Is there a musty smell lingering in your home? Are you experiencing a constant runny nose or throat irritation? These are common symptoms of airborne allergens, specifically mold spores—a dangerous loiterer to have in your home. Fortunately, you can take steps to reduce their occurrence and stop their spread before they become a live-in roommate.
What Causes Mold Spores in the Air?
Mold naturally lives in our environment but specifically thrives and grows in damp places. A plethora of airborne mold spores in your home is certainly the result of some kind of moisture issue, such as:
- Roof or internal plumbing leaks
- Poor outdoor drainage
- Poor indoor air circulation
- High indoor humidity
- Improper ventilation
- Malfunctioning HVAC system
Related Topic: Catch the Culprits: Mold
How Long Do Mold Spores Stay in the Air?
Unfortunately, mold spores can remain airborne indefinitely, especially when mold is present, not fully removed, or disturbed in your home. And even if mold is not currently present in your home, mold spores can travel long distances—attaching to you or pets or entering through ventilation. Once inside, they can quickly spread and latch on in unattended damp areas.
Because there are so many opportunities for mold growth in your home between your HVAC systems, ventilation, plumbing, and even outdoor maintenance, regularly inspecting for mold is vital. Maintaining proper air circulation and inspecting air quality will also help to minimize the potential for lingering mold spores.
How to Get Rid of Mold Spores in Your House
As a natural and important aspect of our environment, mold spores cannot be fully eliminated from inside your home. However, they aren’t a health hazard until they begin to amply spread and grow into mold. That’s why if you have a mold spore issue, you likely have a moisture issue, an ideal environment for harmful amounts of mold to begin growing. So, to remove this hazard from your home, you’ll need to tackle the root of the problem as well.
To get rid of the majority of excess mold spores:
- Install an Air Purifier: Using an air purifier to remove mold spores in the air is one of the best ways to initially get the problem under control because they work by capturing and removing harmful pollutants in your home. However, you shouldn’t rely on this alone to fully eliminate spores when they can remain in filters, depending on the severity of the spore amount.
- Ventilate your home: Keep your home properly ventilated by allowing fresh air in occasionally and making sure that humid areas (kitchen, bathroom, basem*nt, and attic) have proper fan ventilation.
- Replace HVAC filters with higher efficiency ones (HEPA): Unlike most HVAC filters, HEPA filters are designed to capture much smaller pollutants like mold spores and can be a much safer option for those who struggle with respiratory issues. However, because they more heavily restrict airflow, your system should be checked for compatibility.
To tackle the root of mold growth and prevent spores from spreading:
- Get a dehumidifier: It’s possible that despite proper ventilation, there is still a lot of natural humidity in your home. A great way to control this issue is with a dehumidifier. This will help keep your humidity levels at a controlled percentage.
- Inspect and clean your air ducts: Incorrect duct sizing or buildup from lack of cleaning can lead to trapped moisture and blockage. Get your ducts inspected, and schedule regular duct cleaning to avoid attracting mold.
- Inspect plumbing and your exterior for leaks: Plumbing leaks can be hard to spot if they’re located in less-visited or even hidden areas of your home—unattended they can lead to a lot of damage and mold growth. It’s also important to maintain the exterior for improper drainage or leaks that will surround your home and lead any mold growth to eventually enter and find other sources of moisture.
Related Topic: How to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Stop the Spread of Mold Spores with Expert Air Purification Services
The bottom line is that to deal with the spread of airborne mold spores; you need to address the root of the problem: excessive moisture. Doing so will remove the hazard of mold and create a more comfortable and efficient home environment. To get started, contact your local Aire Serv for mold spore control. Our Air Purification installation services can help reduce and control humidity and improve the indoor air quality in your home. Give us a call us, or request an appointment online today.
FAQs
A great way to control this issue is with a dehumidifier. This will help keep your humidity levels at a controlled percentage. Inspect and clean your air ducts: Incorrect duct sizing or buildup from lack of cleaning can lead to trapped moisture and blockage.
How to remove mold spores from air in house? ›
Use an air purifier: An air purifier can help trap mold spores in the air and prevent them from spreading. Be sure to choose a model with a HEPA filter, which can capture particles as small as 0.3 microns. Use a dehumidifier: Mold thrives in damp environments, so reducing humidity levels can help prevent mold growth.
