Mold and Mildew Prevention

"Molds are microorganisms that are found virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors." 

Mold is a naturally occurring fungus that is generally considered an indoor air allergen similar to pollen, animal dander, dust, and dust mites. Mold produces tiny spores, which act similarly as seeds to plants, to spread the growth of the mold colony.

According to the EPA, “Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any organic substance, as long as moisture and oxygen are present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods, and insulation. When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed. It is impossible to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment. However, mold growth can be controlled indoors by controlling moisture indoors.” 

If you are seeing mold on inorganic surfaces- plastic, vinyl, glass, metal- then it is growing on an accumulated organic material like dust, dirt, soap scum, food or drink residues.

There are thousands of species of mold, most of which occur naturally outside and have some spores present within buildings. Mold is typically white, green, black, yellow, brown, or orange. The texture can vary between appearing like powder, cotton, velvet, or tar-like.

How do I reduce the likelihood of mold or mildew growth in my residence?

Below are proactive steps to reduce growth:

• Report any water problems (leaks behind a toilet or under sinks, dripping faucets, wet carpet, leak from a ceiling, etc.) immediately by contacting Facilities Management at (207) 725-3333 or Safety and Security (207) 725-3314.
• Do not block radiators or HVAC equipment with furniture or belongings to allow for maximum air exchange within the space. This will also help with heating your spaces in the winter.
• Do not leave windows open during the heating season (October-April).
• During the heating season, open roller shades during the day to reduce condensation build up on the windows.
• Students living in apartments need to routinely clean bathroom areas, including the shower curtain liner, with bathroom cleaner to prevent the growth of soap scum which is an excellent food source for mold. Always follow the directions and read all precautions before using any cleaning product.
• If a bath exhaust fan is provided in your living space, be sure to turn the fan on when showering. After your shower, keep the shower door closed and the fan running for an extra 10 to 15 minutes to remove excess moisture from the air.
• Do not hang towels (or any other wet items) to dry between your mattress and bed frame. This can cause mold to grow on the bottom of your mattress.
• Maintain good housekeeping practices (vacuum floors, take out trash, wipe down surfaces, clean up spills quickly, wash out refrigerators, including wiping the doors, etc.)

What do I do if I suspect mold or mildew in my room?

To report mold or mildew growth in your room, contact Facilities Management at (207) 725-3333 or submit a workorder via the workorder system.

• Maintaining Microfridges - Students are typically responsible for maintaining and cleaning their microfridge. Students should leave adequate time between defrosting and leaving before breaks and routinely wipe out the inside of the microfridge. Failure to adequately maintain the microfridge with regular cleaning can result in mold growth inside or outside of the unit. 
• Bathroom/Shower Areas in Apartment Units. Housekeeping Services maintains and regularly cleans all common area showers in our traditional residence buildings and campus houses. The cleaning of shower and bathroom areas in apartment units is the responsibility of the students that live together in an apartment. If the mold/mildew issue is on the ceilings or the walls, Facilities will respond. If the issue is within the bathtub, shower, toilet or sink- residents need to clean.

Facilities Management staff will respond to all suspected mold and mildew calls. They will investigate and determine if there are any mechanical issues that need to be addressed and enter the necessary work orders to make repairs. Surface mold is typically cleaned during the initial investigation or within 24 hours. The student and Residential Life will be notified once the cleaning is complete.

Our Facilities Management staff provide routine maintenance of all buildings including the cooling and heating systems. This includes cleaning, maintaining, updating, and repairing HVAC equipment. All residences are cleaned by our trained housekeepers before the beginning of every academic year and when a room becomes completely vacant. 

Any time there are concerns about the level of moisture in a space (typically seasonal), Facilities Management will investigate and offer solutions to mitigate.

Housing and Residence Life staff complete Health and Safety inspections to ensure that each room meets health and safety standards. Any suspected area of mold or mildew growth  is reported and remediated by Facilities Management.

According to federal health and safety agencies, mold growth is commonly found in both indoor and outdoor environments. Some people are sensitive to mold and may experience short-term reactions in the presence of mold. Symptoms associated with mold exposure are not unique and cannot be readily distinguished from symptoms caused by other medical conditions, such as the common cold or seasonal environmental allergies. Since some individuals may have more intense reactions, those with medical conditions or who experience symptoms should consult with medical personnel regarding their risk to mold exposure.

To facilitate a move to another space on campus, we ask that you visit Health Services or your doctor to assess your situation and the likelihood that the symptoms you are experiencing may be related to a mold or mildew allergy. If that is the case, please contact Residential Life to learn more about options for temporary or permanent relocation to another on-campus residence.

Mold is present in the indoor and outdoor air and on surfaces all around us each day. It requires moisture and a food source to colonize mold. The College does not routinely conduct air sampling for mold and instead follows federal agency guidance:

From the CDC: "Standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable, or normal quantity of mold have not been established" and "Generally it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growth in a residence, and CDC does not recommend routine sampling for molds. Current evidence indicates that allergies are the type of diseases most often associated with molds. Since the susceptibility of individuals varies greatly either because of the amount or type of mold, sampling and culturing are not reliable in determining your health risk... therefore, no matter what kind of mold is present, you should arrange for its removal." 

From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building's compliance with federal mold standards.”