Many people who own homes with especially old or unfinished basements find that the largest challenge is cleaning up the basement so that mold and mildew do not form. Because basements are so close to the earth, and many of them have barebones cement floors, it is essential that you take due diligence to take care of the air in your basement so that your home can resist unhealthy environmental factors, like toxic air.
Recently in America, millions of people got a taste of what can happen when too much moisture can sit for too long in a house. Family after family returned to New Orleans to their homes to find that the ceilings, walls and floors were literally caked in brown, yellow and green mold. Mold travels quickly through the air on particles of dust and grows as fast as any other fungus.
Mold, in fact, has been studied, classified and sketched. It is in an entirely different phylum of species than any other plant. Mold spores are also an intriguing airborne allergen that is more acute in the Fall seasons than any other time of year. Because of its unhealthy nature and ability to destroy an entire home, it Is vital that you control the moisture-causing mold in your home before it gets out of hand.
Before you go any further with your clean up, the first thing you should do it organize your basement. Whether you use your basement for daily living, or whether your basement is a place for additional storage, it is important that the area is minimally cluttered. Vacuum under carpets, pieces of furniture and in the corners of all of your basement rooms.
Use a strong cleansing agent, combined with a duster, to thoroughly clean every surface, such as countertops, shelves and walls. Once these surfaces are clean, you can rest easy that your space is not holding onto any unwanted dirt that can be unhealthy.
Next, it is important to tackle the question of how to clean the air in your space. Many basements are notorious for having damp, mildew filled air. The first step in cleaning this air so that it is breathable on a daily basis involves installing a de-humidifier.
The dehumidifier works-like fan by sucking the moisture out of your air and into its reservoir. Note: if your basement is unheated in the winter, your dehumidifier may freeze. Monitor operations carefully year round for optimal operational strength.
Next, if you have cardboard boxes in your basement, switch them out for large plastic bins. Cardboard boxes retain moisture for longer than most other materials. Therefore, the are mildew havens. Plastic boxes are more ergonomic and easy to store anyway!
Many people choose to cover up their unfinished cement floors with carpets or rugs. While these rugs are beneficial in making the space more comfortable and warm, carpets and rugs are a breeding ground for mold. Instead of choosing carpet flooring, consider installing tile or laminate flooring. The tile or laminate flooring, while not as soft, will help to keep your space clean and free from moisture.