Once mold spores find the perfect warm, dark, and wet environment in your home, they will grow and multiply by sending out new spores through your home's air. Mold can be toxic to you when it is in your home, so it is important to be on the lookout for any mold growth and get rid of it. Here are three of the most common places mold grows in your home and tips to clean and prevent mold growth.

Under the Sink

It can be common for the drain pipe under your kitchen or bathroom sink to leak. Even a small pinhole leak in the pipe will allow enough water to drip onto any items stored under the sink or soak into the wood of the cupboards, creating the right environment for mold. When the wet material under your sink doesn't dry out within 24 hours, mold can grow. Check underneath your sinks often to watch for any water leaks so they can be cleaned up and repaired.

If you do find mold and it is on a surface less than ten square feet, you can use soap and water to scrub it from the surfaces. Throw out any items that you cannot clean with soap and water. If the mold covers a surface larger than ten square feet, you will need to call a professional mold remediation company like Central Flood Management Inc to remove it.

Under Carpeting

If you have water leaking into any carpeting in your home, this is at high risk to grow mold. The foam padding retains moisture well and when it is sandwiched between the floor and the carpet, it creates the perfect environment for mold growth.

When you have carpeting that has gotten wet, it is best to pull out the padding and allow the carpeting and padding to dry separately from each other. Otherwise, the carpet and pad won't dry fast enough before mold grows. Hang the padding so you can direct a fan to blow over both sides of its surface. Use a shop vacuum to pull out any excess moisture from the carpeting, then dry the carpeting in the same manner as the padding. 

If you discover your carpeting has mold growth, you will need to remove it from your home immediately.

Behind the Refrigerator

Your refrigerator's water line and coils can be the source of a water leak behind and underneath the unit, allowing mold to grow on the wall and the flooring. It is a good idea to check and clean behind your refrigerator often and be on the lookout for any signs of moisture there.

If you do find mold growing, clean it with soap and water, or hire professionals, depending on the size of the mold problem.

Use prevention and proper clean-up with these three common mold-growth areas in your home.

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