Preventing mold and mildew starts with good ventilation. This means keeping doors and vents open to circulate the air throughout your home. If the air in your home is humid and keeping moisture in the air, dehumidifiers can help take some of the water out of the air to prevent mildew and mold. Regularly cleaning bath mats and towels can keep the water trapped in them from going into the air. Any damp item should not be placed on your carpets because the water inside of them can go into the carpets and create mildew. Instead, hang drying any damp or wet items in a room with tile flooring will keep the moisture out of your carpets.