Handling Mold In Your Bedroom? How To Breathe Cleanly Again


Nothing ruins the homeliness of a room like mold.

The off-smelling air. The tickle in your lungs. The fungus on the wall.

Not. Fun.

Plus, it’s not safe either.

Mold in your bedroom makes it unsafe. At the very least, it will cause you irritation, harm your sleep quality, and cause you extra discomfort. It can also lead to severe irritation in those with allergies, and danger to asthmatics or others with respiratory issues.

So let’s get rid of it.

I’ve separated this guide into three simple sections.

  • First, we’ll cover what mold is, and the issues it causes.
  • Then, how to find and remove any mold you currently have.
  • Lastly, how to prevent the mold from ever setting foot in your bedroom again.

Use the table of contents below to skip ahead to any section.

Understanding the Enemy: Mold 101

What is Mold?

If mold is present in your bedroom, you’ll know it. Either by seeing it, smelling it, or coughing because of it – everyone recognises that old, stale, damp smell and taste.

Mold is especially likely after a flood or period of heavy rain. Not to mention spawning from the moisture around major appliances.

Health Issues Caused by Mold

Mold in a bedroom poses safety risks to those with allergies, asthma, and any other respiratory conditions especially. At best it’s still highly irritating even to the most resistant of us.

The most common reaction to mold are simple allergic reactions. Some examples:

  • Congestion, or a runny nose
  • Difficulty breathing; getting wheezy
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing

More seriously, these will make asthma or respiratory issues worse. Mold can even lead to throat infections.

If you’re looking after kids, mold in their bedrooms is a serious issue. While not definitely proven, the CDC suggest a link between growing up in a house with mold and the development of asthma in children.

Finding & Removing Mold from a Bedroom

Despite mold having such bad effects on us, it’s thankfully quite easy to remove. But first we need to find it.

Finding Mold

Unfortunately, the simplest way is to follow your nose.

Try to figure out where the mold smell is coming from. This will almost always be on the floor or walls. In particular, look:

  • In and around corners. Even on the ceiling.
  • Around windows – especially older / single glazed ones.
  • Near vents.
  • Near major appliances (ie fridges, freezers, large TV’s, etc.)
  • Near/under bathrooms or other plumbing works

Don’t be afraid to move furniture around. Mold loves dark and damp little nooks and crannies.

Removing Mold

Once you’ve found it, removing mold is easy.

First, give it a quick scrub down if there’s a lot of it. Remove any excessive patches with a gloved hand or a cloth.

Put some white vinegar into a spray bottle. Apply it thoroughly over the affected area and let it sit for a whole hour. The mold should easily wipe right off with a damp cloth.

The vinegar smell should fade within a couple hours. To help, you can wipe it down using a mixture of warm water and some lemon juice.

Preventing Bedroom Mold

To put it simply – the #1 way to prevent mold is by lowering the moisture level in the air.

  1. Get a dehumidifier. The most “cover-all” solution for this is to get a dehumidifier. A good one will help prevent the air getting humid enough to cause mold growth.
  2. Consider an air purifier. Additionally, an air purifier can also help. Especially for those with allergies. Look for models with a HEPA filter which can easily remove mold spores in the air.
    These two appliances are great at helping to deal with mold in the air, and preventing more from being created.
  3. Remove damp objects. Moisture is the enemy, so anything damp needs to be removed immediately! Think about what in your room could cause moisture. A small mini fridge, an air conditioner’s drain tray, the back of a TV cabinet (due to the heat from the electronics).
  4. Especially damp towels. If you have an ensuite, make sure the towels are getting hung up with plenty of air to dry. Or even hung up away from the bathroom and bedroom. Avoid leaving damp or wet towels thrown over a bed or chair after getting dressed.
  5. Keep appliances clear. Where unavoidable, simply making sure to empty drain trays or allow plenty of space around electronics will help prevent the surrounding air from getting too humid.
  6. Keep your vents clear. Make sure you’re not blocking vents with furniture. It’s important to regularly check that they are open, unobstructed, and clear. If you have ductwork running throughout your home – this can be a prime place for mold. Getting it maintained once a year could fix your mold problem entirely.
  7. Encourage good air flow. Keep windows open whenever possible when it’s dry out. Try to keep the door open, and maybe use a fan to keep good air circulation flowing throughout the room.

What Causes Mold In A Bedroom?

The same factors that bring mold into a bedroom are the same everywhere.

Mainly, it focuses on one of the worst sounding words in the world.

Moist.

Ew, what a weird one.

High humidity is factor numero uno when it comes to mold. This is why it’s typically problematic in kitchens or bathrooms. Bedrooms aren’t immune, though – especially around windows, or if you have an ensuite bathroom.

Damp towels being left out from getting changed don’t help, either.

In addition – other unwanted leaks can be the culprits that are inviting mold into your bedroom. Leaks from your roof/ceiling, or nearby piping.

How to Get Mold Off of a Mattress

If you’re looking to get rid of mold from your mattress, you need to remember that it’s a living bacteria. So essentially, we need to kill it. This can be done using most multi-purpose cleaners, but a simple mixture of isopropyl alcohol and warm water will do the trick.

  1. First, you want to vacuum the mattress – and then get rid of the vacuum bag (mold spores could spread inside).
  2. Next. using a cloth dipped in the mixture, scrub the area down in circular motions. Give it a good going over, well around the affected area (and beyond, where new spores could be growing).
  3. Now wipe it down with a damp cloth in warm water. Get it fairly dry by the end, to prevent further growth.
  4. At this stage, spray on some disinfectant – ideally something that is suitable for furniture.
  5. Lastly – we need to dry the mattress. This can be done by propping it up outdoors, or even drying the areas with a hairdryer. Make sure it’s totally dry before you put the sheets back on.

Conclusion

Mold is a serious menace.

It smells, it’s unsightly, and it can cause real health issues.

I hope this quick guide has given you a good grasp on how to tackle the green enemy. Remember – moisture is your enemy, and regular cleaning is your friend.

If this content has helped you, please consider checking out some of the related articles below! Any time you spend on the site really helps us grow.

Take care and sleep well.

Jimmy

Helping you get the best night of sleep possible. Sharing what I learn through my research and testing.

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