Actions You Can Take To Reduce Mould
The most important actions you can take to prevent mould in your home are those that minimise moisture.
- Fix leaky plumbing and roofs and other building faults
- Ensure gutters are cleared and maintained
- Reduce condensation by using exhaust fans, or open windows in the bathroom and kitchen when showering, cooking or using the dishwasher
- Wipe up excess water caused by condensation such as on single glazed windows and on shower glazing
- Air the home regularly by opening windows and doors on warmer days
- Vent clothes dryers to the outside and clean lint filters according to the manufacturers instructions.
Other Places In The Kitchen
Wooden cutting boards, trash cans, behind the stove and windows and window sills in the kitchen are like heaven for mold spores. They feed off of these places, so keeping them clean and dry is critical for keeping mold at bay.
To keep your kitchen mold free, be sure to:
- Ventilate when cooking and doing dishes by opening a window, using a fan, or both
- Wash the dishes every day, so they dont pile up in the sink
- Clean and dry the stove top, microwave, counters, cabinets, and window sills regularly
- Clean out the inside of your fridge and your fridge drip tray often
- Take the trash out every day
How Common Is Mold In Buildings
Mold is very common in homes and buildings.
One 2017 study found mold in every public building studied, with an average of about 14 instances of mold per building.
Another involving 31 European countries found mold in 1 in 6 homes. The author noted that the prevalence of mold may vary greatly depending on the regional climate.
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How To Test For Black Mold In The Air
Are you breathing black mold? For your healths sake, its important to find out. Most airborne molds are capable of harming certain people, but toxic black mold presents a particular risk. Even short-term exposure to black mold can be dangerous to health.
When people talk about toxic black mold, theyre referring to a specific variety known as Stachybotrys chartarum. Like all molds, black mold is insidious its hard to find and even harder to remove. Just because you can find a visible mold colony, doesnt mean youre not inhaling its spores and byproducts.
If you suspect black mold is growing in your home, its a good idea to run a test before beginning the expensive remediation process. While youre investigating, make sure to run a high-quality air purifier for mold to protect yourself and your family. Keep reading to learn when and how to test for black mold.
If your home has a mold problem, its time to act. Protect your family by running a high-quality air purifier from Air Oasis. Questions about our purifiers? Give us a call at .
How To Treat Mold In Your Home
A homeowner never wants to find mold in their home. Mold comes in many different forms and colors including black, orange, white, and green. Among these, black is the most common type and can be very dangerous to individuals exposed to it. That is why is it extremely important to know how to treat mold in your home at the very first sign.
The key is to remove the mold before the fungus spreads and creates even bigger issues. Neglecting the removal and clean-up of mold can result in health and home complications. Your homes infrastructure can become compromised with extended mold exposure.
Below are critical steps to take if you notice that your home has been infected with mold. This article will direct you on methods as well as the cleaning tools you should utilize to safely remove mold from your home.
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How Are Mold Allergies And Exposure Diagnosed
There are no proven tests that show when or where you may have been exposed to mold.
But your doctor may check for mold allergies by reviewing your symptoms and performing one of the following tests:
- Blood test. Your doctor takes a blood sample and then sends it to a laboratory to measure the number of certain antibodies, which can indicate your immune systems sensitivity to different mold species.
- Skin prick test. Your doctor takes a small amount of mold and applies it to your skin using a tiny needle. Your skin will break out in bumps, a rash, or hives if youre allergic to that type of mold.
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How To Test For Mold In Air
Mold is a fungus that can grow indoors as well as outdoors. There are countless species of mold, some of which are more harmful than others. Mold grows in dark, damp, and warm areas, such as bathrooms or basements.
However, not all mold is visible.
Sadly, if you have mold in one area of your home, spores could fly around. Thats right, mold spreads and reproduces through spores, which can survive severe environmental conditions . So, if your allergies are agitated, it might be due to mold spores flying around in the air.
Well show you how to test for mold in the air so that you can take the next steps for tackling the issue.
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Previous Water Damage Event
Have you previously had the misfortune of discovering a water damage event like flooding or burst pipes in your home? If the water was extracted efficiently and properly, there is likely resulting mold growth.
Because fungus feeds on moisture, water damage often leads to mold problems which can be costly and can potentially harm the structural integrity of your home. To learn about how to manage a water damage event, clickhere.
