Some sort of mold is lurking in all homes.  Most home owners realize that regular maintenance of their home is necessary in order to keep it nice and to help hold it’s value.  As a home owner most of us know that if the roof shingles look bad, we fix or replace them; most of us have the furnace serviced annually; we repaint when the paint is dull or chipped, clean or replace carpets and/or flooring, etc.  But there is another factor that could be lurking in your home that, if not cared for, could also damage your home as well as your health.  This factor is MOLD. 

 

There are many types of mold.  The most common is mold spores.  Mold spores are extremely small and can not be seen by the naked eye. They enter your home through a variety of hosts such as people, animals, and shoes to name a few.  They also enter through an open window, your heating system ventilation and/or your air conditioning system.  It is virtually impossible to totally eliminate mold spores from inside of your home, but with regular cleaning and maintenance you can prevent significant problems from arising.  Once inside your home, the mold spores settle into your carpet or other porous surfaces.  Mold grows best when there is an abundance of moisture; such as a humid basement.  A de-humifier in the moist area may be enough to keep it dry and mold free.   Another type of mold is “black mold” or Strachybotrys chartarum/atra.  Black mold commonly creates respiratory problems, (such as bronchitis & asthma).  According to the CDC, (Center for Disease Control), it is responsible for over “100 cases of lung disease”.

 

Cleaning Mold can be a challenge and you should understand the nature of mold before you begin.   There is some controversy as to whether or not bleach should be used to clean mold.  Farmer’s Almanac does not recommend it:

There are a variety of mold cleaners, killers, and inhibitors on the market that employ chemicals. Chlorine is commonly and dangerously used for mold clean-up. We do not recommend it. Chlorine bleaches away the mold stain, but the mold always comes back. It wasn’t fully removed from the surface. Conventional mold clean up methods require protective gear to protect you from both the mold and the chlorine bleaching products. Even a small mold clean up can expose you to hazardous products and by-products. Mold and chlorine have both been linked to poor indoor air quality, allergies, and even childhood asthma. Chlorine bleach is just as toxic as the mold in many cases. New research has linked the residue compounds left by chlorine cleaners, called organochlorides, to a variety of illnesses from respiratory disorders to cancer.

However the CDC recommends that:

If you choose to use bleach to clean up mold:

• Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce dangerous, toxic fumes.
• Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.
• Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.
• If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document also applies to other building types. You can get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318, or by going to the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html .
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product.

In summary, there are many ways to clean and, to some level, prevent mold issues.  If you have mold in your home, then you have a moisture problem and that is the issue you must first address and resolve.  It is recommended that you contact a remediation specialist for more information before you attempt removal of mold as it is a health issue.  Please feel free to send us any comments and/or suggestions! 

MOLD PREVENTION TIPS

• Keep the humidity level in your home between 40% and 60%. Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months and in damp spaces, like basements.
• Be sure your home has enough ventilation. Use exhaust fans which vent outside your home in the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure your clothes dryer vents outside your home.
• Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow.
• Clean up and dry out your home thoroughly and quickly (within 24–48 hours) after flooding.
• Add mold inhibitors to paints before painting.
• Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.
• Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly. Consider not using carpet in rooms or areas like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.

To learn more about preventing mold in your home, see the Environmental Protection Agency’s publication A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home  at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html.

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