Many of you are moving into our state from other parts of the country.  So, especially for those of you coming in from the North or West, I would like to offer some household tips which may help you adapt to your new Southern clime.

Humidity

Humidity issues in North Carolina, while milder than for Southern states along the Gulf Coast, still cause several issues and occasionally, major issues for our residents.

Bathrooms:  High humidity in bathrooms can surprise those coming from cooler or drier climes.  The most common issue is mold growth in showers.  This tends to be a constant battle here.  The best defense is to keep showers as dry as possible.  Squeegee or dry off shower walls after your shower and run your ventilation fan until the mirror clears to show the moist air has largely been expelled.  Those two steps alone can go a long way to preventing mold growth and spread.  Sealing your grout can also help retard growth and make cleaning easier.  NOTE:  mold that is growing behind the caulking is protected by that same plastic caulking and cannot be removed by cleaning.  The caulk must be removed, the area cleaned, perhaps treated with a bleach solution, allowed to dry thoroughly (using a different shower for two days or so), and only then, be re-caulked.

Make sure your bathroom dries out between showers. Moisture build-up can cause mold growth on walls and ceiling, a much more serious problem than mold in the shower.  Remediation of mold outside of showers should not be attempted by regular cleaning personnel

North Carolina is a great place to live, but like all areas it has its quirks.  I hope you will find these hints helpful for your assimilation to your new home.