How To Prevent Mold In Your Home As A Renter: 6 Pro Tips

Preventing microbial growth is a huge part of maintaining a healthy home—whether you own or rent. Mold might not be the first thing on your mind when you sign a lease agreement, but it's something all renters should consider.

We can't exactly put a bubble around our homes, so particles like mold spores and mycotoxins will inevitably blow inside. It's up to us to actively work to keep particle levels low in our homes. Deep cleaning your space regularly (including appliances) helps remove particles like spores, bacteria, and toxins, improving air quality and decreasing the likelihood of microbial growth.

Building the right cleaning product arsenal is a key piece of the puzzle. A HEPA vacuum cleaner, botanical cleaning products, and microfiber towels should be included to ensure particles are actually being eliminated.

This step will vary based on the specific apartment complex. Some companies will change the air filters themselves, and others will place the responsibility on the tenant to swap out the filter.

For those tasked with changing their filters, opt for the highest-rated MERV filter possible for the specific HVAC system. Contact the apartment management to determine which filter the specific unit can handle.

The smaller the particles these filters can eliminate, the better! When dealing with microscopic particles like mold spores and mycotoxins, you want filters with the technology to eliminate them from the air. Otherwise, they'll just circulate straight back into the home. Make sure to change these on time because dirty air filters will not properly filter out these particles.

As noted earlier, it's impossible to completely prevent particles from entering your home. Cleaning is a great way to remove them, but air purifiers also help to get rid of the rest of these particles. The fewer particles there are, the healthier your indoor environment will be and the less chance of a mold problem developing.

Mold can grow in high humidity. The goal should be to maintain humidity levels of 35 to 50% inside the home. Kitchens and bathrooms are constantly flooded with moisture, pushing them to the top of the list of areas to actively work to reduce humidity.

Open a window or door when the room is in use and turn on the exhaust fan. Doing this will help pull that moisture-rich air out of the space and replace it with dry air from the outside. Keep the fan going for at least 30 minutes after using the space for maximum effectiveness, and make sure it's operating properly by placing a piece of tissue paper against the fan to see if it's pulling in air.

The sooner you can stop and resolve water damage, the less opportunity there will be for microbial growth. On the other hand, the sooner a mold problem is detected, the faster it can be addressed and the less exposure the renter will face.

While it's important to work to prevent mold at the individual level as a renter, the management team should also be taking steps to keep your home safe. Asking questions before signing a lease can help ensure you're being protected.