Twelve tips for reducing mold.

Follow these suggestions to keep mold from growing in your home:

1.Check the exterior of your home regularly for accumulation of ground water. Route water away from the home (this means, routing downspouts and regrading to slope water away).

2. If you ever see bubbling or dampness in a wall, open the wall to see what's causing it.

3. If your house sits above a foundation and there's a heavy rain, put electric fans under the house to dry the ground. Dehumidifying crawlspaces and basements is recommended.

4. Fix leaky faucets, pipes and other leaks as soon as you find them.

5. Have your heating and air conditioning system serviced each year. Keep humidity low in the home during the summer. Do not block crawlspace vent.

6. Clean and dry out wet or damp areas within 48 hours.

7. Keep indoor humidity below 60 percent by venting bathrooms and dryers to the outside (not into the attic or crawlspaces), using air conditioners and dehumidifiers, using exhaust fans or opening windows when cooking, washing dishes or cleaning, and increasing ventilation.

8. If you have a leak that saturates carpet, ceiling tiles, or upholstery, remove them.

9. Use paint that has an EPA-approved mold inhibitor.

10. Clean kitchens and bathrooms with mold-killing cleaners.

11. Don't carpet bathrooms.

12. Don't put vinyl wallpaper on walls that are at risk of sustaining water damage.

Following these simple suggestions can eliminate or greatly reduce the chances of mold in the home.