Moving tips: How to Prevent Mould & Mildew in Shipment?

Mould & Mildew grow very easily, here are preventive solutions!

While moving can leave one’s possession pretty beaten up, there may be nothing as usually overlooked but potentially destructive as the trouble of mould and mildew. Microscopic fungal cells may trigger off great damage to your valuables through the moving process. Whether you are moving within town or overseas, awareness of the perils of mold and mildew and preventive measures will save you from a good deal of expenditure on repairs and stress. In this article, it shall be given consideration, what molds and mildews are, how they can damage your shipment and what steps could be taken on your part in order to minimize the risk.

What are Moulds and Mildews?

Mildew and mold are types of fungi that thrive in warm, moist areas. While they commonly occur together, there are some differences. Mold generally is black or green; it grows on food, on walls, and in general on organic material, while mildew is usually white or gray and grows on the surface of moist areas—on fabrics and paper mainly. Both are microscopic and reproduce by means of air-borne spores, which makes them very hard to control once they have taken hold.

Mould and mildew spores are found almost anywhere; in other words, they are omnipresent in the environment. Colonization on different surfaces, such as cloth, leather, paper, and wood, can be achieved by these spores. Under the right conditions of humidity and warmth, these spores have the ability to multiply quickly, thus forming colonies and creating visible mould or mildew growth. This gives unwanted odors and unattractive stains, and it can also weaken some material stability, especially organic materials like wood or fabric.

Mould, Mildew, and Your Shipment

This susceptibility to mold and mildew becomes a very big issue when one is either relocating over large distances or possibly from one climate to another. Chances are high that your stuff will be tightly wrapped and packed in boxes or containers during a move. This would probably be necessary to protect it from physical damage; the environment it would then create would be one in which mold and mildew thrive if the conditions are right.

The mould and mildew-causing spores are more than likely on your belongings before they are even packed. Then, when your items are enclosed in a warm, moist environment, the spores can “bloom,” or enter the phase of rapid reproduction that leads to the telltale look of mould and mildew. This can cause damage to clothing, leather goods, books, and even furniture, making some items unusable.

Mould and mildew growth during transition is practically inevitable when considering a move to a humid location due to their nature. But there are ways to reduce the risks and take care of your stuff.

Steps to Take to Prevent Mould and Mildew Growth

While it is pretty challenging to completely eliminate the prospect of mold and mildew, there are some preventive steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of their growth—with the move. Here are some pro tips that will protect your belongings:

1. Reduce Humidity Before Packing

One of the best ways through which mold and mildew can be kept at bay is through the reduction in the levels of humidity in your home before you even start packing. In the weeks leading up to moving, use air conditioners and dehumidifiers to reduce the amount of moisture in the air so that when you pack your items, they dry out and are less prone to mould and mildew. Be particularly mindful of where you store items that are very likely to get mouldy like your basement, attic, and closets.

2. Utilize Silica Gel Packs

Silica gel packs prove to be an efficient method for decreasing moisture levels in confined areas. These compact pouches hold silica, a drying agent that soaks up moisture from the atmosphere. When storing belongings particularly those crafted from fabric, leather or paper insert silica gel packs into the containers to uphold a setting. This practice can be especially beneficial for possessions such as footwear, purses and paperwork.

3. Try Absormatic Bars

Absormatic bars are also an easy and budget-friendly way to reduce moisture in enclosed atmospheres. Made of silica, a desiccant absorbing from the surrounding air, one can put bars in the packing of several items, particularly in goods made of cloth, leather, or paper. It maintains a dry climate, and so, it is useful for shoes, handbags, and documents.

For those who are concerned with moisture over a long- or even just international-distance move, there are Absormatic bars to help add an additional layer of defense. They absorb any extra moisture within the shipping containers and hence ensure the levels of humidity throughout the transit are much lower. With the addition of bars into your container, the chances of mould and mildew developing on your items will be much lower.

4. Choose the Right Packing Materials

The materials you use for packing your belongings also contribute to the risk of mold and mildew. Avoid using plastic bags or such non-breathable materials in packing items, as they can trap moisture and become homes for the breeding of mold. Instead, make use of breathable materials like cotton sheets or perhaps acid-free paper, which allows for good air circulation and minimizes the chances of moisture building up.

 5. Ensure Proper Ventilation

Put in ventilation if possible: to a degree, make the boxes and containers you pack breathable. Obviously, this is not practical for all containerized cargo types, especially ocean freight, but it’s great for temporary moves and storage. Ventilation lowers the risk of humidity building up in containers.

What to do if Mould and Mildew Develop

Also, with the best practices in place, there’s always the chance for moulds and mildews to establish themselves out of nowhere, specifically with easier establishments in hard climates during the moving process. If you find out that mould and mildew have formed on your things, you will need to act urgently to save them.

For clothes and textiles, washing with warm water and a gentle detergent may be helpful in removing some mildew stains. Leather products will most likely need special cleaning solutions, and with invaluable leather items, professional help may be your best option. Paper items and books are more complex, and you may have to clean them gently, such as wiping delicately with a dry cloth or even carefully vacuuming them with a special attachment.

Insurance Consideration: Protecting Your Investment

Considering that it is possible for all the items being carried to be damaged by mold and mildew, one would do well to take their time and think about the insurance options. Standard moving insurance does not usually insure against mold and mildew damage, so check your policy if you think you have something to lose.

If you are particularly shipping valuables, then you may want to consider buying extra insurance on that shipment to cater for mold and mildew damage. The extra insurance could help and be put at peace, with assurance of compensation for affected properties during the move.

We however strongly recommend that you insure your shipment for full-coverage to protect you from all possible risks including mold and mildew. In case of any difficulty, our Relocation Consultants are available to explain your options and you can get the protection you want.

Conclusion: Taking Precautions Against Mould and Mildew

An inherent risk that is usual during a move is that of moulds and mildews. Awareness of the danger and efforts to reduce humidity in advance will lower your chances of damage during the move. These tips alone won’t entirely eradicate all the risk of which moulds and mildews are at stake, but taken with proper moving insurance coverage, the chances are you will get your items at your new home in one piece.

Please do not hesitate to contact Asian Tigers Relocation Consultant for any other questions or if further support is needed regarding the movement. We will counsel you around all the middle of the move to make sure that this process is safe and secure.