No one likes mold in their home. It’s dangerous, it smells, and it can be difficult to remove. Due to the humidity levels in Florida, mold is an ever-present worry. Mold thrives when warm air meets cool surfaces to create condensation. Just how can you make sure you don’t allow mold to grow in your apartment? By keeping to some simple steps.
Keep It Cool
Almost everywhere in Florida is either open air or air conditioned. Thank goodness for air conditioning! Keeping your space cool means that the surfaces don’t attract warm air to create condensation. And air conditioning is the easiest way to keep your air cool. You don’t have to run your AC at extreme levels, though. In fact, it’s best to keep it between 68 and 72 degrees. Not only is this great for conserving energy, but it saves you money!
Increase Airflow
Increasing your airflow means that air doesn’t get stale and stagnant. By turning on ceiling fans and leaving inner doors open, you are allowing the air in the apartment to flow unencumbered throughout the space. This will help move the cool air around, ensuring optimal performance of your air conditioners.
Keep Things Dry
This is an easy one. Try to take any wet things – towels, clothes, shoes, toys, animals, etc. – and dry them as quickly as possible. Anything wet releases water vapor into the air and creates a possibility for condensation and mold. Keeping surfaces dry will help combat mold and keep your home clean at the same time!
Use a Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier does exactly what it sounds like – it removes humidity and moisture from the air. In doing this, you are ensuring that you have a low-moisture home, as long as you perform regular maintenance on your dehumidifier. It will remove stale smells, reduce the likelihood of pests and bugs, and help protect your walls, clothes and furniture, in addition to protecting your entire home from mold and mildew.
Green Up Your Space
While plants can seem to make a room feel more humid, they actually help combat and suppress mold causing spores and bacteria by releasing certain phytochemicals into the air. Peace lilies, snake plants and spider plants are great are removing moisture from the air, which will help keep your home mold-free. Find what plant could be best for your Florida apartment.
Want to learn more tips about how to endure Florida Summers?
