Frequently Asked Questions about Mold
Finding mold in your home is a terrible experience. It can signal that there is water damage, trigger your allergies, and undermine the overall structural integrity of the home. I hope to address some frequently addressed questions with regards to mold in the hopes that a little information sheds some light on a gross problem.
What is Mold, Exactly?
Mold is a type of fungus that grows in warm, preferably damp areas. This means that mold in the home will usually be found in the bathroom, especially the shower, and in basements that tend to flood. Mold reproduces by creating spores that are spread through the air. They are able to function fully in areas where they would not otherwise be able to grow, making them very difficult to get rid of.
What are the Most Common Types of Mold?
The most common types of mold that are found in the home are cladosporium, penicillium, alternaria, and aspergillus.
What Happens When People are Exposed to Mold?
For many people, there is no affect when they are exposed to common household mold. For those who suffer from mold allergies, however, being exposed to mold will cause some unpleasant symptoms. These include irritated eyes, feeling stuffy in the nose, wheezing, and rashes. People who are extremely allergic to molds or who are exposed to large quantities of mold for an extended period of time could develop a fever, have a hard time breathing, or develop mold infections in their lungs.
There’s Mold in My Home! What Do I Do?
Anyone who is allergic to mold should avoid the area in which the mold was found. Those who are not highly allergic to mold should clean the area in which the mold was found by opening all of the windows in the area to provide fresh air and then scrubbing the mold away with bleach or ammonia. Bleach should never be mixed with any other cleaning products because their combination will result in toxic fumes. I advise calling in a mold remediation specialist. A good professional will be able to test for mold and safely remove it all from your home.
How Can I Avoid Mold in the Future?
In order to keep mold from forming in the future, it is important to control the temperature of areas that are likely to develop mold, such as the bathroom or the basement. By controlling the temperature of these areas, the chances of mold forming are greatly reduced. Mold can also be avoided by reducing the amount of humidity in the home. It should never go above 50%. This is possible through the use of dehumidifiers and an adequate ventilation system. Mold can also be avoided by thoroughly cleaning the areas where it will form with bleach on a regular basis, using paints that will reduce the amount of mold that forms, and avoiding carpet in damp areas.
I hope this information helps you in your fight against mold and makes mold less likely to grow in the future.
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