Mold. It’s everywhere, creeping across the ground, stealthily appearing on your countertops, in your basement, the shower, the closets, your unused Nike running shoes. (By the way, summer is coming and don’t you think you should consider maybe putting those old things on again?) Household mold can be a tough cookie to crack, and identifying where it lives and what has caused it is the first step to getting rid of it.
Why, you might ask, should I bother getting rid of it? Well, for one thing, it’s gross. Really. I don’t care if you’re a single male, hunched over the computer and surrounded by pizza boxes. It’s still disgusting. Secondly, it smells. One can always recognize a house with a mold problem just upon entering. Mold also produces allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances called mycotoxins. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores often causes allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Symptoms include red eyes, sneezing, runny nose, difficulty breathing, headache, and skin rash. The reaction can be instantaneous or delayed. And effects can vary from one person to another.
Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. People with asthma should avoid contact with or exposure to molds. Other individuals are also more susceptible to mold and mildew irritation. Infants and children, elderly persons, people with suppressed immune systems, including individuals with HIV, cancer, and liver disease are more likely to experience mold-related complications.
In addition to the health concerns caused by mold and mildew, these fungi can cause staining and discoloration and even eat away the materials they grow on, causing serious damage.
If you have the telltale odor of household mold, or if you suffer from persistent allergies or asthma, it’s time to consider getting rid of the prime suspect. Locate the mold (yes, check the running shoes first) and assess the surface upon which it is growing. If it is a porous surface, such as paper or sheetrock, your options are relatively limited. Since the mold has most likely permeated the structure, they’re going to have to be disposed of in an appropriate fashion, along with the old pizza boxes.
If the surface upon which the mold is growing is hard, there are many different mold removal products to choose from, either by clicking the mouse button or actually getting out of your chair and driving to the store. Fabrics can be cleaned of mold by first brushing the offending party off thoroughly and then removing and preventing regrowth with bleach, lemon juice or an appropriate household cleaning product.
Whatever your household mold problem is, there is a solution for it. And take it from me, your social life depends on it.
How Does Mold Grow?
Mold is a common source of airborne allergens and irritants. It can cause odor problems and eat away at sheetrock, wood framing, and other building materials. There are hundreds of different types of molds, and they grow just about anywhere moisture is present. Understanding how and where molds grow can help to control them and reduce the number of health issues associated with the fungus.
Molds need three things to grow, food, water, and the correct temperature. They grow best in warm, damp, and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores. When mold spores land on a damp spot, they may begin growing and eating away at whatever they are growing on in order to survive.
Molds grow when the relative humidity in the air is high, and they prefer temperatures around 80 degrees F. Enzymes in the mold cells direct the growth and work faster when the temperature is higher.
Molds do not require puddles of water or submerged surfaces, and can grow in damp areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, crawl spaces, locker rooms, leaky areas, and damp basements. All that’s needed is condensation, which is produced when warm air makes contact with a cooler object.
Even when dead or unable to grow, molds can cause health effects such as allergic reactions, so clean up the mold and get rid of excess water or moisture. Maintaining the relative humidity between 30%-60% will help as well.
How To Remove Mold – Reducing Mold Problems In Your Home
It’s no secret – mold can be a tough enemy to defeat. Not only can it cause unpleasant smells in the home, but it can be a dastardly trigger for allergies and asthma. If you suffer from chronic cold-like symptoms, runny nose, watery eyes, skin irritation or respiratory problems, there is a chance that mold may be the culprit. Here are a few handy tips in removing the old musty enemy, mold.
First you need to identify where you have the mold problem. Mold grows on organic materials, like wood, paper, soap scum, and it also grows on moist areas, so if you’ve had leaks, flooding or moisture seepage problems, look for mold there. People react to living or dead mold, and when you’re taking steps to remove it, you should always wear proper protective devices. A respirator, eye protector and rubber gloves should do the trick.
Removing mold from hard surfaces such as countertops, glass or hard plastic can be accomplished with an ammonia-free soap or detergent, remembering never to mix ammonia and bleach, as the fumes are toxic. Complete mold removal from porous surfaces, i.e. paper or sheetrock, is impossible, and these materials will need to be properly disposed of in order to completely mold-free your household. If scrubbing mold from walls does not completely remove it, this can be accomplished by sanding the area down, which will effectively rid your wall of the offensive enemy.
Only after you’ve removed the mold should you disinfect the area completely with bleach, diluting the bleach appropriately depending on what surface you are disinfecting. Once this process is complete, a rinse with clean water should do the trick.
Once you have removed the mold, make sure to keep the areas clean and dry to prevent mold regrowth and to maintain a happy and healthy household.
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