MANILA, Philippines — Filipino families have much reason to be concerned about their homes when monsoon season is at its peak.
The terrible weather brings in heavy rain and strong winds which can heavily damage house exteriors, and the aftermath leaves domestic blows indoors.
One of these interior woes is the presence of mold, defined by Merriam-Webster as “a superficial often woolly growth produced especially on damp or decaying organic matter or on living organisms by a fungus.”
Fuzzy or slimy mold and mildew (another form of fungus, but powder-like) pop up in the damp environments that rainy weather brings, growing on surfaces and even clothes.
Signs of mold beyond physical manifestation include a musty smell, discoloration or water stains on surfaces, peeling wallpaper or paint, and in some case allergic reactions.
Below is a list of budget-friendly tips to clean up the presence of mold, and to prevent them from forming in the future.
Mold cleaning
A surefire tip is using acid, kitchen acid that is like white vinegar or lemon juice.
Spray white vinegar or lemon juice directly on mold, then after an hour scrub and rinse the sprayed area.
White vinegar mixed with water is also used to clean furniture with moldy areas or leather accessories. Mold can form in hidden areas like under the bed or inside and behind furniture.
A half-cup of lemon juice can also be used for laundry, although it should be noted that colors may fade on clothing. Remember to dry the clothes, but not indoors!
Another dependable solution is borax or sodium tetraborate, which kills molds instantly and stops future growth in the area its applied on.
Be sure to wear gloves and eye protection when scrubbing water mixed with borax on surfaces. The same goes for using bleach.
A friendlier and more natural solution is spraying neem oil mixed with water on frequently damp areas like bathroom or kitchen tiles, shower curtains, and windowsills
Mold prevention
Ensure your home is properly ventilated by opening windows and doors after it rains so that fresh air can circulate. Frequently-damp areas like bathrooms, kitchens, attics and basements may need built-in exhaust fans.
With fresh air going around, humidity drops and mold has no place to grow.
There are other ways to dehumidify room-like plants (snake plant or peacy lily), rock salt, charcoal briquettes and silica gel pockets — yes, the ones found in with new clothes and medicines.
Or, one can simply purchase a machinated dehumidifier or air purifier and use fragrant essential oils like tea tree and lavender.
Opening windows, or even just the curtains, lets sunlight in and its ultraviolet radiation aids in eliminating spores. Plus, it dries up the lit area.
A popular home technique is using baking soda while cleaning. Mixing baking soda with water makes a paste that when scrubbed on surfaces or left in damp areas, soaks up moisture and eliminates the musty smell.
Lemon juice and white vinegas can also be used here during regular cleaning of bathrooms and kitchens, mixed again with water in spray bottles. For added scent and sure fungus removal, add drops of tea tree or lavender oil.
Outside, make sure proper drainage keeps and steers water away from the house by regularly cleaning gutters. Tend to leaky roofs, walls, and pipes immediately.
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