Basement Mold - How to Seek and Destroy It

Why do most people have basement mold? The answer is rather simple, actually. Most of the houses that experience the occurrence of basement mold are likely to have leaks in their basements or unseen water entry ways. This wet or humid environment is ideal for the growth of mold. In fact, many basements have mold, but the homeowners never even know it!

What we have learned about mold is the fact that it thrives in moist, damp environments and that the darkness further creates a great place for mold to grow in. So what better place than in a damp and dark basement to settle in, right?

Once you spot even just a small amount of mold in your basement you should begin looking for a leak in your pipes or somewhere that water might be seeping through into your basement. Check all the edges and corners as well as around the water heater and all the joints on your pipes. The sooner you find these leaks, get them fixed and kill the mold that is already there, the lower the chances of it spreading to other places in your home.

Having just a small amount of basement mold visible to the eye shouldn't make you feel complacent about the situation. The thing is, there might be hidden mold behind the walls, under the carpeting and even in the ceiling. Mold can spread through spores so once you have it in one spot, it can be spread to other areas. If there is a place that is attractive for mold growth, it's a sure bet that the mold spores will find it.

So when you do a check, make sure that you cover everything. Getting rid of just the visible mold in your basement will only be a temporary fix if you don't also fix the water problem. You might consider getting a dehumidifier once you get rid of the existing mold and fix the leaks as basements, by nature, can be rather humid even without leaking water.

Mold can be rather persistent and, since it likes dark places, it can "hide" in areas where you might not find it so it is important that you take the steps to create an unfriendly environment for it. Keeping things neat and organized as well as stored in sealed containers can help a lot. If you have anything with fabric such as tents, or the cushions from patio furniture, you should check these periodically for mildew as once a bit of dampness gets into these fabrics, storing them in the basement can be a disaster for them and once fabrics get mildew or mold, you are unlikely to ever be able to get it out.

It's no fun having basement mold, but if you take action when you first notice it than you will run much less of a risk of your mold problem getting out of hand. Not only is mold unpleasant to smell and look at, but it can also have adverse health effects so getting rid of it fast should be a priority.