In my experience, no single factor can more easily derail a real estate transaction than mold or mildew. And how it got to be that way, I honestly can't say.

For many years, the "Ask Heloise" solution for clearing up mold and mildew was to mix one gallon of warm water with a cup of household bleach, then rinse and scrub the affected area. But today, we are confronted with a phalanx of mold & mildew remediation experts, ready to solve all such problems for a price.

It turns out that mold is easier to prevent that it is to clean up. In order for mold and mildew to be happy, it needs moisture, warmth, and food source (almost anything organic including dust, paper and wood). If you can eliminate any one of these three conditions, the mold can't grow. Eliminate all of them, and you are guaranteed to have no problem at all.

I recently came across a pamphlet from the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service entitled Preventing Mold In Your Home, and I found its advice quite helpful. The entire report is available as a free download on my money99.com website, along with additional information.

The primary cause of household mold and mildew is excess moisture. This can be caused by leaky plumbing, excessive humidity, or poor drainage.  Poorly ventilated interior bathrooms and showers often present all three of these conditions, and thus are hotbeds of mold and mildew growth.

Mildew is a thin, whitish to bluish-green growth produced by molds. And even though it can be difficult to wipe out mold in the wet areas of your home, it is important to keep the presence of mildew to a minimum. As is the case with all molds, moisture is the primary culprit in the growth of mildew.

Getting the right "Moisture Balance" in your house is important to preventing molds in the first place. Dr. Jorge Atiles of the UGA Extension Service describes the four factors we should examine:

• Source Strength refers to the sources of moisture inside your house. The best way to reduce these sources is often to limit the amount of time spent performing certain activities, such as washing, bathing or cooking, especially cooking involving lots of boiling. Also, correcting leaky pipes or drains can be a great help indoors. I was surprised that the report finds portable dehumidifiers typically ineffective because they have a tendency to add back heat into the environment. That added heat often contributes to mold growth at the same time it removes moisture from the air.

• Temperature is an important component in the mold growth formula, and is also a factor in condensation. The cooler the indoor surface, the greater the degree of condensation. Thus, shower stalls and window sills are frequently mold problem areas.  In addition, higher temperature air can hold more water vapor, contributing directly to moldy conditions. So a whole house dehumidifier may be needed.

• Moisture Transfer Rate refers to the passage of moisture in and out of your home. Here newer homes will have the edge, as they are built much tighter than in years past. But that same tight construction may be holding in excess moisture as well as keeping drier air out. Replacing drafty older windows, sealing air leaks around doors, weatherizing before insulating, and using a vapor barrier in crawl spaces can effectively alter your home's moisture transfer rate.

• The Circulation and Ventilation Rates of your home will also impact indoor moisture. Installing HVAC supply vents located to promote circulation, and using exhaust fans to remove excess moisture (such as in the kitchen and bathroom) can improve your home's circulation - ventilation rate.

I once managed a vintage rental house in which the bathroom was plagued with mold and mildew. The bathroom was perpetually scrubbed with bleach based cleansers, but to no avail.

Then I installed a ceiling fan in place of the light fixture and asked the resident to run the fan for an hour after each shower or bath. Apparently, the increased circulation caused the moist air to dissipate enough to eliminate the problem.

By monitoring these four factors and taking steps to lower moisture in all areas of your home, you can likely discourage mold and mildew from flourishing in the first place, and preventing mold is typically easier than cleaning it up later.

I am aware that there are rare situations in which mold and mildew growth have become such a serious health hazard in a home that professional help is needed. Experts in the field call that "remediation."  

But I have come to the conclusion that keeping mold under control is an ongoing chore and, in the vast majority of cases, one that can be accomplished by the average homeowner. Winning the war against mold usually takes nothing more than an awareness of the underlying causes coupled with vigilance and common sense.

To download a printable version of the UGA Cooperative Extension Service pamphlet mentioned above, click below:  
 Preventing Mold In Your Home