How to Prevent Mold in the Kitchen
by Jonathan Meyer

Description: Tips for identifying and preventing mold in your kitchen.

One of the worst known problems that home can encounter is mold infestation. With over a hundred thousand species of mold, some species can invade a home and pose serious health risks to its inhabitants. They are microscopic, floats in the air and can cause serious damage to structure like wood in walls and foundations.

Molds and mildew occur in areas with high humidity levels like bathrooms, kitchen, laundry rooms and basements. A home is more susceptible to mold growth after a water damage incident like floods after a storm.

Kitchens are one area that is most susceptible because of the humidity levels. Mold infestation can cause a serious health problem, considering that food is cooked and kept in the kitchen. Some mold spores can cause a variety of sickness if ingested into the body. It would be best to perform preventive measures before such scenario can occur.

Causes of Mold in the Kitchen

Molds thrive on moisture and humidity. Kitchens utilize water and if special attention is not performed in controlling sources of water, mold proliferation can occur. One of the more common areas where mold occur is under the kitchen sink. Most homeowners often disregard what is going on under the sink. Leaks in water pipes and drains can cause moisture, which can spread out into the wooden parts of the sink or the cabinet. Prolonged exposure to water can cause molds to grow and consume the material.

Leaks from refrigerator drains can be another source. The grout in between gaps in floor and kitchen cabinet tiles can be another area for mold growth as organic residues usually gets trap in between these gaps.

High humidity and moisture are not all caused by human acts. Natural calamities like storms and flood can bring considerable water and moisture into the kitchen, which can invite mold growths.

How to Remove Molds

The following are methods to remove molds from kitchen surfaces:

* Using a strong solution of bleach mixed with detergent and warm water, brush surfaces with mold by applying clear vibrant strokes. Use a facemask while working to prevent inhalation of the spores.

* Another alternative for mold removal is vinegar. To use, fill an ordinary pump or handheld sprayer with vinegar. Spray the material onto the molded surface and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse with a detergent and bleach solution.

* Natural or synthetic fungicides are available from hardware stores, which you can use to kill molds. Read or know the instructions first before using these chemicals.

Practical Tips to Prevent Mold

There are simple and practical ways that a homeowner can do to prevent the occurrence of molds in the kitchen.

* When cooking or working in the kitchen, always turn the exhaust fans or vents on. These can transfer humid air outside to prevent molds and mildew from occurring.

* Check for leaks in kitchen sinks, pipes and other water fixtures from appliances. Follow a routine schedule to prevent these problems from occurring.

* Use dehumidifiers when humidity is high in the area. These devices can remove moisture from the air and maintain optimum humidity. Install a hygrometer to monitor relative humidity (RH) in the kitchen. Optimum levels are at 40 to 50 percent RH.

* Regularly open windows and doors to improve circulation in the kitchen.

More about water damage in the kitchen. Jonathan Meyer is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading restoration services provider for water restoration and fire damage. To learn more about water damage, visit http://www.restorationsos.com/ or call 1-877-767-2407.

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