Fungus and mold need water to thrive. If you have previously had the misfortune of experiencing a water damage event in your home, it is important to ensure that there is no resulting mold problem. At the first sign of mold, call the experts at ProClean at 484-8500.
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According to the EPA, there is no simple way to eliminate all mold within a home, so it is important to stay diligent in detecting any possible problems.
If you notice any of the above warning signs, it is important to thoroughly and comprehensively remove mold colonies before they multiply even further.
Is Mold Behind A Wall Dangerous
Yes. Absolutely yes. In fact, it can be MORE dangerous than visible mold because it can go undetected for a long time, continue to grow and compromise multiple areas of your home, and it can release mass amounts of mycotoxins as the active mold growth begins to compete for space. In addition, the mold spores and mycotoxins can quietly move through your duct work and invade all areas of your living space. Mold is known to cause a wide range of health problems and mold behind a wall is no different than visible mold elsewhere in your home.
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Mold Armor Fg500 Do It Yourself Mold Test Kit
The Mold Armor kit includes a test swab, petri dish, and a bottle of mold growth medium. You can use this single kit in one of three waysto test the air for mold spores, to test air quality in your HVAC duct, or to test for surface mold.
To use the kit, pour the growth medium in the petri dish, replace the lid, and allow it to gel for one hour. Then, either allow it to remain open to the atmosphere for an air quality test, tape it to your air duct for a HVAC test, or use the swab to remove a sample from a surface and apply it to the growth medium for a surface test.
If after 48-96 hours mold begins to grow in your dish, you may choose to send it to a lab for analysis. With a price tag of under $10, this mold test kit is affordable. But the lab fee is an additional $40.
Mold’s Effects On Your Health
Mold can cause many health effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . It can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash. People with asthma or who are allergic to mold may have severe reactions. People who are immune-compromised and with chronic lung disease may get infections in their lungs from mold. Interestingly, out of thousands of mold species, only a few dozen will trigger any health problems at all, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
People without allergies and asthma aren’t immune to the effects. According to the CDC, people without pre-existing lung conditions can also experience symptoms like nasal congestion and a sore throat if they live in a house with damp floors or moisture accumulation.
The CDC also notes a potential link of early mold exposure to the development of asthma in some children.
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What Does It Look Like
Molds are a type of fungus and can look like their fungal cousins, mushrooms, and yeasts. There are thousands of types of mold, and their appearance can depend on the type and where itâs growing. Outdoors, molds can be seen gobbling up the dead organic matter on decomposing surfaces like fallen leaves and rotting logs indoors, house mold thrives in wet, humid environments like bathrooms and basements or anywhere that has recently flooded.
According to the CDC, the most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. However, black mold, or Stachybotrys chartarum , is sometimes found in homes and other buildings. This greenish-black growth can grow on fiberboard, paper, dust, and lint, particularly in areas that may have recently flooded or suffered other types of water damage. While black mold can certainly look scary, the CDC says that Stachybotrys chartarum isnât any more harmful than other types of mold.
How Can I Test For Toxic Mold
If you suspect or fear toxic mold is growing in your home, you wont need any special tests. A test such as the viable test kit we learned about above will detect all kinds of molds present. By sending your petri dish to a lab, you can get a better idea of which types of molds are growing and then take the correct actions.
The next step should always be to consult a professional for further tests and investigations. Test kits are more of a guidance than something to rely on fully.
Its also important to understand that simply because its called toxic mold, it doesnt mean its toxic to you. As we mentioned above, molds that produce mycotoxins can affect some individuals, while others wont be affected.
However, if you suspect you have been exposed to toxic molds, your doctor can run a few tests. A blood test can help to determine if youve been poisoned by checking biotoxins in your blood .
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Im A Los Angeles Renter And I Keep Telling My Landlord That I Think There Is Mold Inside My Walls What Should I Do Becca Los Angeles
Hire a Los Angeles mold inspector, especially if you know there was a leak and the property owner didnt dry it down properly. You can certify mail the landlord for your records, and deduct it off next month rent.
Most often, most Los Angeles mold inspectors will not open walls without owner of property consent.
