Good to Know: Stop Mold Before It Starts

In steamy bathrooms, high relative humidity encourages bacteria, mildew and mold. It’s important, then, to keep humidity low. But how?

September/October 2005
By Debra Lynn Dadd 
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HEAT EVAPORATES HUMIDITY.
A small space heater, wall heater or overhead heat lamp will dry dampness left over from your shower.

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VENTILATION IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY to control humid­ity in a bathroom. This can be accomplished by opening a window or turning on an exhaust fan while showering. Make sure your fan vents to the outside of your home—not to the attic.

CONTROLLING MOLD GROWTH

• Dry damp surfaces before mold can grow. After each shower, towel off the walls, floor, and other wet surfaces.

• Fabric tends to hold water and host mold (cotton is particularly prone). Don’t install carpet in the bathroom. Wash bathmats frequently; damp bathmats left on the floor can grow mold. Make sure towels are laundered or hung to dry. Pull cotton shower curtains outside the tub to dry, and wash frequently.

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