Many of the homes in Toledo, Ohio, have the unfortunate privilege of being susceptible to damp, wet, or flooded basements. Not only does this damage the home you are renting or purchasing, and quite possibly some of your belongings that may be stored in the basement, but it also can lead to something potentially worse: mold and mildew. When moisture levels increase in a basement, these unwanted house guests will rear their ugly little heads. Follow these eight steps to ensure you do everything possible to protect yourself and your family from mold and mildew in your rental home.

1. Clean Regularly

One of the most important aspects of keeping mold and mildew at bay is to keep problem areas as clean as possible. If you notice mildew in the area, mix one tablespoon of liquid laundry soap and 2 cups of cool water. Apply the suds to the stained area with a damp cloth, sponging lightly. Then, repeat until the stain is gone. Rinse it thoroughly, and then dry the area completely.  For fabric, you can use ammonia and cool water to sponge the area well, then rinse it with cool water. Be sure to dry everything extremely well, using a fan or a blow dryer.

2. Reduce Moisture

Reducing moisture can happen in many ways, some handled by you and your family and some by the landlord (if you are a renter). As a renter, your main concern is not creating your moisture issues. This could mean leaving windows open, not properly ventilating areas when needed, or even not cleaning up spills. When all else fails, and you’ve done the basics, a humidifier can help keep problem areas from accumulating too much moisture. Ask your landlord if a humidifier is a good option for you.

3. No Wet Items in Basement

Sometimes, we don’t know what to do with items that have become soiled. Say you are cleaning up a large spill in the kitchen, and you use three full-sized towels now soaked with something like Kool-Aid or even water. DO NOT toss these objects in the basement and leave them there. This is like putting gasoline on a fire, which will not end well. You want to ensure you are taking the time to clean and dry all objects that become wet, especially if you live in a home with known moisture issues.

4. Remove All Clutter

We have all been tempted to store objects in the basement to have more room and less clutter upstairs in our living area. While this seems fine and dandy in a normal scenario, if you live in a home with excessive moisture issues, this could worsen the problem. By having clutter and various objects taking up all the space in your basement, you are taking away its ability to ventilate itself or breathe so-to-speak. Keep all clutter to a minimum and consider getting storage if you have items that must be put away for a good amount of time.

5. Report All Leaks Immediately

If you happen to notice a leaky pipe anywhere in your rental home, you need to contact your landlord immediately. All leaks can come with pretty hefty consequences if left unattended, which rings especially true if you live in a house susceptible to moisture build-up. Pipes, vents, excessive condensation, washers, dryers, sinks, toilets, and anything in your home that creates moisture can leak.

6. Report Clogged Gutters Immediately

If the gutters on your rental home’s roof become clogged with leaves and debris, there can be a laundry list of consequences. The biggest when it comes to homes with too much moisture is that it could cause the water not to flow away from the home. Instead, the water could end up spilling out of the gutters and landing close to the foundation, allowing the water to build up and seep into the home. Contact your landlord immediately if you notice any water spilling from your gutters and NOT going down the downspouts.

7. Check Your Dryer Vent

This seems simple enough: your dryer creates a lot of heat and uses a tube in the back connected to an exterior ventilation port to get the hot air out of the house. If the air does not freely exit the home, the heat will cause large amounts of condensation and considerably increase the moisture in your basement or home. Always ensure that there are no holes in the tubing and that it is securely fastened on both ends.

8. Do Not Use Carpet

Unless your basement is finished, there is rarely a time that carpeting is called for. Sometimes, people will lay it down to make the area feel more homey and hide some of the concrete. It is bland; why would you? Well, that’s pretty easy. As we mentioned before, your basement needs to breathe. It needs space to ventilate and allow moisture to evaporate normally. Just like adding wet objects or loads of clutter, adding unnecessary carpeting will drastically increase the moisture issues in your rental home.

Conclusion

Considering that there is a laundry list of health concerns surrounding mold and how easy it is to get mold in a home with excessive moisture levels, we urge you to be very cautious when dealing with moisture, spills, leaks, and anything else. Keep in constant contact with your landlord if you have concerns or issues, and don’t forget that buying a dehumidifier for your rental property is never a bad idea. It may help things considerably.

If you have any questions about rental properties available in Toledo, Ohio, please get in touch with us now to learn more!