How to keep house from molding while on vacation

[Lisafuller]

I'm about to leave to Taiwan for two weeks and was wondering if anyone had any tricks to keep the house from molding while we are away. Typically when we come back the whole house smells of mildew and any leather furniture or clothes we have gets very moldy, probably due to the humidity. Anybody know how to stop this?

[nelyanne]

You can try the following:
- place single-use dehumidifiers in wardrobes and cupboards
- keep the windows curtains open
- leave A/C running in 'drying only' mode

[Lisafuller]

You can try the following:
- place single-use dehumidifiers in wardrobes and cupboards
- keep the windows curtains open
- leave A/C running in 'drying only' mode

We ended up leaving the fans on low, would have tried the AC but I don't think we have a drying only mode.

[taxico]

i use sensibo controllers and a bunch of old style sharp plasma cluster air purifiers running in green mode.

i don’t close the bedroom doors and the app allows me to adjust the AC triggers.

[Lisafuller]

So high tech, our fans and ventilation method worked well for us this time, though maybe it's because we were only gone for two weeks as opposed to two months.

[x9200]

I learned it hard way 20 years ago when I left for over two weeks and later found mold growing basically everywhere. The next year, for exactly the same place I just left all the windows and doors opened/unsealed (where possible with no risk of flooding) and this already did the job. No aircon, no fans, just to ensure the air moves through and around the flat.

[smoulder]

I think it depends on the ventilation of the apartment and the area. For us, just leaving the bathroom shutters open as they normally are is enough to ensure that there is sufficient air exchange with the outside. Just leave the bathroom doors open as well.

[taxico]

fwiw i am away for 6-18 months at a stretch and i have no window grilles.

because of bugs and mosquito fogging and theft everything gets closed.

the ac smart controllers and plasmacluster machines worked best in my case… very dusty, but no mold ever.