Most people have long been aware that mold poses major health risks and should by no means be underestimated. Anyone who has noticed an infestation in their home should therefore act as quickly as possible and do something about it. Of course, it would be even better not to let it come to this in the first place. But can this actually be prevented? How can mold be avoided and what factors promote its formation, especially if you heat hardly and sparingly? We'll explain it to you!
Causes of mold – Increased humidity and cold
As you know, mold likes it moist. It is only logical that increased humidity in the rooms also promotes the formation of mold. Walls, window seals, corners and even textiles become damp and a perfect breeding ground for the fungi is created. Accordingly, it is necessary to have onetoo high humidityto avoid. But quite apart from the fact that this is quite difficult in some rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen, air that is too dry is also not good for your health.
How can you avoid mold then? What is the optimal moisture content in the air in the apartment? That depends on the room. The following table gives you an overview of the optimal amounts in percent. These can be checked and observed with normal, digital thermometers that also have a moisture meter.
Mold formation due to humidity – table with standards (+ optimal room temperatures)
At what humidity level can mold develop?
Of course, mold will not form overnight just because the conditions in the room change from time to time (which happens regularly when cooking and showering/bathing). However, if it is a permanent condition, yes! As a rule, it can be assumed that humidity of over 60 percent over several days significantly increases the risk. If the value is over 70 percent, this is actually quite safe.
But not only humidity plays an important role, but also temperature, which is why we have noted this in the table. This should not fall below 14 degrees, as this combined with increased humidity are perfect conditions for fungus to form. Stick to the values so that you can successfully avoid mold.
Avoiding mold – Which measures optimize air humidity and temperature in the room?
After all that has been said, it is only logical that you should, if possible, adhere to the conditions in the table if you want to avoid mold. What is the best way to do this?
Proper ventilation in winter
Do you usually keep the windows tilted open to ensure fresh air? This is not a very good idea because it means a lot of energy is lost. The better option is to ventilate for 10 minutes, although this again depends on the room in question:
- bedroomsIn areas where heating should not be used all day and where temperatures should be lower, the window can be tilted or left completely open. Heat there if necessary to maintain the optimal room temperature. If you don't want to or can't sleep with the window open, you can ventilate the room instead in the morning after getting up.
- living spacesare also ventilated regularly. You can combine this with the bedroom and carry out what is known as cross-ventilation with a draft. In addition, ventilate a few more times a day, depending on how many plants and other sources of moisture are present. If the air seems bad/stuffy to you or you notice droplets of water on the window panes, this is a sign that you definitely need to ventilate.
- A particularly big challenge is mold in the...Badto avoid. In order to quickly get rid of the moisture after washing, many people not only open the window (ideally open it fully instead of tilting it), but also the door. And while this is a good idea for ventilating the other rooms through open doors, you shouldby the bathroomavoid so that the humidity does not spread to the other rooms. Dry surfaces that are as wet as possible.
- DieKitchenis also relatively humid and is regularly ventilated using shock ventilation. Here too you can choose the more effective cross ventilation.
- ImKellerMoisture settles on the walls, especially during the summer months, as the opposite temperature difference occurs: it is warm outside, cold inside and condensation forms on the cold walls with mold as a result. The best place to ventilate is at night or early in the morning. In winter, the time of day doesn't matter, but the room is still ventilated regularly.
Heat properly and avoid mold
You don't have to turn up the heat to its maximum and create a sauna if you want to avoid mold. That wouldn't be good for your health either, as the air dries out, which causes dry mucous membranes and promotes illness. However, it is of great importance to maintain a certain minimum temperature (see table). However, when ventilating, always turn down the heating, even for short-term burst ventilationno unnecessary energyto waste. Then set it back to the usual level.
Avoid mold without heating?
But what if, for example, you don't live in the apartment in question but want to avoid mold in an empty apartment? Of course, you don't want to leave the heating running unnecessarily and pay for something that you basically don't use. Unfortunately, that's exactly what you have to do, because warm air absorbs moisture better than cold air, so it doesn't settle on surfaces. Keep the temperatures in the living rooms constant at 20 degrees and in the bedrooms between 16 and 18 degrees.
