How to Prevent Mold in the Kitchen

Molds are some of the most dangerous organisms in a house. Out-of-control mold can ruin your health and may cost many thousands of dollars to mitigate. Learning how to prevent mold in the kitchen is especially important, as moisture and heat make the kitchen the most dangerous place for household mold.

1. Use a garbage can that holds about 1 day’s worth of garbage and empty it daily to prevent growth of mold. Garbage is moist and has organic material where molds can grow.
2. Clear old food out of the refrigerator regularly. If you think you’ll never eat the food, throw it out immediately. Check the refrigerator thoroughly at least once and dispose of old food.
3. Keep your compost container covered and empty it daily. Compost buckets are one of the worst sources of mold.
4. Check potatoes and fruit every day, especially if you store them outside the refrigerator. Fruit and potatoes are two types of food where mold thrives.
5. Run your garbage disposal at least once a day, and pour straight vinegar into it once a week. Mold thrives in garbage disposals.
6. Clean the refrigerator drip tray a couple of times a year. The drip tray–a tray that catches water that condenses and overflows–is usually under the front part of the refrigerator. Also, clean moisture that gathers on walls around your refrigerator and kitchen range.
7. Reduce mold growth by washing your cutting board weekly with straight vinegar. Cutting boards are a prime location for mold growth.
8. Turn on exhaust fans and vents when cooking or working in the kitchen to prevent humid air in your kitchen.
9. Fix any leaks in kitchen sinks and pipes and any other water pipes, such as the pipe that supplies water to the freezer’s ice maker. Check under the sink for leaks regularly.
10. Open windows and doors if weather and climate allow. Opening windows and doors will improve circulation and replace stale household air with fresh air. If you don’t have windows in your kitchen, install ceiling fans and use them whenever you cook.
11. Use a dehumidifier if you live in a climate with high humidity. You can also install a hygrometer to measure humidity in your kitchen. Relative humidity should be in the 40 to 50 percent range.
12. Dry areas damaged or saturated with water right away to remove any opportunity for mold to grow.
13. Use an antibacterial cleanser on your countertops daily. Clean the sink regularly. Clean the refrigerator periodically.
14. Turn on faucet flow as low as possible when running water to prevent water from splashing and spreading on the area around the sink.
15. Use tile or other hard surfaces on the floor in your kitchen, as rugs and carpets are magnets for moisture.
16. Use mold-resistant paint in your kitchen.

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