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Mold in Your Home
Without mold, we would
find ourselves wading neck-deep in dead plant matter. And we
wouldn't have great foods and medicines, such as cheese and
penicillin. However, problems arise when mold starts digesting
organic materials we don't want them to, like our homes.
What are molds?
With more than 100,000 species in the world, it is no wonder
molds can be found everywhere. Neither animal nor plant, molds
are microscopic organisms that produce enzymes to digest organic
matter and spores to reproduce. These organisms are part of the
fungi kingdom, a realm shared with mushrooms, yeast, and
mildews. In nature, mold plays a key role in the decomposition
of leaves, wood, and other plant debris.
Where can I find mold?
Molds thrive in warm and humid conditions, but you can find them
year-round in virtually every type of environment, both indoors
and outdoors. You'll find them outdoors in shady, damp areas and
places where leaves or other vegetation is decomposing. Indoors
you will find them in basements, showers and in other areas
where humidity levels are high. It's worth noting that you can
use the terms "mold" and "mildew" interchangeably, although
mildew is often applied to growth of fungi on fabrics, window
sills or bathroom tiles.
How do molds grow in my home?
Once mold spores settle in your home, they need moisture to
begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on. There
are molds that can grow on wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper,
paints, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. When excess moisture
or water builds up in your home from say, a leaky roof, high
humidity, or flooding, conditions are often ideal for molds.
Longstanding moisture or high humidity conditions and mold
growth go together. Realistically, there is no way to rid all
mold and mold spores from your home; the way to control mold
growth is to control moisture.
How can I be exposed to mold?
When molds are disturbed, their spores may be released into the
air. You then can be exposed to the spores through the air you
breathe. Also, if you directly handle moldy materials, you can
be exposed to mold and mold spores through contact with your
skin. Eating moldy foods or hand-to-mouth contact after handling
moldy materials is yet another way you may be exposed.
How do I know if I have a mold problem?
You may have seen white thread-like growths or clusters of small
black specks along your damp bathroom or basement walls, or
smelled a "musty" odor. Seeing and smelling mold is a good
indication that you have a mold problem. However, you cannot
always rely upon your senses to locate molds. Hidden mold can be
growing behind wall coverings or ceiling tiles.
Common places to find mold are in areas where water has damaged
building materials and furnishings perhaps from flooding or
plumbing leaks. Mold can also be found growing along walls where
warm moist air condenses on cooler wall surfaces, such as inside
cold exterior walls, behind dressers, headboards, and in closets
where articles are stored against walls. Rooms with both high
water usage and humidity, such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry
rooms, and basements are often havens for mold. If you notice
mold or know of water damaged areas in your home, it is time to
take action to control its growth.
How can I control mold growth in my home?
Fix any moisture problems in your home: Stop all water leaks
first. Repair leaking roofs and plumbing fixtures. Move water
away from concrete slabs and basement walls.
Increase air circulation within your home, especially along the
inside of exterior walls, and ventilate with fresh air from
outside. Provide warm air to all areas of the home. Move large
objects away from the inside of exterior walls just a few inches
to provide good air circulation.
Install and use exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry
rooms.
Ventilate and insulate attic and crawl spaces. Cover earth
floors in crawl spaces with heavy plastic.
Clean and dry water damaged carpets, clothing, bedding,
upholstered furniture within 24 to 48 hours, or consider
removing and replacing damaged furnishings.
Vacuum and clean your home regularly.
How do I clean up mold?
The time you are most likely to stir up spores and be exposed is
the very time you are trying to clean up your mold problem.
That's when you need to be the most careful. First, try to
determine the extent of the mold infestation. If the area is
small and well-defined, you can do the clean up, as long as you
are free of any health symptoms or allergies. However, if the
mold problem is extensive, such as between the walls or under
the floors, you should leave clean up to a professional.
Large Areas:
1. Consider having a professional cleanup the area. To find a
professional, check under "Fire and Water Damage Restoration" in
your Yellow Pages. If you decide to clean up on your own, follow
the guidance below.
2. Protect yourself by using goggles, gloves, and breathing
protection while working in the area. For large consolidated
areas of mold growth, you should use an OSHA (Occupational
Safety & Health Administration) approved particle mask.
3. Seal off area from the rest of your home. Cover heat
registers or ventilation ducts/grills. Open a window before you
start to clean up.
4. Remove all your furnishings to a neutral area to be cleaned
later. Follow cleaning directions below.
5. Bag all moldy materials, you will be discarding.
6. Scrub all affected hard surfaces: First with a mild detergent
solution, such as laundry detergent and warm water. Then use a
solution of 1/4 cup bleach to one quart of water. Wait 20
minutes and repeat. Wait another 20 minutes. Last, apply a
borate-based detergent solution and do not rinse. This will help
prevent mold from growing again. To find a borate-based
detergent, read the ingredients listed on the package label for
borates.
7. Give the entire area a good cleaning. Vacuum floors, and wash
bedding and clothes if exposed.
Small Areas:
1. Protect yourself by using goggles, gloves, and breathing
protection while working in the area. For small isolated areas
of mold growth, a cotton dust mask should do.
2. Seal off area from the rest of your home. Cover heat
registers or ventilation ducts/grills. Cover all your furniture.
Open a window before you start clean up.
3. Bag all moldy materials, you will be discarding.
4. Scrub all affected hard surfaces: First with a mild detergent
solution, such as laundry detergent and warm water. Then use a
solution of 1/4 cup bleach to one quart of water. Wait 20
minutes and repeat. Wait another 20 minutes. Last, apply a
borate-based detergent solution and do not rinse. This will help
prevent mold from growing again. To find a borate-based
detergent, read the ingredients listed on the package label for
borates.
5. Give the entire area a good cleaning, vacuum floors, and wash
bedding and clothes if exposed.
Clean all furnishings exposed to mold.
Permeable and washable: Such as clothing, bedding, and other
washable articles. Simply run through the laundry.
Non-permeable and washable: Such as wood, metal, plastic, glass,
and ceramics. Mix a solution of one cap bleach to one quart of
water. Bleach may fade colors, so test your beach solution
before using. If fine, wipe down your articles.
Permeable but not washable: Such as beds and furniture. If these
furnishings are moldy, you should consider discarding and
replacing them. If you decide it is a keeper, take the
furnishing outside. Give it a good vacuuming, and let it air
out. When finished, if you do not notice an odor it should be
okay. However, watch for any mold growth or health problems.
How can I decrease exposure to mold?
If you know that you are particularly sensitive to mold, avoid
compost piles, cut grass, wooded areas and other outdoor areas
more conducive to high mold concentration. Inside your home, you
can slow mold growth by keeping humidity levels between 40% and
60%, and ventilating showers and cooking areas. If there is mold
growth in your home, you should clean up the mold and fix any
leaks. You can remove mold growth from hard surfaces and
minimize their allergenic effects by using commercial products,
soap and water, or a weak bleach solution (1 cup of bleach in 1
gallon of water).
Specific recommendations:
Keep the humidity level in the house between 40% and 60%.
Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months.
Be sure the home has adequate ventilation, including exhaust
fans.
Add mold inhibitors to paints before application.
Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.
Do not carpet bathrooms and basements.
Remove or replace wet carpets and upholstery.
Sources: Washington State Department of Health; National Center
for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control &
Prevention; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
and weather.com/homeandgarden
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