What can I spray in the air to kill mold spores? ›
Baking Soda: Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and can help absorb moisture from the air, making it difficult for mold spores to grow. Mix a quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda with a cup of water in a spray bottle and apply it to areas with mold growth.
How do you get rid of airborne mould? ›
Fogging will eliminate all airborne mould spores and other bacteria. The product is non-hazardous, biodegradable and not harmful to any contents. The fogging machine we use distributes a mist into the air throughout the entire property to ensure consistent coverage of the entire living environment.
What can I do about mold spores in my house? ›
The first step to mold cleanup is to control the moisture problem. The source of the water or dampness must be identified and corrected. Porous materials with extensive mold growth should be discarded (e.g., drywall, carpeting, paper, and ceiling tiles).
What air filter removes mold spores? ›
HEPA Filters: True HEPA filters are designed to capture particles as small as 0.3 microns—including mold spores.
What kills mold in air vents? ›
Bleach can be used on a non-porous surface to clean air vents. Mix one part bleach with 16 parts water. Make sure to vacuum the air vents with a HEPA vacuum. Then use a rag with your bleach solution and scrub the affected parts.
Does Lysol spray kill airborne mold spores? ›
Does Lysol kill mold spores? The active ingredient in most Lysol disinfectant sprays is benzalkonium chloride (BAC), a quaternary ammonium compound with antifungal properties. Lysol is designed to kill mold and mold spores on surfaces — it is not effective at killing mold spores in the air.
What is the best cleaner to kill mold spores? ›
Use undiluted white vinegar on hard surfaces in kitchens and baths. A bleach solution also works to kill mold. Mix one cup of bleach in a gallon of water, apply to the surface and don't rinse.
Does vinegar actually kill mold spores? ›
Both vinegar and bleach are practical and powerful to kill mold growth around the house. However, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Vinegar is a safer choice than bleach. If mold is growing on porous surfaces: Vinegar can penetrate deep into the pores of the surface, killing around 82% of it.
Unfortunately, mold spores can remain airborne indefinitely, especially when mold is present, not fully removed, or disturbed in your home. And even if mold is not currently present in your home, mold spores can travel long distances—attaching to you or pets or entering through ventilation.
Can you test for mold spores in the air? ›
Air samples can be used to gather data about mold spores present in the interior of a house. These samples are taken by using a pump that forces air through a collection device which catches mold spores. The sample is then sent off to a laboratory to be analyzed.
How do you prevent mold spores from breathing? ›
Wear an N95 or HEPA respirator mask purchased from a hardware store to reduce the mold spores you breathe in. Tightly cover the air return vent if there is one in the affected area.
How to remove mold spores from the air? ›
Place air purifiers throughout your home to kill mold in the air. The only way to directly kill mold spores in the air is to use an air purifier. For best results, place purifiers in each room of your house to ensure maximum efficiency in killing the spores.
Do mold spores go away on their own? ›
Conclusion. Mold spores don't die and will grow back and multiply after a long time of inactivity once moisture is introduced.
Can mold spores be removed? ›
Open the windows for added ventilation but keep the doors shut to avoid spores spreading. Fill a bucket with water and a mild detergent like washing up liquid. Or use a dedicated mould remover to make quick work of it.
How long do mold spores last in the air? ›
Unfortunately, mold spores can remain airborne indefinitely, especially when mold is present, not fully removed, or disturbed in your home. And even if mold is not currently present in your home, mold spores can travel long distances—attaching to you or pets or entering through ventilation.
Do air purifiers remove mould from air? ›
Mould spores float around in your home's atmosphere, and an air purifier can do a great job of filtering them out. Mould will struggle to take hold when you use an air purifier. Mould spores find it much harder to spread when humidity and temperature levels dip.
Does cleaning mold release spores? ›
During the cleanup of mold, many spores may be released into the air. To prevent health effects, there are several ways you can protect yourself while cleaning up the mold. Anyone with a chronic illness, such as asthma or emphysema, or who are immune comprised, should not do the cleanup.
