Water accumulation in and around the kitchen sink can have a major bearing on hygiene levels, an expert has suggested.In an article for Forbes India, Dr Vikram Kumar notes that microbes such as dust mites are among the hardest air pollutants to detect and often thrive on humidity.He therefore argued that it is important to remove as much moisture from the home as possible to reduce humidity and prevent microbes breeding.Fabrics can retain moisture, so if you have an old heavy curtain or carpet that has been around (and musty) for years, now is the time to send it for cleaning, or throw it out, wrote Dr Kumar.To prevent the formation of mould, clean any wet surface within 24 to 48 hours of water accumulation.The advice comes after an article in the Hindustan Times, which featured input from Ashok Gupta, owner of furniture retailer Furniture Point, noted that some of the most common problems with wooden furniture are water marks left by mugs or glasses.