Guest Author - Cheryl Tidball, DO

Mold is everywhere—indoors and outdoors. For most individuals, the mold spores floating in the air are relatively harmless, but for many asthmatics and allergy-prone persons, it can cause or worsen their symptoms. Common symptoms of mold allergen sensitivity include nasal and sinus congestion, coughing, wheezing, and eye irritation. It is impossible to get rid of all of the mold in the environment, but there are five basic steps that can be taken to minimize indoor exposure.

Step One: Look and Smell
There are hundreds of kinds of molds which may vary in color and texture. They often have a heavy, musty smell and tend to grow in damp places including bathrooms, kitchens and basements. Usually there is no need to professionally test for mold in the home—a thorough investigation of one’s home is all that is needed. It may appear as a fuzzy, discolored or stained area on surfaces such as walls, ceilings, or on tile, carpeted, or wood floors, particularly in areas where there is water condensation or leaking. Also check firewood stored in the home, in drip pans for refrigeration, air conditioning, or humidifier units. Check behind and underneath furniture and potted plants, particularly if they are against a wall. Line-drying clothes indoors or not venting dryers to the outside can also cause an increase in mold growth. Check around refrigerators, toilets, and under sinks for water leakage. Sometimes removing wallpaper or sheet rock is necessary.

Step Two: Protect Yourself and Others
Asthmatics or individuals with allergies should have someone else clean up the mold. If this is not possible, a high-efficiency mask, eye goggles and rubber cleaning gloves should be worn. Plastic sheeting hung to prevent the mold spores from floating into other areas of the house is important. Clothing worn while cleaning should be immediately removed and washed when cleaning is done.

Step Three: Clean It Up!
If the mold problem is severe, sheet rock, insulation, and carpet and carpet padding may have to be removed, bagged, and discarded. Non-porous surfaces should be cleaned with a ten-to-one bleach and water or hydrogen peroxide and water solution. Never mix ammonia and bleach! Keep the room well-ventilated by using fans and keeping windows open to help remove mold spores as well as fumes from the cleaning solutions. Don’t rinse the cleansed areas—allow the solution to dry on the surface.

Step Four: Don’t Let It Come Back!
Clean non-porous surfaces with a bleach and water solution to prevent mold regrowth. Fix all water leaks and dry wet or damp areas promptly. Get an inexpensive hygrometer from your local hardware store to check the humidity in your home. Get a dehumidifier to lower the humidity in your home to between 30 and 50 %. Since mold grows slower in cool temperatures, an air conditioner may also be helpful. Ozone air cleaners are not recommended because they can actually aggravate respiratory symptoms.

Step Five: Get Professional Help if Needed!
Sometimes the mold is too extensive for the average person to practically remove by themselves. Check in the phone book for professional mold abatement contractors if needed.

Although completely getting rid of mold isn’t possible, following these steps can have everyone breathing easier!