Have you ever tried to kill mold in your home, only to find that it has returned to haunt you, often within days and, as if to rub it in, in the same areas that you treated earlier?
If that’s happened to you, here are some practical tips to assist you in preventing mold from invading your home in the first place. That’s right. Prevention is the best, most effective method of mold control that I know. If you follow these tips, you will reduce the possibility of having to kill any mold that you may find later on.
Mold and moisture are friends, great friends. If you have moisture anywhere in or around your house, that’s where you’ll find it. So, the first rule is to track down the origin of the moisture so you can control it.
If you don’t do this, you and members of your family could face a myriad of health problems down the track should any of you become exposed to the harmful effects of mold.
This particularly applies to those who already have existing medical conditions such as asthma, allergies, chronic lung diseases, and weakened immune systems. So, whatever you do, try and find where the source of the moisture is. For example, look for leaks in water pipes (including those that are hidden in walls), roofs, guttering, down spouts and appliances that are not vented to the outside such as clothes dryers.
At times, you may also suspect that there is mold somewhere because you can literally smell it. Mold has its own distinctive odor that makes it virtually impossible not to notice. No matter how hard you try, however, you still can’t detect it. In these situations, you could try looking in places that are not so obvious such as underneath carpets and behind drywalls or wall paper.
Once you’ve determined the origin of the moisture in your home, you need to fix whatever was causing the problem. If you have the skill to do that yourself, then that’s great because you will save money. How much will depend on the severity of the problem you’ve identified. However, if you can’t, it’s best to fork out the cash and hire a professional to do the job.
Proper air circulation is extremely important in stopping mold from getting a foothold in your home. So, you should make sure that there is adequate ventilation in areas that are prone to dampness like bathrooms, laundry and utility rooms and basements. Whenever possible, leave as many windows and doors open for as long as you can, especially in bathrooms and laundries. Failure to do this will only encourage mold growth.
There is nothing particularly exciting about having to kill mold in your home. It’s a chore you want to avoid at all costs.
Filed under kill mold, mold removal by on Apr 10th, 2010. Comment. 
People are often too complacent about whether or not they should kill mold that, unfortunately, is becoming too prevalent these days. No doubt, the major shift in climate conditions around the world has a lot to do with the increase in mold infestations.
However, if you feel like you want to remove mold that may have taken hold in your home, it’s a good idea to avoid using toxic materials which are unfriendly to the environment.
You will find some tips on how to kill mold and mildew naturally here.
Filed under kill mold by on Apr 4th, 2010. 1 Comment.
The professionals know how to get rid of mold and make it look so easy, don’t they? Here, they are using the Dry Ice Blasting method.
Filed under clean mold, remove mold by on Sep 8th, 2009. Comment.
What would be some of the physical mold symptoms you would experience if your house had mold. I live in Florida and have had this terrible tickle and cough for 2 weeks and don’t know why.
Answer
Some symptoms of mold would be: shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, being tired more easily than usual, and coughing material (sputum) out of your lungs. I recommend that you get your cough checked. I had one for a year and a half, now I have asthma in spite of moving.
To treat this, the normal way is to look at it as a chronic cough or asthma. You would likely be prescribed an inhaled steroid to reduce lung inflammation and possibly a bronchodilator like Albuterol/Salbutamol for chest tightness, coughing, or wheezing. Ending your exposure to mold is the best treatment.
Fixing the mold problem could be something minor like washing the surfaces in your home with diluted bleach or severe with major demolition and mold removal by professionals. Try to wear a mask when you know you will be exposed to mold. If you have a moldy bathroom, use another shower, if possible. Let the room dry out for a few weeks. Check the bathroom fan to make sure it is actually pulling air from the room to outside. Good ventilation in a room after cleaning it up can help reduce the amount of mold. Commercially available mold removal spray is useful for surface mold. In addition, paint with mold inhibiting chemicals in it can be a good option for repainted areas you know are prone to mold outbreaks.
