Rain Falling Down From The Roof Of A House In A Forest

How Does Rain Cause Mold Damage?

Recent meteorological reports have said that the La Nina phenomenon will probably arrive in July or a little after, and that means wetter weather conditions for a fairly long time. This does sound like good news; after all, the dry, humid weather we’ve been having lately has not at all been pleasant for everyone.

Even without any clear indications of how La Nina will affect our local climate, it’s still likely that Singapore may have plenty of rainfall: October 2022 saw the country’s highest rainfall in over 40 years. It pays to be a little prepared ahead of the rainy season, especially since heavy rain can still potentially cause mold damage in your home or business premises. It’s crucial that you promptly address mold growth in your interiors for the sake of your well-being.

How Rain Promotes Mold Growth

Mold is everywhere, and with the right conditions, it can grow and thrive before it spreads itself to many other areas. Mold can be found growing on food items, wood, cardboard, tiles, and even fabrics, mainly favoring warm, dark, and damp places with minimal airflow and humid conditions. Its spores can easily spread anywhere via air, water, and even insects, and will grow in areas that suit its needs.

Rain can offer mold the perfect conditions for its propagation in your home. Heavy rainfall can increase overall humidity levels on the inside and outside, creating a golden opportunity for mold to start growing on your premises. It can also lead to overflowing drains and gutters that can end up getting under your flooring. This may be exacerbated by any small leaks or cracks in and around your home that can allow rainwater to seep in.

Rain can also lead to condensation when warm, moist air meets a cool surface. Condensation causes dampness as water accumulates on these cool surfaces, and when it rains, the amount of condensation can increase. This ends up making an area that much more attractive for mold to grow.

After a rainstorm, you may find mold growing in areas that are at risk of higher humidity levels or increased water exposure: this may be your bathroom, kitchen, storeroom, and even the basement or attic (for landed properties).

Bathrooms: To no surprise, the bathroom is possibly the most likely candidate for mold growth. This is because it’s constantly exposed to moisture whenever we use it to wash ourselves, along with relatively poor ventilation conditions in some homes. Rain and condensation are the ingredients needed to promote mold growth in the bathroom, leading to patches in the corners, along bathtubs and pipes, and even close to your shower.

Wooden furniture: Wood is a porous, organic material that easily absorbs water and requires ideal conditions to release it back into the environment. When moisture seeps into wooden surfaces, it provides mold spores the perfect place to grow, with cellulose found in the wood providing a much-needed source of nutrition for the spores to thrive.

Walls and ceilings: Minor damage to the exterior of your premises, such as broken roof tiles or cracks in the concrete, can let rainwater seep into the walls and ceiling without you realizing it. Condensation is the leading cause of dampness that allows mold to grow in these areas. You’ll only notice it when the mold begins to grow, forming black or greyish spots or splotches all around the affected areas.

Basements and attics: Condensation and poor air ventilation are significant issues for these rooms, as it can be very difficult to get rid of moisture without using special equipment (like dehumidifiers). As such, it ends up making these areas a hotbed for mold growth.

Getting Rid of Mold

A Male Builder With A Sprayer And Spatula Cleaning Mould Off A Wall

It’s unpleasant enough to have to stand the sight (and smell) of mold growths in your own home, but the health implications can also be dire if you don’t get rid of your mold problem immediately.

The first thing you’ll need to do is make sure you have sufficient ventilation before you start working, and ensure that you and anyone else helping you are wearing protective equipment at all times. Mold spores can still be found in the air and can cause various health issues, such as breathing difficulties, skin irritation, and fatigue; for people who may be allergic to mold exposure, it can prove to be life-threatening.

Here’s a handy checklist of necessary safety equipment you’ll need before starting:

  • Rubber gloves – it’s advised that you don’t touch mold with your bare hands
  • Rags or cleaning cloth
  • Hard bristle brushes
  • Sponges
  • Cleaning solutions, either natural, DIY or commercially available types
  • Spray bottles for your cleaning solutions

Cleaning Hard Surfaces

Getting rid of mold on hard surfaces is fairly straightforward: make use of a non-ammonia cleaning solution and hot water to wash away mold using a sponge or stiff brush. Alternatively, you can also use undiluted white vinegar or two tablespoons of baking soda mixed with two cups of water.

If you’re using commercial cleaning solutions, make sure to read the instructions thoroughly before using them. Make sure you scrub the affected areas as thoroughly as you can. Be mindful that you don’t end up damaging the surface even further while you’re busy cleaning it. Rinse and scrub your cleaning tools often as well, so you don’t end up spreading mold spores elsewhere.

If possible, refrain from using bleach except for disinfecting cleaned surfaces. Bleach only cleans mold on the surface and, since it’s made up of 90 percent water, may end up soaking into the surface of whatever you’re cleaning. This would be counterintuitive, as it ends up promoting new mold growth.

Additionally, bleach can emit strong fumes that can be a health hazard to you and others. It might also damage various other items as well. You should also avoid mixing it with other cleaning solutions to avoid creating harmful toxic fumes.

When you’re done removing mold off the surface, rinse the surface with water and let it dry completely; you could also wipe it clean till it’s dry. In some cases, you may need to leave the cleaning solution for some time to let it work its magic on the mold. Make sure you ensure it’s dry enough so that mold doesn’t make another attempt at growing again. You can use a fan or dehumidifier to speed up the drying process.

A Caution for Walls, Ceilings and Tiles

While you can, and should, clean mold-affected walls, ceilings, and tiles, you should know that mold can grow deep inside the surface of the affected areas. Surface-level mold is easy to deal with, but assessing the damage deep inside will require professional help to properly deal with.

