Mold Damage In Your Missoula Bedroom

Most Americans spend over 90% of their time indoors, so having a good environment at home, work, or school, or wherever you spend your indoor time, is crucial! Mold Growth at home (and especially in the bedroom) can feel like such an unapproachable, dire problem because we spend so much of this time in our bedrooms, and we know mold growth increases the risk of health problems (and even sleeping problems. Talk about a double-whammy!) At Five Valleys Restoration, we see all sorts of mold problems each day. Here are some of the things that could be causing your bedroom mold problem: 

Mold Damage In Missoula

1. Poor ventilation. Poor ventilation (especially where combined with humidity) can cause warmth, air, and moisture to stop flowing and sit stagnant– giving mold an opportunity to use those things to grow. To fix this problem, try keeping the door (or a window) to your bedroom open to increase air flow. Use a fan and/or dehumidifier. In some situations, mold growth is easily preventable by simply changing a lifestyle habit. For example, some people lay their laundry out to dry, but if you’re doing that in a bedroom that isn’t well ventilated, you may just make the air more moist and encourage mold growth in that way. Try using a drying rack to dry your clothes, or hanging them outside or in a different room. Alternatively, establishing good ventilation in the room and maintaining it until after clothes are completely dry works too. 
2. Poorly kept plants. Mold growth on plants isn’t the end of the world, and it won’t harm your plants. But, even small-scale mold growth on a plant can send spores into the air where you sleep and spend time, and they can be bad for you. Usually, mold growth on plants is a result of overwatering, poor drainage, or contaminated potting soil. 
3. Water damage. Water damage as a result of steam, leaky pipes, or a compromise in the structure of your home can lead to mold and mildew growth in the walls and carpet. In this case, it is best to call a professional for help (be that a plumber, roofer, water damage restoration expert, etc. For mold issues in the Missoula area, we hope you’ll consider Five Valleys Restoration a resource. 
4. Mattress. Honestly, anything that can store moisture from the air (or water from any source) that doesn’t dry easily in its environment can be a risk for mold growth. To prevent your mattress from harboring mold growth, vacuum it occasionally, wash your sheets, and put a water-proof mattress cover on. 

Mold growth in your bedroom is never a fun thing to see (or smell.) Assess your own situation, making changes where you can to make your home drier, cleaner, and less easily colonized by mold! For existing mold, we encourage professional removal and cleaning to completely fix the problem and minimize spore spreading. Good luck with your restoration process! We hope to be a part of the solution, and, in any case, hope it goes as smoothly as possible.