Every property owner dreads discovering mold. By the time you notice it, it's likely been expanding for a while. Perhaps it has been endangering your health for months by lurking behind your walls or over your head. Even "harmless" mold strains must be handled, and this can be expensive. Your best bet is to prevent mold from forming in the first place because it is challenging to detect and expensive to remove. Here are 7 suggestions for preventing mold in your home.

1. Keep everything dry

Dark, moist areas are ideal for mold growth. Darkness is something you can't always control, but you can prevent certain places from getting too wet. Be proactive in preventing moisture accumulation in your house. Fix your dripping faucets and pipes. Make sure your windows and doors are appropriately weather-sealed. Spills need to be cleaned up as soon as they occur. Avoid leaving drenched clothing laying about. You see what I mean.

2. Air out your house

Moisture might also enter your home through inadequate ventilation. Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms need to be ventilated adequately, either by opening a window or turning on an exhaust fan. If not, even routine activities like taking a shower and cooking could eventually cause mold to grow.

3. Purchase A Hydrometer

Your home's humidity is measured with a hydrometer. Ideally, you should maintain it under 60%. Most people won't have an issue with this, but if you live in a region with a lot of humidity, you might want to get a dehumidifier. But be cautious. Dehumidifiers can have the opposite impact when used improperly, so be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions.

4. Bring In Some Sunshine

Mold loves the shadows. Its development can be slowed by simply opening your windows during the day to let in some natural light. The light will also aid in removing moisture, removing two of mold's primary constituents.

5. Verify your grade

Mold can be greatly avoided with proper grading and drainage around your property. Water can accumulate around a home's foundation and seep into crawl spaces or basements when the surrounding ground is neutral, or worse, slopes inward.

6. Get Your Gutters Clean

Another crucial component of your home's protection against water are its gutters. Water won't collect around your roof if your gutters are kept clean and in good condition.

7. Obtain A Inspection

It should go without saying that the best method to handle mold is to stop it from growing in the first place. Sometimes the mold itself is not as visible. It can skulk in your ceilings, under your flooring, and behind your walls. Just because there are no obvious signs of water damage or mold doesn't mean you're safe. Whether or not you are aware of it, this undetectable mold can ruin your house and threaten your health. Getting a home inspection is the only way to make sure that your house is mold-free and that it stays that way. What's hidden to the untrained eye may be visible to someone with more expertise dealing with mold, so you shouldn't always rely on your own instincts in this situation.