Can Mold Cause Health Problems
Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens , irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances . Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash .
Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing.
This provides a brief overview it does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. For more detailed information consult a health professional. You may also wish to consult your state or local health department.
What’s The Best Way To Kill Mold With Baking Soda
After cleaning the mold, rinse the surface with water to clean it. Respray the affected area with a spray bottle and allow the surface to dry. This will kill any remaining mold and help prevent future growth. TIP: Add vinegar to the baking soda solution to increase the chances of killing mold species.
Preventing Mold Growth On Bare Wood
Mold and mildew are colonies of living organisms that can grow on the surface of many materials including wood. Their color may range from white to black with just about every color in between. If the discoloration is green, it is most probably algae, a plant, since molds and mildews do not contain green chlorophyll. Like most living organisms, molds require air, water and a food source for survival. Bare wood is quite susceptible to mold growth since the porous surface provides lots of places for spores to germinate and many of wood’s nutrients are available as food. This is especially true for newly harvested wood that still contains a high sugar content. In addition, bare wood absorbs water, thus supplying the moisture these organisms require.
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Insulate Your Walls Basement Pipes And Windows
Do not give mold reasons to grow check every pipe for leaks and insulate them to prevent condensation due to the difference in air and pipe temperature. As soon as you notice drops of water on the pipes, ensure that they are properly changed and sealed. Use pipe sleeves, fiberglass, or other insulation materials to wrap the pipes, or cover your windows to prevent condensation during winter.
Research dew point, as it is a big cause of indoor mold, especially in basements. Ineffective insulation can cause dew point/condensation issues behind walls, malfunctioning sump pumps, water tank corrosion and inadequate basement underpadding .
Prevent Future Mold Growth By Exposing To Sunlight And Air
To prevent future mold growth you must make your home environment less friendly to mold. Where possible, increase sunlight in the room and decrease humidity. You may need to open windows more often or invest in a dehumidifier. Vacuuming the couch or furnishings more regularly will also help remove spores. If you do not change the conditions in the room, the mold will return.
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How To Kill Mold And Mildew
Stop harmful fungi from taking over your home with simple steps for removal and prevention.
Mold and mildew are fungi that can quickly grow anywhere you find moisture. There is very little difference between the two in fact, mildew is just mold in its early stage. Both serve an important purpose in our environment by helping to destroy organic materials such as leaves, which enriches the soil. But mold and mildew aren’t as helpful for humans. Living in a moldy home can cause serious health issues like headaches, respiratory problems, sinus congestion, and eye, nose, or throat irritation. It’s especially dangerous for infants, children, pregnant women, elderly individuals, and people with existing respiratory conditions, who are at a higher risk for these problems.
To check your home for mold and mildew, start with areas where there could be high humidity or water damage, such as a damp basement or crawl space. Mildew and mold can grow on a wide range of household surfaces, including wood products, ceiling tiles, cardboard, wallpaper, carpets, drywall, fabric, plants, foods, and insulation. These growths can develop on a damp surface within 24 and 48 hours and produce spores that travel through the air. They will break down and destroy whatever they grow on and can cause mild to severe health problems for you and your family.
The problem won’t go away on its own. Use these simple cleaning tips to remove and prevent mold and mildew in your home.
Mildew On Wood Furniture Prevention Methods
Finding mildew on wood is not something you should ignore. Mildew is an organism that grows in the dark, moisture and heat. If you are storing furniture in a basement, garage or attic then finding mildew on the wood is not going to be a rare occurrence. Wood furniture is sturdier than other things that mildew can get on and is typically a byproduct of mildew growth. Cleaning mildew is not difficult but you will not have to worry about that if you follow some simple methods to preventing it from happening. The information below will share with you several things you can in order to prevent mildew on wood.
1. Paper and Boxes
When you are storing wood furniture it is important to do so in a space just meant for wood furniture. If you store other materials like paper and boxes you will increase the risk of mildew growth and mold. Paper and cardboard are easily attacked by mildew in dark and humid areas because they are flimsy and have no protection whatsoever. Most wood furniture has been treated so mildew forming is less likely. When mildew begins to form on paper or boxes it can spread to the wood furniture. The simplest preventative measure is to remove the space of all paper and cardboard products. This will decrease the risk of finding mildew on wood.
