The kitchen is one of the most common places in the home that experience the presence of mold. In many situations, the kitchen is the perfect grounds for exceptional mold growth. Especially if homeowners are unaware of what mold requires to successfully grow. So, knowing how to prevent mold in this room of the home is important for any homeowner.
In this article, we outline how to prevent mold from growing in the home. This way, homeowners near and far can take necessary precautions. And, keep from having to address one home issue homeowners dread having to overcome – mold.
Why Does Mold Grow in the Kitchen?
Before you can fully understand how to prevent mold from growing in your kitchen, you must understand WHY mold grows in kitchens. Some reasons mold may be growing in your kitchen can include:
Darkness: There are many nooks and crevices inside a home kitchen. And, since mold doesn’t necessarily like or need light, this makes it a prime spot for mold to grow. Specifically, inside dark cabinets and behind appliances.
High Temps: Mold likes warmth and grows the fastest when given a temperature of between 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit. So, unless you like extremely high or low temperatures in your home, you probably already give mold the right temperature to grow in your kitchen.
Air: Mold, like almost every other living organism, requires oxygen to grow. So, like temperature, this is something that you can’t really control.
Organic Matter: Mold actually eats organic matter. Specifically, the starches and sugars found in material made up of cellulose. This can include your cabinets and drywall located in your kitchen. So, part of how to prevent mold from growing in your kitchen is checking these materials and cleaning them often.
Time: Mold grows extremely fast. Sometimes, in as little as only a day. This means that cleaning kitchen cabinets and appliances is important for preventing mold growth in the kitchen.
Moisture: Arguably, this is one of the most controllable assets that mold needs to grow. So, if your kitchen appliances are leaking or your home air is humid, you may be providing the perfect environment for mold to grow.
How to Prevent Mold in the Kitchen
Now that you know why mold would grow in your kitchen, you can better learn how to prevent mold from growing in this room of your home. While you may not be able to control light, time, air, and temperature, there are some things you can manage. Specifically, mold from eating away at your organic materials. And, the moisture level in the air of your home. To protect your organic materials from mold, check them at least once a month. And, wipe them down with a solution of water and bleach. To prevent high humidity levels, you may want to consider investing in a dehumidifier. This will monitor and manage humidity levels in your kitchen so mold won’t have the moisture it needs to grow full-force.
Where to Check for Mold Growth in the Kitchen
There are some places in the kitchen that may be more susceptible to mold growth. Some of these places include:
- Refrigerator doors and pull out drawers
- Inside and under kitchen cabinets
- Around kitchen countertops, specifically the sink
- Above cooking surfaces like your oven and range
- Appliance water supply lines (refrigerator and dishwasher)
- Around garbage disposal lines
Addressing Kitchen Mold When You Find It
While you now know how to prevent mold in the kitchen, you may already be a victim of this common household occurrence. But, if you do find mold in your kitchen, it’s important not to panic. Or, decide on hasty ways to attempt to remove mold for yourself. While you can certainly try to manage mold growth by wiping surfaces it’s growing on, you need to address the issue professionally in order for mold to not grow back.
To fight mold growing in your kitchen, consider experts who are licensed and insured to ensure your safety and effective mold removal. If you’re in South Florida, choose A Plus Mold Remediation Inc. for any and all of your kitchen mold needs. To get a quote for kitchen mold removal, simply contact us on our website today.