Controlling Mould Growth Removal & Prevention
If you can see or smell mould, you need to have it cleaned up and removed immediately, as mould can damage surfaces it grows on. The longer it grows the more damage it can cause.
Mould only grows when there is sufficient moisture. When mould appears, the first task is to try to establish where the moisture is coming from.
Some causes include:
- showering, cooking and boiling without adequate ventilation
- use of clothes dryers and unflued gas heaters without adequate ventilation
- indoor plumbing leaks
- indoor liquid spills
- storing large amounts of water absorbent materials, such as books or cardboard boxes, in a damp space.
Common parts of a house that get wet or have poor ventilation are prone to mould growth, are:
- kitchens, bathrooms and laundries due to condensation or high humidity and leaking pipes
- cupboards and corners due to restricted ventilation
- walls or windows that are exposed to hot indoor air and cold outdoor air
- walls and ceilings due to insufficient insulation or rain seeping through the roof.
Avoid conditions encouraging mould growth, by using heat, insulation and ventilation. The best and easiest way of reducing moisture and humidity levels is by ventilating using a SolarVenti for drying.
In addition, there are some things that you can do to help prevent mould in your home, including:
Mould removal efforts after flooding should focus on:
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Guide To Mold Remediation
Think you might have mold spreading throughout your home in Fort Myers? Its not uncommon. Mold just needs a little warmth and a little moisture. From there, it can experience explosive growth, allowing it to colonize any area of your home. Mold remediation is the answer to your challenge, but you may have some questions about the process.
Is Mold Remediation All I Need?
No. While mold remediation is an important, even vital, step, its only one of several. In addition to removing the mold from your home, its also essential that the water leak that caused the mold growth in the first place is located and repaired.
Is My Home Infested by Black Mold?
Black mold is very common, but it is only one of over 300,000 types of mold that could ultimately grow in your home. The best way to identify the mold is to have it inspected and tested.
Should I Clean Mold on My Own?
If you notice small patches of mold that are growing only on a hard surface, it can be cleaned using a little water and bleach. However, make sure to wear a face mask. In addition, larger mold patches on porous surfaces, such as sheetrock, should be handled by a professional, as they can be very difficult to handle on your own.
How Long After Water Damage Does Mold Start Growing?
If you have experienced any sort of water incursion, mold can begin growing in as little as 24 hours, making mold remediation essential.
How To Find Mold In Your Home
Damage caused by mold growth in your home can be a huge inconvenience and if the damage is severe enough, costly to repair. Mold forms in environments where moisture is present and it is important to know how to detect when there is mold growth in your home. This article addresses how to find mold in your home.
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How To Test For Mold
This article was co-authored by Bridgett Price. Bridgett Price is a Cleaning Guru and Co-Owner of Maideasy, a maid service company that services the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing.There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 285,081 times.
Mold is a type of fungus that grows in moist environments and reproduces by microscopic seeds called spores. Even if you’re healthy, you can suffer from respiratory issues, skin irritation, and headaches if you’re exposed to dangerous forms of mold.XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source If you share your home with children, elderly loved ones, or anyone with respiratory problems, they’re at an even greater risk. Therefore, it’s very important to learn how to find, test for, and treat mold. This knowledge could improve your health and even save your life.
Look Out For These Symptoms
You must be familiar with the damp, rusty smell and dirty green and black patches usually associated with fungal growth. Not only is this mold ugly and pesky to look at, it poses serious health threats as well. Mentioned below are some signs to know whether your house is infected by mold and mildew:
- A damp musty smell would be present all over the house
- Brown, green or black patches of fungi in the corners, walls etc.
- White and mouldy fungi accumulation on books, clothes, cardboard, and wooden furniture
- It even causes allergies, sneezing and irritation
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How To Test For Black Mold
Do you keep getting a whiff of something musty in your bathroom or basement? Afraid it might be mold? Learn about three of the most popular kits to test for mold at home.
Its no secret that damp areas of the home provide the perfect conditions for mold and mildew to grow. Whether your nose knows, or your eyes spy dark spots in strategic locations, you want to make sure.
Mold doesnt just eat away at your wood, wallpaper, or grout. Its spores get airborne and cause all kinds of health problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says enough evidence exists to link mold to upper respiratory tract symptoms like itchy eyes and runny nose to cough and wheeze in otherwise healthy people.