2. Dust and Clean Often
3. Using a Dehumidifier
4. Furniture Covers
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Scrub With Mild Bleach
Bleach always seems to do the trick. Be careful to water down the solution so that you dont create spots of discoloration on your cushions. I recommend pouring 1/2 cup of bleach into a gallon of water. As always, never use bleach cleaning products if you are pregnant.
Important: Never use bleach and ammonia together. This is very dangerous and can produce toxic chemicals. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. does a good job of explaining why here.
Remove Existing Mold From Wood
Once you’ve stopped mold from spreading onto other surfaces, like the new bookcase I bought at 10 p.m. in a panic, you’ll need to kill the original source.
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How To Kill The Mold On Indoor Fabric Furniture
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Mold occurs on fabric, such as upholstered furniture, that is kept continually in dank, dark conditions. It can also happen if upholstered parts of the furniture, such as sofa cushions, are stored in plastic while they’re damp: Plastic does not allow fabric to breathe or air out. Getting rid of the mold requires several measures to remove both the mold and built-up moisture that contributes to the problem. The more airing out done after removing the mold, the less the upholstery will smell musty after cleaning.
Take the furniture outdoors on a dry, non-humid day. If you’re unable to carry the entire piece of furniture outdoors, take the cushions, pillows or any removable elements outside. Cleaning upholstery outdoors helps keep the mold from traveling through the air indoors.
Brush off all visible mold or discolored specks on the upholstery using a dry scrub brush or broom. Give the entire fabric a good brushing while wearing a dust mask to avoid breathing in mold spores. If cleaning indoors, set the furniture atop newspaper to catch any powdery residue. Discard the paper carefully afterwards.
Vacuum the furniture thoroughly using an upholstery brush attachment. Allow the furniture to sit outdoors for several hours or even all day, if possible, to air out. Airing it out also helps dry any moisture trapped within the fabric or foam to help prevent additional mold.
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References
How To Stop Mold Growth In Your Basement
How to prevent mold growth in the basement? Minimize the humidity. To prevent mold growth, the first step is to remove any residual moisture. Check your receptacle. Choose your floor wisely. Consider outdoor waterproofing methods. Clean your basement. Insulate your space. Keep plants upright. Be careful not to store wood under it. Ventilate the equipment well. Remove stale air.
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What Are The Damages Caused By Floods
Among the damages caused by floods, the formation of molds lasts for several weeks and causes potential risk to your health and properties. It is important that you know how to prevent mold formation after a flood to protect your life and properties. It also helps you to prevent the formation of mold in the future. Molds can grow in any place where there is constant moisture left on the surface.
How To Prevent Mildew From Forming On Teak
Those dark spots on your teak furniture are actually mildew, a practically inevitable part of owning outdoor furniture, especially if you live in a humid region. While teak wood contains oils that will prevent the wood from breaking down due to continuous exposure to the elements, the wood is still vulnerable to mold and mildew buildup. Because mold and mildew can result in allergies and breathing problems, among other health issues, it is essential to keep your furniture and the rest of your home mold- and mildew-free with the right cleaning procedure.
1
Rinse the furniture with your garden hose to remove dirt and debris. Avoid using a high-pressure washer, which can cause surface erosion, on the teak.
2
Clean the teak with a detergent, bleach and water solution. Mix 1/4 cup of bleach with 2/3 cup of laundry detergent in a gallon of water. Apply the cleaner to the wood with a bristle brush, and scrub affected areas in the direction of the grain to remove the dirt and mildew.
3
Rinse the furniture thoroughly with your garden hose. Do not leave any cleaner on the furniture. Set the furniture in the sun to dry fully.
4
Keep your teak furniture in the sun to prevent mold and mildew growth, as the sun is a natural mold killer. Use a teak protector product that contains ultraviolet inhibitors to prevent sun damage.
References
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Tips To Prevent Mold And Mildew Inyour Home
1. Inspect Your Home Monthly
Staying vigilant of any leaks around the house, especially in bathroom faucets, showers and toilets is key. Also, check your baseboards several times per year. If you see any discoloration, you know you have a water intrusion occurring.
Other signs of a water intrusion include general dampness , odd odors, discoloration, peeling paint, sudden onset of condensation, and compacted insulation.
