Prepare your home for spring

As you prepare your spring cleaning checklist, add to it tasks that can help prevent water and mold damage. Taking the extra time to complete these extra items can help save you time and money. These spring cleaning tips work well for the home and office alike.

Getting Ready for Spring

• Take the time to fix your windows if the winter weather took its toll on them. This could include adding new weather stripping to them. Windows in good working condition help prevent water damage in a home.
• Caulk the windows in your home. This will help maintain the temperature of your home while minimizing energy losses. Additionally, caulking can help prevent water damage and the growth of mold.
• Clean and setup dehumidifiers in your home. Humidity encourages the growth of mold spores you cannot see, which can cause you to feel sick.
• Clean all your fans well, including your ceiling fans. If any mold grew on the blades of a fan, you could risk spreading the spores throughout your home or office when used.
• Test all of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to make sure they work. If you cannot remember the last time you replaced the batteries in the alarms, replace them ASAP.
• If you have a sump pump, make sure it works well before the spring rains begin to pour. Failures in sump pumps are one of the most common causes of basement flooding when the weather begins to warm.
• If you already have experienced a minimal amount of mold growth in your home, clean it right away with a household bleach product. If you are sensitive to bleach, you can make a natural mold cleaner by combining 2 cups of water with 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil in a spray bottle. Spray the mix on the affected area and wipe it away with a towel. The tea tree mixture is also a good solution to prevent mold growth in damp areas such as windows and bathrooms.

If your mold problem covers a large area or has affected your ceiling, walls, books or wet papers, call a mold restoration specialist soon. These professionals can help kill the mold, prevent it from returning and restore mold-damaged books, photographs and documents.

[Photo: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection]