Mildew Prevention Chicago: How to Prevent Mildew and Mold in Your Kitchen and Bathroom

Chicago sits on the southern coast of Lake Michigan, in one of the coldest regions of the U.S. That combination creates a nearly year-round climate for mold and mildew growth. Certain areas of your home are highly susceptible to moisture — the kitchen, bathroom, basement, and even your carpets. Mold and mildew follow, and your air quality suffers. In this guide, we will walk you through our mildew prevention tips, ensuring your home stays healthy and safe.

During the warmer months, Chicago residents know how much humidity the lake brings in. Seasonal summer showers add even more. This humidity can seep into your home and create moisture in unexpected areas. In the winter, many Chicago homeowners and renters face frozen, broken pipes. Melting snow can also flood a basement, leading water straight into your home. (Scary!)

As we’ve discussed before, you can easily remediate most mold issues. However, prevention should be of utmost importance – especially before seasonal changes – as oftentimes, the problem is not identified until it’s too late.

Learn more about mold and mold remediation here. Below, you’ll see how easy prevention can be.

Preventing Kitchen Mold

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Your kitchen is probably the epicenter of your home. Between constant activity, cooking, and heavy appliances no one thinks to move, it offers perfect nooks and crannies for moisture to turn into mold. Once a mold problem sets in your kitchen, it’s a little harder to completely eliminate. Here’s what you can do to prevent it.

Mold Prevention Checklist

  • Mold Resistant Paint: Using mold resistant paint in your kitchen will provide an extra layer of protection from mold and mildew, and can be found at most home improvement stores.
  • Keep it Dry: This might sound like a no brainer, but it’s important to keep in mind. Run your faucet on low while washing dishes or rinsing produce to avoid splashing water on the counter or around the sink. Make sure to clean and dry spills right away (even water) before it can penetrate the surface of your counter.
  • Avoid Carpets & Rugs: Who doesn’t love a soft surface underfoot while being bustling about the house? Carpets are great for that, but there’s no place for them in the kitchen! Because carpets tend to absorb and trap moisture, these warm surfaces offer the idea breeding grounds for mold and mildew to grow. Though you can wash rugs, it’s hard to track what’s happening underneath. Keep them out of your kitchen altogether.
  • Clean Your Cabinets: Regularly inspect and clean/dry the walls in your cabinets where mold and mildew may grow unnoticed.
  • Take a Look Behind Your Cooking Range: As we’ve said, a lot of moisture is created while cooking and it may be trapped behind and under your stove if there is insufficient or inadequate ventilation. Make it a habit to move your range every few weeks to thoroughly clean and dry the floor and the walls that house it.
  • Fix Leaks & Broken Pipes: This could easily be #1 on this list. Leaks in kitchens can originate from a number of places including your sink, under your sink, broken plumbing, the fridge and even your dishwasher. Always be on the lookout for dampness, moisture or dripping water. If you find any, fix it immediately and dry the area completely.
  • Keep Your Fridge Tidy: Keeping your refrigerator clean and well maintained reduces the chances of the appliance breaking down and leaking water which promotes the growth of mildew. Clean the inside as well as moving the fridge in order to thoroughly clean its sides and the walls which surround it.
  • Open Windows & Run Exhaust: Opening windows or running the exhaust fan in your kitchen can provide proper ventilation and airflow can prevent mold formation greatly. Given that we’re in Chicago, keeping the windows open isn’t always an option – run your exhaust!

Note: If you’ve already found mold in your kitchen, refer to our mold guidelines and give us a call for your free estimate.

Preventing Bathroom Mold

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Much like the kitchen, the bathroom is another typically humid, moist (and busy) area of your home and is therefore a great place for mold and mildew to find a cozy corner to grow. The key to your bathroom is eliminating dampness as much as you can. There are a few simple ways to do that!

  • Squeegee: Use a squeegee to wipe down bath/shower walls to help eliminate nearly ¾ of the moisture that could lead to mildew.
  • Run the Fan: Most bathrooms have fans to help keep the air in there dry. Be sure to run the fans during your bath/shower and for 30 minutes afterwards to help flush out the dampness.
  • Seal the Grout: Have tile in your bathroom? Seal the grout lines annually with standard grout sealer, available at most home improvement stores.

*Currently have bathroom mold? Scrub with detergent and water, then let dry completely. You may also use a solution of 10% bleach and 90% water (any stronger won’t help). Spray or brush on the solution, let sit for 10 minutes, rinse off and let dry completely.

If you have any questions, concerns or are already experiencing mold issues in your home – we’re here for you. Get in touch with one of our experts today for your free estimate.

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