The Decluttering Mistake That's Making Your Home Prone To Mold During The Winter

In many homes, the attic is the most obvious, easy, and convenient place to store items that aren't being used. However, attic storage may not be the best choice for keeping those household items. The decluttering mistake that's making your home prone to mold during the winter is shoving those items you're not ready to part with into a disorganized, cluttered attic. When everything is tossed up in the attic to declutter the rest of the house, it could contribute to mold growth.

Mold is among the hidden dangers that may be lurking in your attic due to moisture buildup. Excessive clutter in the attic leaves the space more vulnerable to mold growth, particularly if the space does not have adequate ventilation. Moisture creates the ideal conditions for mold to grow, and items like clothing, fabric, and paper feed mold. When the attic is overcrowded and lacks proper airflow, mold proliferates.

Although mold is commonly found in warm, humid environments, it can actually be more common in attics in the winter months. Mold is often a bigger problem in the winter due to the equipment used to heat the inside of your home. Warmth from the heated areas of the home makes its way into the attic because warm air rises. It's particularly a problem when your attic isn't properly insulated. When the warm air moves up through the ceiling and reaches the attic, it can result in mold growth. You can help prevent some of this heat loss with the best ways to insulate your attic in winter to keep the space cooler and less prone to mold growth in the winter.

Solving the moisture issue and preventing future mold growth in the attic involves checking for leaks, cleaning up the clutter, and improving ventilation and airflow. Inspect the attic with a flashlight for signs of leaks, and make sure ridge vents, soffits, and gable vents are not clogged to help keep air moving through the space. Attics are prone to dampness, but you can improve airflow by installing an attic fan and reducing the clutter in the space so the air can move freely.

A simple way to improve airflow is to get rid of clutter in the attic. You can declutter your attic by tossing commonly stored items and making space for improved air flow. Be mindful of things that can contribute to your mold problem, such as old clothing, cardboard boxes, books, and old paperwork. Recycle, repurpose, sell, or donate the items you aren't using to free up space and get the air moving.

If you need to use some of your attic for storage space, get rid of cardboard boxes, bags, and paper. Swap them out for weather-tight plastic tubs and totes, as the material is less susceptible to mold than cardboard boxes and paper bags. In addition to keeping dampness and moisture away from your belongings to prevent damage, these containers are helpful for preventing pests from getting inside.