Field-grown pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes, and gourds bring color and texture to the table during the holidays. The only downside with using these authentic fruits is their vulnerability to decay in warm indoor environments.
The Effects of Mold
Mold is nature’s most efficient decomposer and it exists almost everywhere on the planet. Outdoors, it recycles organic products into usable materials. Indoors, it will do the same, but the effects on your indoor air quality (IAQ) aren’t so desirable or healthy.
Mold spores are too small to see, but are one of the more common allergens. Although many types of mold aren’t toxic, black mold affects everyone regardless of their sensitivity to other types of mold species. It occurs rarely, but it’s best not to do anything that might nurture it inside your home.
Maintaining Fall Decor
Keeping pumpkin decorations and gourds in a warm home gives the ever-present mold spores something to eat. In order to avoid the unpleasant side effects from allergies or the yuck-factor, consider these tips to prolong their lives and keep mold or bacterial rots at bay:
- Store the pumpkin decorations and gourds in the basement or garage as long as temperatures are around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, unless it’s overly humid or you smell mildew. If there’s a risk of freezing in the garage, put them in the basement.
- Scrub the pumpkins and gourds thoroughly before cutting. Since they grow on the ground, they’re likely covered with mold spores.
- Mix up a bleach-water solution in a spray bottle to spray the inside of the pumpkin once you’ve cleaned it out. Bleach kills any mold or spores that settle inside, slowing the decay process.
- Use battery LED lights inside the pumpkin to illuminate it instead of candles, which create heat and speed the formation of mold growth.
- Wash gourds and spray with a clear finish to prevent mold growth.
Besides signaling autumn, pumpkin decorations can signal a problem with humidity and mold inside your home. For more information on indoor air quality, contact Aggressive Mechanical Contractors, providing trusted HVAC services for Monmouth County homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Monmouth County, New Jersey and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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