Is Your Laundry Room Wet? Watch out For Mold!

6/24/2021 (Permalink)

Lower level laundry room, pre mitigation

Do you have a room specifically for your washer and dryer? I do but it’s in my unfinished basement. The water hose from the washer machine is directed and near the floor drain. The room tends to feel wet and humid. Some ways we have been able to combat that is with a dehumidifier but there’s a few more suggestion from personal experience I would like to share.

• Do not leave clothes on the floor if you have water issues. Damp clothes will start to smell mildewy and mold can begin to grow on them. Instead, leave them on a plastic hamper away from water.
• When you wash clothes, put a timer on your phone to remind you to move them to the dryer. If you leave clothes in the washer for too long, it will also start to smell like mildew. You will have to wash your clothes again.
• When you are done washing your clothes, leave the washer door open to air out and dry.
• If your washer or dryer has rubber around the door, occasionally spray microbial cleaner on it and wipe it down.
• If mold starts growing on your clothes, do not just throw them in the washer. Check out this link for cleaning recommendation CLEAN MOLD FROM FABRIC & CLOTHES.
• Double-check your dehumidifier to see if it’s working properly. Some dehumidifiers have a pump to dispose of the water gradually or a bucket that collects water. Make sure the hose is placed towards a drain or empty your bucket.
• If you have surface mold in a small area, use a mold-specific solution to kill the mold, scrub the pores, and wipe clean.
• If you are constantly dealing with water issues such as water seepage through the foundation or water leaks from your washer, fix the issue! The longer you wait, the worse the water damage may become.
• Add a water detector near the washer and floor drain in case of flooding.

If you suspect mold on a large scale, give SERVPRO of Black Hawk County a call.