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.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jimmy J.

10:30AM PDT on Mar 17, 2011

One thing to remember when dealing with mold; even if you can clean it up, without taking care of the moisture source, it will just keep coming back. If you have any concerns about mold in your home, I'd recommend talking to a professional about having a mold testperformed.

send a green star

Trish K.

6:38PM PST on Dec 29, 2010

Thanks for the healtful tips. Now to clean everything that was in storage. aagghh

Dan S.

4:01AM PDT on Aug 23, 2010

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
Water Damage

Karla B.

7:03AM PDT on May 1, 2010

Interesting true story.... http://moldrx4u.com/PatioTest.asp Deb Bowman always cleaned the outside of her house with bleach, but one year she tried a 4x4 section with the Thieves Household Cleaner and the rest with bleach. The next year when it was time to clean the mold off the house, There was mold in all the usual places that had been bleached the year before. BUT, the 4x4 place cleaned with the all-natural Thieves Cleaner was free of mold!!! Check it out at the link above.
Or find more info here:
http://www.secretofthieves.com/thieves-cleaner.cfm/496342

I personally would not use bleach after learning about this all-natural cleaner!

And Carol, it does wonders at cleaning up the smell when diffused. Plus it has amazing health benefits.

Karla

Carol K.

9:55AM PDT on Apr 22, 2010

My hot water broke last week, and leaked into my basement soaking a 3x4foot area of new carpet. I have vacuumed it up and had fans on it with a dehumidifier running 24 hrs a day. I can smell mold. Is there anything I can use on the area to kill the smell? Thank you.

Miruna M.

1:05AM PST on Feb 9, 2010

Good tips, will spread the word. I have a cousin with such problem and will be very interested in these ideas.

Deb H.

4:33AM PST on Dec 24, 2009

having witnessed a few relatives having great difficulty breathing, I know the importance of diligence in airing things out, drying moisture and having these two natural things to kill mold is just another tool to fight for clean air and a healthy living environment. Great post!

Simon H.

7:37AM PDT on Sep 17, 2009

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.

Shamel S.

8:33PM PDT on Sep 12, 2009

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