1. Outdoor conditions: You may already know to avoid damp woodland and piles of autumn leaves. Also the countryside during harvest. But it’s also a good idea to wear a dust mask in the garden during mold allergy season. Ideally, you’d get someone else to mow the lawn, as well as turn and spread your garden compost. Certain molds love it.
2. Raising the indoor mold count without realizing: Coats and shoes can trap spores when mold counts are high. So quarantine them by the door. Rub pets down with an old towel. Other carriers of mold spores include damp logs brought in for the fire.
3. A long DIY to-do list: Leaky roofs and rain gutters can create the ideal conditions for mold growth. Regularly clear out your gutters to drain standing water and fix any roof or plumbing issues. Clear flood damage too. Excessive moisture encourages rot.
4. Hidden mold growth: Clean mold from neglected areas such as behind kitchen cupboards and around window frames and fridge seals where they trap mold spores. Fridge condensation coils too if you can get to them. Keep houseplant numbers to a minimum and change the soil regularly to stop mold growing freely.
5. Poor ventilation: Cooking, washing and cleaning all make hot damp air. This can add to the humidity mold spores love. Close internal doors to stop it spreading round your home and use exhaust fans to vent excess moisture. Open windows when the mold count is likely to be low.