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Out with the Mold
Returning from vacation recently, my family was welcomed back by an unwelcome house guest: mold. Our basement, which is usually aired out through open windows, had been shut tight for a little over a week. A funky smell hit our noses as we went downstairs, and we discovered the creepy, whitish fuzz on the back of a couple of brown fabric armchairs. We’d thought we had salvaged these chairs from the flood we experienced last winter after an especially rough ice storm. Dehumidifiers, fans and the wet vacuum had all been deployed, yet apparently, some moisture must have remained.
We’re getting rid of the chairs, but in doing a deep immersion study of mold since our discovery, here’s what I’ve learned, and I hope this helps you if you encounter the nasty stuff:
- Molds are microscopic life forms that can be found outdoors or indoors. Not all molds are bad; for instance, those used to make cheese and antibiotics are good. Toxic or allergenic molds that grow indoors, however, are bad news.
- Beyond being gross and smelly, mold can be seriously dangerous to your health. There are a variety of molds, and many have been linked to a number of symptoms, including allergic reactions, headaches, dizziness, decreased concentration, agitation, and severe asthma. Some people are especially vulnerable to mold exposure: infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with compromised immune systems and people with existing respiratory conditions.
- Trust your nose: if you smell mildew, there is a problem somewhere. Don’t delay in eradicating it at its source. If you can’t find where the odor is originating, hire professionals to do it for you.
- In addition to harming people, an untreated mold problem can cause tremendous property damage–the cleanup of which can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Again, get to the source early.
- If your mold problem is small (a few square feet), you can probably do the cleanup yourself. Always wear rubber gloves and a quality mask. While bleach may remove mold from the surface, a proper mildewcide needs to be used to kill mold and mold spores. These DIY formulas do the job without the use of harsh chemicals.
- If the problem is greater than a few square feet, it’s recommended that you hire a professional to remove the mold for you.
- To prevent mold, make sure rooms are well-ventilated. Invest in the right sized air conditioner or humidifier for rooms during humid months. In the colder months, proper insulation of exterior walls helps prevent condensation on inner walls.
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10 comments
add your comment »Great post! Mold is extremely dangerous, in fact,the Environmental Protection Agency reports that indoor air quality is five to 20 times more polluted than outdoors, and indoor air quality has become the No. 1 environmental health concern in the U.S.
People who suffer from asthma and respiratory ailments, headaches, fatigue, dizziness and sleep disruption are often unaware they’re being regularly exposed to an unhealthy level of indoor pollutants and contaminants in their own home or workplace. Currently, there are no local, state or federal regulations or standards established, and, as a result, the public unfortunately remains largely uninformed.
AirMD, an environmental testing company, offers several types of green, indoor environmental evaluations including mold inspections, Chinese drywall testing, air testing and water testing.
In addition to becoming the industry leader in indoor environmental health, AirMD recently launched an all-natural, eco-friendly product line, PURE AirMD, that cleans a variety of surfaces promoting health and wellness.
We spend 80 percent of our time indoors so understanding the environmental condition of your home and office is the only way to keep you and your family safe; therefore, all home and office environments should be tested and the cleaning products used should be chemical-free.
For more info on how to protect your family, visit www.airmd.com.
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Homeowners with mold and allergy concerns may want to check out the remarkable research on toxic mold removal done by environmental expert Dr Ed Close. Simply diffusing a therapeutic-grade essential oil regularly will likely result in an environment very hostile to mold, not to mention the health benefits, long-term protection, and simply making your home smell great. You might also consider using the Thieves Household Cleaner that Dr Close suggests for his remediation clients.
http://www.secretofthieves.com/mold.cfm/79544
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The only cure I have found for mould in our bodies ( candidia albicans and a fungas cure is from John Dudding Napier , he has light potenised homoeopathic remedies that cure it ( 10 1/2 years for me) Im another homoeopath so Im not doing this for anything but altristic reasons
His ph number is (06) 8438198 Hes a genius!
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I think that using a mask and gloves is a bit of overkill, unless you have allergies. So, indoor mould is bad and outdoor mould is good? Are you saying they make antibiotics and cheese outdoors? It's all mould as far as I'm concerned.
The vinegar and tea tree oil idea sounds perfect. White vinegar is so versatile and better than bleach as it's more natural and less harmful if inhaled by humans or companion animals. Airing clothes etc in the sunshine is a good idea too. I would use vinegar on an old book then dry it out in the sun, use a few stones or something to hold the cover open, allowing the pages to flutter in the breeze.
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I am forever grateful to live in a climate with minimal humidity. The only places I've ever found mold in my home are in the shower and in the toilet (and the fridge, but that's different). Not having my home and posessions spontaneously eaten by mold more than makes up for having to moisturise dry skin several times a day!
Thank you all for reminding me that I could have bigger problems. (Books molding! Ah!!!)
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I am looking for a good air purifier, one that has hepa, UV light and ionization (ozone is ok too if used carefully and in small amounts.) Sometimes you just can't get to all the mold and stuff especially in a really old house. I think this article should have included this information. If anyone knows of an excellent and affordable brand please share. Thanks in advance!
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Anyone know what to do for mold in books? Can you spray the really old books with vinegar or tea tree, and not make the damage worse?
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In your last paragraph I believe you meant to say "de-humidifier" for the humid summer months. Actually for some basements, they are needed year round. I have a super-insulated home and often don't need to run my AC in the summer but instead run the de-humidifier which removes more moisture than AC.
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I gave up on bleach as it doesn't protect over time, and isn't healthy. Now I fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and add a tablespoon or two of tea tree oil. Spray straight on, wipe, occasionally freshening the rag with clear water rinse.The ants don't like it either!
I had a sofa with a mildew smell. I sprinkled it on all sides & inside with powder carpet cleaner/freshener, left it on for 24 hours, vacuumed, now it's fine.
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We had some mold in a property we bought. It cleaned right up with a little bleach and water. But the real problem was that the water coming off the roof was going behind the gutters instead of into the gutters. Caulking the gutters and some flashing fixed the problem and the mold never came back. If you have a mold problem get rid of the moisture first.
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