in a long time – you may want to give them a thorough cleaning. The cleaner your air, the less mold, and mildew will become a serious problem.