Tips to remove mold in the house after rainy and humid days

Molds in nature have the ability to strongly decompose complex organic compounds, contributing significantly to ensuring the natural material cycle.

However, on humid rainy days, mold appears in many places in the house we live in, causing inconvenience and even danger to the health of family members.

According to SCMP, mould usually grows in warm, damp conditions – places where moisture is trapped in the air. Mould spreads and reproduces by producing spores, a common component of dust in homes and workplaces.

Mold spores that form in large numbers can lead to problems such as allergies, respiratory illnesses, and symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and joint pain. Some molds also produce mycotoxins that affect human and animal health.

Therefore, we need to know the areas where mold exists in the house to remove them, protecting the health of family members.

Moldy walls

Many houses have this problem, especially tube houses in alleys, when the walls of two houses built next to each other can become "water bags" every time it rains and they seep into the walls for a long time.

Some other houses are moldy due to poor construction techniques, improper mortar mixing ratio, and lack of waterproofing.

In the humid weather conditions of the North, this situation becomes more serious, affecting the health of people with respiratory problems.

To remove mold on the wall, you can use one of the following solutions: disinfectant alcohol, vinegar and baking soda, fresh lemon, bleach... rub on the moldy area and leave it for 20-30 minutes, then rinse with clean water.

If the moldy area is larger, you will need to call in a professional who will treat the mold and seal it to prevent it from coming back.

Mold inside HVAC system

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, or HVAC for short, are areas where mold can hide.

After a long period of use, the air conditioner is not cleaned regularly, causing dust and waste to accumulate in the evaporator and filter, creating bacteria nests, and in humid weather, it develops into mold.

When you turn on the air conditioner, the musty smell is blown out with the wind, bringing an unpleasant odor, directly affecting your family's health.

As soon as you detect mold in your air conditioner, you should stop using the device and treat it as soon as possible.

If mold has only appeared on the filter, remove it and use a soft-bristled brush to clean the dirt and mold on the filter.

Next, soak the filter in a 1:10 solution of detergent and water for about 10 minutes, then rinse with water. Finally, let it dry completely and reinstall it in its original position. Note that before installing the filter, you should clean the outside surface of the evaporator to remove any remaining mold.

If the wall-mounted air conditioner has a large amount of mold forming, deep and scattered in many components, you must call a professional cleaning service to handle it.

The best way to prevent mold in your HVAC is to perform regular, periodic maintenance and cleaning of your system.

Mold on clothes

During the wet season, your clothes, even when hung in the closet, still feel damp. Some clothes even have black mold stains or white mold stains, especially with natural materials such as cotton, wool, and leather.

These mold stains not only lose aesthetics and reduce product quality, but also pose a risk of causing skin diseases to the wearer, especially the sensitive skin of young children.

Moldy underwear also causes the risk of genital diseases and can affect fertility.

To treat these mold stains, you can use a solution of lemon juice mixed with salt or a mixture of vinegar and water in a 2:1 ratio and rub it on the mold stains, then wash as usual with detergent.

You can also remove mold stains on clothes with Javen bleach mixed according to the instructions, but it should only be used on white clothes because Javel can remove color.

To prevent mold on clothes, you should not leave dirty clothes for too long before washing, dry clothes in a dry, airy place with lots of sunlight so that the clothes dry quickly.

When it rains for many days and the surrounding air is humid, a dehumidifier can solve the problem of drying clothes on days with little sunlight, limiting the situation of moldy clothes that cause bad odors.

For washing machines, you also need to clean the detergent tray, wipe the door slots and clean the washing drum regularly once a week to keep your clothes cleaner and more fragrant.

With leather clothes, when hanging in the closet, you should cover them with a cotton cloth to prevent moisture from seeping in, which will effectively limit mold.

Mold on carpets, mattresses

Mold is easy to detect because it always gives off a characteristic odor. When you detect mold on your carpet, the best way is to treat the carpet and let the floor air out.

With mattresses, if the mold is not too large, you should first vacuum all surfaces of the mattress, then use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide with a rag to clean the mold (note that you should always wear a mask and gloves when handling mold).

After thoroughly scrubbing the mold stains to kill the spores, let the mattress dry completely in the sun or a hot dryer. Next, spray the outside of the mattress fabric with a disinfectant.

If symptoms or other signs of mold remain after you have attempted removal, consider replacing the mattress.

To protect your mattress from mold and mildew, you need to ensure good air circulation on both sides of the mattress. Therefore, you can use slats to improve the ventilation around the mattress.

In general, the best solution to combat mold in your home is prevention. Try to keep things dry, use good ventilation, and if possible, install dehumidifiers.