Mold is a type of fungus that grows on plants and fibers and is most often associated with damp, musty locations such as bathrooms, basements and attics. Mold travels through the air as tiny spores which like to make their home in wet areas, where they will breed. If mold is spotted, it's best to nip it in the bud immediately lest it spread to other areas. It's also a good indication of a moisture problem, which should be dealt with as soon as possible.
In addition to its unsightly appearance, mold can present a hazard to one's health. It's an allergen and an irritant. Someone who suffers from household allergies or asthma will no doubt have trouble breathing in homes with mold infestations. Eyes, ears, noses and throats can become irritated as well.
To eliminate mold, you'll first need to eliminate the source. Find out how and where moisture is seeping into your home and deal with it accordingly. If the area where mold is found isn't too large, the moisture problem can probably be tackled by the homeowner. If it's a large area, covering ten square feet or more, the homeowner is well advised to contact his local environmental protection group for a recommendation. A professional who deals with mold removal on a regular basis will most likely need to be called in.
If the homeowner is tackling the mold himself, it is in his best interest to invest in a face mask of sorts. The last thing he wants to do is breathe in mold. A surgical mask, or the type used by carpenters to keep from inhaling saw dust, works well for this task. A long sleeved shirt and long pants should complete the protective outfit.
When cleaning mold, the area should be scrubbed with warm water and detergent, and then dried. An additional step of disinfecting the area by a solution of 1 gallon of water (about 3.8 liters) to 1/4 cup (about 60 milliliters) of bleach and then letting it air dry is recommended. This step can be repeated to ensure that more if not all of the mold is eliminated.
As long as the moisture problem has been eliminated, mold shouldn't be an issue anymore. If, after all of that work, the mold comes back, it's time to call in a professional. Not only will he remove all the mold, he'll eliminate the source. If the moisture isn't completely removed from the home, it's just an invitation for the mold to come back.
Mold allergy causes the same signs and symptoms that occur in other types of upper respiratory allergies. Mold allergy symptoms can include:
Sneezing
Runny or stuffy nose
Cough and postnasal drip
Itchy eyes, nose and throat
Watery eyes
Mold allergy symptoms vary from person to person, and range from mild to severe. You may have year-round symptoms or symptoms that flare up only during certain times of the year. You may notice symptoms when the weather is damp, or you're in indoor or outdoor spaces that have high concentrations of mold.
If you have a mold allergy and asthma, your asthma symptoms may be triggered by exposure to mold spores. In some people, exposure to certain molds can cause a severe asthma attack. Signs and symptoms of asthma include:
Coughing
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
If you have a stuffy nose, sneezing, watery eyes or other bothersome symptoms that don't seem to go away, see your doctor.
After a flood, mold will grow in your house. It can make you sick. You will need to clean your house.
Take things that were wet for 2 or more days outside.
Things that stayed wet for 2 days have mold growing on them even if you can’t see it.
Take out stuff made of cloth, unless you can wash them in hot water. Also take out stuff that can’t be cleaned easily (like leather, paper, wood, and carpet).
Use bleach to clean mold off hard things (like floors, stoves, sinks, certain toys, countertops, flatware, plates, and tools).
Follow these steps:
Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.
Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, goggles, and N-95 mask.
Open windows and doors to get fresh air when you use bleach.
Mix no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.
Wash the item with the bleach and water mixture.
If the surface of the item is rough, scrub the surface with a stiff brush.
Rinse the item with clean water.
Dry the item or leave it out to dry.
These are recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.