How To Prevent Mold Growth
As mentioned earlier, mold is everywhere, including outside. Which is why Industrial Hygienist always tests outside the affected structure to get a baseline level of what is acceptable inside a structure. It is impossible to completely eliminate mold from your home. However, you can dramatically reduce the amount of mold and future growth of mold in your home by reducing and controlling the moisture.Some ways to control moisture in your home include:
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Monitor humidity: make sure your home is dry. Ideal humidity levels to prevent mold growth are at or below 50%.
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Use exhaust fans and vents: Turn on exhausts in your kitchen, bathroom, and the laundry room, especially when cooking or taking a shower. If you dont have an exhaust fan, open the nearest window to provide ventilation.
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Clean up spills immediately: Spills provide a breeding ground for mold. The longer you let them sit, the better chance moisture has to soak into carpets and floorboards.
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Fix leaks: Leaking pipes are a leading cause of mold buildup, especially in bathrooms and basements. Take note of areas with plumbing in your home and check them regularly. Fix any leaks immediately.
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Run HVAC: Your HVAC acts like a dehumidifier removing moisture from the air, make sure you keep your HVAC system running year round.Mold and Your Health
How Do You Know If Mold Is Making You Sick
Are you sick and suspect it might be from mold?
Determining whether exposure to mold is making you sick isnt always easy.
Each persons body is affected by mold toxicity in different ways. Some experience constant migraines and headaches, shortness of breath, brain fog, fatigue or even depression.
Since symptoms differ from person to person, they may not be quickly associated with mold exposure. Many people suffering from mold illness struggle to get a proper diagnosis and investigation.
Its common to think my house is clean it cant be mold! However, mold comes in many forms. In this article, well share what toxic mold is, the signs and symptoms, and how it can be treated.
What Are The Symptoms Of Mold Sickness
If your Total Body Burden is high, or you are genetically predisposed to recycling toxins, regular exposure to mold can cause allergy symptoms, such as:
- Wheezing/shortness of breath
- Long standing or frequent sinusitis
And, serious pain and neurological symptoms, such as:
- Headaches and migraines
- Muscle cramping, aches and pains
- Persistent nerve pain
- Fatigue and weakness
- Poor memory, brain fog, difficulty with focus
In some cases, the spores from mold take root and grow in specific parts of the body, such as the lungs and sinuses. This can cause serious respiratory illnesses and infections.
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What To Do If You Got Exposed To Black Molds
If youve been exposed to black molds, you should go to an open area with fresh air. You should also observe yourself for any symptoms indicating poisoning or allergic reactions.
If you start developing irritations, a doctor is always the best person to consult. The physician can provide medications and treatments to ease your condition.
Once youre feeling well, you should call professional mold remediators to clean your home. This will stop your exposure to high levels of black mold spores. You should also observe proper hygiene and always be proactive when it comes to water damage since it allows molds to grow.
Why Is Black Mold So Dangerous
Black mold is commonly referred to as toxic mold, and for good reason. Aside from causing all kinds of respiratory reactions like coughing, sneezing, sore and itchy throats, and watery and itchy eyes, prolonged exposure can have serious health consequences.Black mold is toxic, and prolonged exposure can have serious health consequences.
One study found that exposure to mold during infancy led to asthma at 7 years of age, while others have linked exposure to brain inflammation, behavioral dysfunction, movement disorders, and neurological deterioration.
In short, black mold warrants its reputation as a toxin, and should be treated as soon as its discovered. Below are several signs it may be inhabiting your home.
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Why Hire A Mold Removal Expert
Its also possible that the mold will return if you dont fix the issue properly.
If this occurs, it is best to hire a professional to assist with the problem. Professionals have significantly more advanced equipment and are trained to take precisely the actions required to eliminate and prevent mold in your home.
A professional mold removal expert can assist a homeowner or business owner to correctly identify and repair any mold issues.
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How To Identify Mold On Walls
Before you can start to remove molds from a wall, it is important that you identify all areas that have been contaminated. The most common areas where it is found typically include the basement, bathroom, kitchen, garage and bedroom, especially a bedroom that is next to a bathroom or a bedroom next to the laundry room. You should look in areas that have a lot of dampness or moisture, such as the laundry room, basement and kitchen. You should also look at the grout between the bathroom tiles, above ceiling tiles that water stains, in any area where you smell mildew or there is a musty smell and any area that has been subjected to flooding. If you have water stains on the wall, or peeling or bubbling paint, it may be inside of the wall, which means you may need to remove the drywall to look behind it, especially if you smell a musty odor. Identifying black mold is fairly easy, because it is as the name suggests, black in color. It also usually has a slimy appearance.