Let’s take floor tiles as an example: there may be small cracks that allow water to seep in and accumulate, making for ideal conditions for mold to grow without your knowledge. Mold can also grow in the grout or caulking around the tiles, and these can be very difficult to dislodge. In worst-case scenarios, you might have to replace the grout or caulking with a new layer.

Cleaning Porous Surfaces

With wood and other porous surfaces (bedding, rugs, and so forth), it’s a lot more difficult to be able to clean them. In some cases, you may have to throw out some items entirely, as there’s no way to thoroughly remove mold from them. Here are a few useful pointers to help you out:

  • Before you start: It may be a good idea to first test your chosen cleaning solution on a small surface of the surface you plan to clean. This can ensure that it doesn’t end up causing any unwanted damage instead of getting rid of mold.
  • Leather furniture and items: You can use distilled white vinegar for this. Simply use it to wipe down all leather surfaces with a towel or rag; repeat this part as needed. Follow up with leather cleaner mixed with warm water for better results, then use a leather conditioner to restore the look and feel of the affected leather surfaces.
  • Clothing and other fabrics: You can use various natural solutions, such as vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, to remove mold from these items. Be sure to get rid of any surface mold before doing so, as a precaution. If an item has severe mold growth on it, it’s better to throw it out.
  • Books: Books can also end up getting wet and cleaning these can be a chore. First, dry them thoroughly under the sun or place them in a container with silica gel or anything similar that can absorb moisture. Once done, carefully clean each page using a soft brush or cloth. Make sure each page is fully dried out before moving on to the next page.
  • Wood: A solution of mild dish detergent and water should be sufficient. Scrub off any mold you find with a sponge or brush, but don’t use any that are too abrasive to avoid removing the finish or paint on the wooden surface. Don’t rinse the surface clean, but use a clean and lightly damp rag to wipe away any residue. Leave the surface to dry thoroughly before repeating the cleaning process if required.
  • Carpets: Unfortunately, any kind of carpeting can’t be saved and must be thrown out. Make sure you carefully dispose of it and clean the area where it was with a cleaning solution of your choice.

Preventing Mold Growth

Half Shot Of A Women Wearing Cleaning Gloves Using A Light Blue Brush Scrubbing Mould Off A Table

Getting rid of mold is fairly easy (except for more serious cases of mold growth), and so is keeping them at bay.

Regular Maintenance

It helps to keep your premises clean at all times, as it’s still the best way to prevent mold from coming back. Make a point to regularly check areas that are at risk of mold growth. A telltale sign is a musty odor wafting in the air; in most cases, though, you might not smell anything at all. Clean your home at least once a week, prioritizing areas like the bathroom where mold is most likely to grow.

Another thing you can do is make sure that areas that get wet often are kept dry and clean at all times. If there’s plenty of water on the floor or other areas, make sure you remove them as quickly as you can. Make sure to also keep any towels, rags, water bottles, and other items dry when not in use.

Repair Leaks and Other Damage

If you suspect that there may be a leak somewhere in your house, you’ll need to get it fixed as soon as possible. Damage like this is a leading cause of uncontrolled mold growth as rainwater seeps into your home. There could be other serious issues that might arise as well if leaks are not promptly repaired. Much of the work needed to remedy this will need professional assistance, so make sure to contact a reputable agency to help you solve this.

Improve Ventilation

Bathrooms are particularly prone to mold growth since it can get wet and humid after you take a bath. But this can also happen to other areas such as the basement or underneath the sink. It’s important to have sufficient ventilation to reduce humidity and moisture levels, thereby preventing mold from growing. You can leave the window open before and after using the bathroom to help minimize humidity and moisture content.

Some places may have bathrooms with little to no form of ventilation beyond the bathroom door. It’s recommended that you install an exhaust fan inside these types of bathrooms to provide the airflow needed to keep humidity and moisture levels under control. Otherwise, leave a fan on in front of the bathroom for at least five minutes.

Use Dehumidifiers

Air dehumidifiers are a handy tool that regulates moisture levels in the air inside a particular space. Air is pulled from the surrounding area and into the dehumidifier, which collects moisture via its internal compressor cooling coils and into a reservoir. The air is then reheated and exhausted back into the room. This ensures that the humidity inside is not conducive enough for mold to spread.

You can find various types of dehumidifiers in all shapes and sizes, so pick one that would work best for your home or business premises. You don’t need to leave it on the entire day; just make sure you keep all windows and doors closed while it’s running. Do ensure there’s enough space so that the air can circulate freely. Be sure to also clean its filters regularly so it doesn’t clog during use.

Let the Sunshine In

Sunlight can also play an important part in preventing mold growth! It’d interest you to know that UV rays – specifically, UV-C rays – emitted by the sun are harmful to mold, damaging their DNA and eventually killing them. You can open up your windows and curtains to let sunlight in for about 1 to 3 hours to get rid of mold spores. It does still depend on the intensity of sunlight coming in, as well as how long your interior is exposed to sunlight.

Do note that long-term UV-C exposure can also be harmful to your general well-being, so try not to stand in the sun’s rays for too long.

Keep your Home Mold-Free with Tyche Enviro

Rainy days may be a bad sign where mold is concerned, but as long as you keep a close eye on things, you’ll be preventing mold growth before it can even take root. But if you’re already experiencing a mold problem that can’t easily be solved, you’ll need to get the help of a professional mold removal service provider to handle your woes.

Consider enlisting the help of TYCHE Enviro! We provide highly professional mold removal services and a free onsite inspection to help you assess your mold situation and develop a remediation plan that works best for you. Our highly trained mold remediation specialists will identify the root cause of mold growth and use the latest industry-approved techniques and equipment to effectively remove your mold problem.

A Hand Holding A Black Sponge Scourer Scrubbing Away A Patch Of Mould On A White Wall
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