When trying to isolate where the mold is, remember that mold needs wetness or dampness to grow. Bathrooms with poor ventilation, areas where the pipes are leaking, basements that need a sump pump or dehumidifier, and spots in the ceiling that are not insulated properly can encourage the growth of mold.
Filed under mold removal, remove mold by on Aug 5th, 2009. 1 Comment.
A Lowell homeowner will finally be able to move back into dream home after black mold kept her out of her house.
Read more on Community Comes Together To Repair Home…
Filed under black mold by on Apr 14th, 2009. Comment.
S05E16 Using a hygrometer
In order to control and prevent house mold, especially toxic black mold, from growing, you need to regulate the level of moisture in your house. Since mold flourishes in high humidity, you need to keep the relative humidity inside low. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a threshold of 60% relative humidity and, therefore, indoor humidity should be maintained below this figure.
Incidentally, if you are not in the U.S., you should check for any variation to that threshold in your part of the world.
Your first step is to measure the level of relative humidity in the house. This is important for two reasons:
1. Obviously, you must know whether the level is above 60% or not so you can decide if anything needs to be done.
2. You must also know where in the house you have a humidity problem as the humidity level in different parts of the house will vary, for example bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, attic, basement, ductwork, wall cavities, etc.
You can easily use a hygrometer (also known as a relative humidity sensor or moisture meter) to measure the humidity level. It does not have to be expensive but, remember, you get what you pay for. I personally prefer the digital version over the analog because it is more accurate and it can also store minimum and maximum relative humidity information which the analog cannot do. One important point is that some hygrometers require calibration before use. Most people prefer to avoid those and choose the models that do not require calibration or maintenance.
So, assuming you are interested in grabbing one of these models for yourself, click here for some of the best available. That way, you will always know what the humidity level inside your house is and stop house mold from taking root indoors.
Filed under black mold by on Mar 28th, 2009. Comment.
Black Mold Exposure follows Michael Roland Williams, filmmaker, and Karen Noseff, founder and designer of Fortune Denim, struggling to regain their livelihood and well-being after they were unknowingly exposed to high levels of various molds that had infested Karens apartment. A growing number of people from all ages and walks of life claim mold made them ill while physicians, lawmakers, and medical ociations dispute the validity of these claims. Most of the symptoms of those claiming …
Duration : 0:2:48
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The documentary will have its premiere at the Magnolia in Dallas, Texas on April 21 at 7.30 pm. Further screenings will follow in select cities. Details at www.blackmoldexposuremovie.com.
I urge you to attend if you can. It’s worth it.
Filed under black mold by on Mar 21st, 2009. 5 Comments.
This is an example of mold, stachybotrys and chaetomium. A 1 year old Palmer Home.
Duration : 0:1:32
Filed under black mold, kill mold by on Mar 21st, 2009. 4 Comments.
I am interested in buying a house that may have mold.
Is there a way to get rid of the mold if it is in the walls without taking the walls down? And is all mold dangerous?
I don’t know all the details, but, the seller should be responsible for having a possible mold issue taken care of. 1. All molds can be dangerous to people and pet’s. It depends on how much mold is in the living environment and what other health issues a person or pet has. Mold may affect people that have allergies,asthma, immune problems, etc. more than so called healthy people. 2. The seller should be required to have a mold test done by a professional to determine the level of mold spores in the home. 3. If the mold is visible, some kind of remediation needs to be done. 4. Moisture is the necessary ingredient that mold needs to live. (What’s causing the moisture problem?) 5. You don’t have to tear down the walls unless the walls have been compromised by the mold. (I don’t know what your walls are made of.) I can go on an on regarding Mold issues in peoples living environments. Since I don’t know the specifics of the possible mold infestation that your asking about, it’s hard for me to give further advise. Plus, it would help to know what state you live in. New York, for example has some of the toughest guidelines regarding mold remediation.
Filed under kill mold, mold removal by on Mar 20th, 2009. 1 Comment.