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I Found Mold Growing In My Home How Do I Test The Mold
If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk.
What Are The Signs Of Mold In Your House
Musty smells are a tell-tale sign of mold. Another common indicator is visible signs of water damage.
As mentioned earlier, mold grows fast. Within 24 hours of a water leak, or a flood, mold will begin to take hold. This mold can grow on anything thats humid walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and even wet laundry.
When there is a chance of mold, its important to have a professional in to test. Professionals qualified to do environmental investigations can:
- Check the surfaces of your house for mold
- Test the air for spores
- Help you to identify sources of moisture
- Identify where the mold is growing and help you decontaminate your house
- Use natural enzymes to kill mold spores
If you dont get rid of all sources of mold, you risk getting sick from it.
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Is Toilet Mold Dangerous
The black mold growing in the tank, behind it, and under the toilet bowl can be a hazard to anyone, healthy or unhealthy. According to health experts, exposure to mold can lead to a stuffy nose, wheezing, red or itchy eyes and skin, hay fever and shortness of breath.
It is worse especially for individuals who are allergic to spores. It is recommended that you have safety measures put in place so as not to encourage its growth. You could put on a respirator so that the spores from the mold dont trigger allergic reactions as you clean.
How Long Do Mold Symptoms Last
The tricky thing about mold exposure is that its different for each person. The amount of time mold exposure symptoms persist depends on:
- What type of mold they are exposed to,
- How long the exposure has been,
- How well their bodies eliminate toxins
Those who process toxins well can see their symptoms disappear as quickly as a few days.
Others who eliminate toxins slowly can experience symptoms for much longer. They could be ill for months or even years after the source of mold is eliminated.
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Clean Your Air Conditioners Regularly
Home air conditioners often trap moisture within them, creating favorable conditions for mold breeding. Regular cleaning and maintenance of these conditioners keeps the moisture away. Keeping ducts clean and dust-free eliminates the food that mold feeds off of. Homeowners are highly encouraged to replace filters after no more than 3 months. Lastly, running your air conditioner at a low level will help with air circulation and prevent a rise in humidity levels.
Where Black Mold Most Often Grows
Black mold grows in areas that stay consistently wet over long periods of timeso you won’t find it immediately after your toilet overflows, but you might notice it under the bathroom or kitchen sink where a slow drip has gone undetected. Look for it in “utility closets where your water heater is, basements, bathroomsanywhere you have the probability for moisture, or even groundwater seepagebasements are famous for that,” says Andersen. “It doesn’t need dark at all.” It’s also important to note that black mold isn’t the same gunk you might find on grout around an old bathtubthat’s more likely to be mildew, which thrives on residual dampness and dirt in your shower.
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Possible Symptoms And Health Effects
When there is black mold inside of the walls, it often causes allergy-like symptoms, including watery eyes, sneezing and running nose. If anyone in your home has respiratory problems, such as asthma and those with a weakened immune system may have a higher risk of infections from exposure to the mold. Black mold can also cause more serious illness, such as sleep disorders, memory loss, bleeding lungs in infants and sudden infant death syndrome.
Act Now and Remove Mold from your HomeCall a Professional Mold Remediation Specialist or Get Up to 4 Quotes Now.
Why Is There Black Stuff In Toilet After Flushing
If you notice black stuff after flushing your toilet it means that either the pipes that supply water to your house have some rust or leaks. The leaks and rust harbor black mold that is then transferred to your toilet tank.
At the same time, black stuff could indicate an issue with the water itself. The water may be dirty, with mineral deposits or some unidentified residue that is black.
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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. However, 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 small amounts 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.
Black Mold Symptoms And Health Effects
Learn about black mold symptoms and health effects so that you can identify indicators of black mold exposure and black mold poisoning.
A mold infested room of an old building.
Dariusz Majgier
Mold in homes can be a costly and dangerous problem, particularly when infestations of toxic black mold occur. The symptoms and health effects of black mold exposure and black mold poisoning cover a wide range of health problems, but understanding the indicators can help keep you and your family safe.
Toxic black mold, or Stachybotrys chartarum, as it’s known to scientists, can release spores as it feeds on organic materials in common household materials like drywall, carpet, insulation or sub-flooring that have been exposed to moisture. These spores, if ingested or inhaled, can cause a range of unpleasant and even dangerous symptoms in humans.