2. Prevent and Fix Leaks
Prevent leaks by performing basic home maintenance on a regular basis. Make sure that your water pressure isnt too high as this can cause pipes and connections to burst. It also shortens the life of your pipes. Insulate or wrap your pipes during cold weather.
Use leak alarmsto alert you to any leaks. Fix leaks immediately and correctly using a licensedplumber.
3. Dry Wet Areas Immediately To Prevent Mold and Mildew
Cleaning up standing water or moisture should be obvious but you would be surprised at how many people do not do this. Most, but not all molds need 24-48 hours of moisture to begin to grow. Therefore if a suitable material in your home is wet for more than 24 hours then you run the risk of mold starting to grow. As soon as you see any standing water, clean it up and dry the area out. This includes minor amounts of water like a wet shower. Dry the shower after each use . This also includes major amounts of water from a broken pipe or a flood. Of course, standing water includes everything in between.
22. Eliminate Clutter
Which Respirator To Use
Protecting your lungs from exposure to mold spores is one of the most critical steps. We simply cant stress it enough in our recommendations for how to remove mold from wood. For this reason, it is essential to know which kind of respirator you should use.
This choice should depend upon the amount and type of mold in the area you are cleaning.
For instance, if there is only a small amount of mold found on the area you are cleaning, a simple face mask that covers the face and nose will do the job. This kind of respirator is easy to find and readily available in many stores.
When you start dealing with more substantial amounts of mold, you will want to upgrade to a half-face or full-face respirator. This heavy-duty protection is especially necessary if you are dealing with particularly harmful kinds such as black mold. You may have to go to a specialty store or order a full air mask online.
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Put On The Necessary Protective Gear
Its important to remember that mildew and mold are substances that can be harmful when inhaled. Also, if you use a powerful cleaning solution, you dont want it to touch your skin.
For these reasons, youll want to wear the right protective gear whenever you clean and remove mold. Necessary protective equipment includes:
- Air mask/respirators to prevent mold from getting in air passageways
- Rubber gloves to protect hands from the solution and the mold
- Safety goggles to protect eyes against any splashes or sprays
- Coveralls to protect clothes
- Spray bottle to direct targeted spray
Be sure to get all your protective gear together before you move on to the next step.
Best Way To Kill Mold On Wood
To effectively eliminate mold and mildew, it may help to understand what these are. So, what is mildew? What is mold?
Both mold and mildew are types of fungi. Whereas mildew appears white, mold can present in varying shades, such as green, black, red, or grey. Because they are fungi, the mold spores can deeply embed in your walls, floors, furniture, and elsewhere, making them extremely challenging to remove.
The best way to kill mold on wood is to tackle the problem at the root. Below, we outline the steps for how to get rid of mildew and mold on walls permanently.
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How To Prevent And Remove Mildew Home Methods
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Betty FeatherDepartment of Textile and Apparel Management
Mildew can be found on many different surfaces. It is a thin, black, or sometimes white, growth produced by mold. Molds are simple plants belonging to the group known as fungi. Though molds are always present in the air, those that cause mildew need moisture and certain temperatures to grow. They commonly develop in humid summer weather, especially in closed houses.
These molds grow on anything from which they can get enough food. In homes they develop most often on cotton, linen, rayon, silk, wool, leather, wood and paper. Many synthetic fibers resist mildew.
Molds that cause mildew flourish wherever it is damp, warm, poorly lighted and/or where air is not circulated in cellars, crawl spaces of houses without basements and clothing closets. It can also be found on draperies and rugs in basement recreation rooms, on shower curtains and on damp clothes rolled up for ironing. These molds are also likely to grow in a new house because of moisture in the building materials.
As the molds grow, they cause considerable damage. They leave a musty odor they discolor fabrics and sometimes they eat into them until the fabrics rot and fall to pieces. They also discolor leather and paper.
Should I Use Anything Else To Knock Out Existing Mold Spores That Are Floating Around
Yes! I actually fog my house monthly with EC3 mold control solution. It has been lab tested to not only render mold spores inactive but it also wipes out mycotoxins which is a pretty big deal.
See which foggers I use and what mold control solution I recommend.
Would you like my printable sheet with Tips To Prevent Mold After A Leak Or Water Event? Enter your email below and download this free tip sheet! Believe me it will come in very handy one day!
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