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What Can I Use To Clean The Rubber Seal On My Washing Machine
Cleaning the washing machine door seal Add 1 cup of baking soda around the seal inside the drum. Run the washing machine empty for a few wash cycles. Add 1 cup bleach and 1 cup baking soda into the washing powder drawer. When the cycles are completed, put a few drops of washing-up liquid in warm water and mix it well.
Symptoms Of Black Mold Exposure
Many types of indoor mold, not just black mold, can cause symptoms if you are sensitive to them or are exposed to them for a prolonged period of time. Symptoms of mold exposure include:
Symptoms of mold exposure may be worse in people who are most at risk, including:
- People with an allergy to mold
- People with a weakened immune system, who may develop infections
- Older people
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Keep It Clean And Dry
It never hurts to clean regularly. Make sure humid areas and rooms with plumbing get regular spot checks. Add mold and mildew removal products to your cleaning routine, especially for the bathroom and kitchen.
Mold thrives on moisture, so use dehumidifiers in humid areas of your home like bathrooms, basements, or closets.
Signs And Symptoms Of Black Mold Poisoning
Black mold exposure may often present with your typical allergic complaints that are listed above. However, one must be mindful that other non-allergic, mold-related illnesses exist and may present similarly to a mold allergy, but often with more seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Research has found that people who have been exposed to mixed mold, mold spores and mycotoxins have experienced neurological and behavioral symptoms. These symptoms have been corroborated by other studies like Gordon et al. and Rea et al. .
Such non-allergic symptoms to mold may include, but are not limited to:
- Cognitive impairment
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The Dangers Of Black Mold
We cant say black mold is entirely safe either. The truth is somewhere in the middle. Can black mold cause severe respiratory illness? Yes, it can. But again, it requires long-term mold exposure.
First, let us explore what black mold, or Stachybotrys chartarum, is. Black mold is a type of fungus that acquired its name due to the dark green or black color. The mold has a distinct musty or mildew-like odor, which is usually the first sign homeowners notice.
If you breathe in too many mold spores, or mycotoxins, in the air for an extended period of time, you will experience what is known as black mold poisoning. The symptoms appear similar to your average respiratory infection, such as the common cold or the flu. However, if you suffer from a weakened immune system or a respiratory issue, such as asthma, the risk is far greater.
The most common symptoms associated with black mold poisoning include coughing, wheezing, stuffy nose, red eyes, skin irritation, throat irritation, and frequent nosebleeds. If you suffer from asthma or have a respiratory allergy, the black mold may worsen the symptoms of these conditions. Then, you may experience persistent coughing, frequent chest colds, difficulty breathing, and sinus inflammation.
Black Mold In Toilet Bowl & Tank
If you have seen dark stuff, spots, residue, or ring in your toilet bowl, and behind, underneath, or inside your tank, it is probably mold or mildew. The discoloration could change over time to different colors such as green or orange but it is mostly black.
Black mold in your bathroom is brought about by dampness, stagnant water, and poor ventilation. Although it is unsightly to see and can possibly impose a bad image on your levels of hygiene, toilet mold is quite a common problem and getting rid of it is pretty easy and quick.
Following is a detailed discussion about the causes, how to deal with the mold including preventive measures and answers to commonly asked queries.
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In Severe Cases Symptoms Caused By Inhaling Black Mold Can Lead To The Following Health Troubles:
- Vomiting
- Asthma
- Respiratory complications
Sometimes mold invades spaces that are hard to see and reach. It spreads fast, burrowing into walls and ceilings and hiding in cupboards and under carpets. Quite often, people are exposed to black mold without even knowing it. If you or anyone in your home is experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms without knowing why, you may be exposed to mold.
Black mold should be approached with extreme caution. Tackling black mold without proper knowledge and equipment is unsafe. The suspected contamination should always be examined and removed by professionals.
A professional black mold removal service will tackle the contamination with advanced equipment and technology. For instance, protective masks and gear should be worn at all times, to ensure maximum safety.
Do All Front Load Washers Have Mold Problems
Do All Front Load Washers Have Mold Problems? Mold problems in front-load washing machines are very common, but not inevitable! Factor in lingering residue from detergents and fabric softeners, and youve got a perfect environment for front-load washer mildew growth, especially inside the rubber ring of the door seal.
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