image by: HWN

HWN Suggests

Should I worry about mold growing in my home?

Mold growth in your home can be unsettling. Blackened spots and dusty patches on the walls are signs that something is amiss, but it is important to distinguish between mold growth that is a nuisance and mold growth that may be harmful. There are more than 1 million species of fungi. Some are used to produce important medications. Others can cause life-threatening infections when they grow in the body. Microscopic fungi that grow in homes are a problem because they can trigger asthma and other allergies. In my work as a fungal biologist, however, I have yet to encounter robust scientific evidence to support claims that indoor molds are responsible for other serious illnesses.

read full article

Featured

 Hidden housemates: meet the moulds growing in your home

Indoor airborne fungi have become implicated in “sick building syndrome” and claims that our homes are “killing us”. There is some sense mixed in with the scare here. These kinds of organisms can colonise our houses and cause serious illness but it’s unlikely that you’re in imminent danger. Mould becomes a problem when there is moisture, or the inability for it to escape. After large rainfall or flood events, porous materials in buildings like wood, insulation, carpet and furnishings absorb a lot of water.

 Mold Can Make Your Family Sick. Here’s How to Get Rid of It.

The truth about black mold, fungus farts and that goop in the corner of your shower. Bleach only works for non-porous surfaces. It can’t touch the mold that has burrowed into surfaces like wood or drywall (supposedly, vinegar may help you there). But the most important reason bleach fails is that people don’t stop the mold’s water supply.

Articles of Interest

People Are Getting Worried About Household Mold. Should You Be?

If it seems like everyone you know is talking about mold, it’s because many of them are — or at least, they’re curious about it. According to Google Trend data, searches for “household mold” and related terms have grown in popularity over the last five years; examples include “mold toxicity symptoms,” up 170 percent, and “professional black mold removal,” up 250 percent. The fascination has also spread on social media, with more than half a million videos tagged #mold on TikTok alone. But while mold chatter is certainly on the rise, a correlation with a higher incidence rate is harder to determine.

Beyond Bleach: Mold Is a Long-Term Problem after Flood and Disasters

Mold grows on almost any material that stays wet more than about two days. The longer the mold and wetness remain, the faster it spreads. And it is a survivor. It can grow even in dry spaces with humidity levels between 25 percent and 70 percent.

Black Mold Symptoms and Health Effects

No matter how hard you try to keep everything in your house dry and clean, mold somehow prevails. Day, ruined. The only thing more annoying than discovering mold is trying to get rid of it.

Don’t Catch What Ails Your House

The types of mold usually found in homes do not produce dangerous toxins. But they can bring misery and are best controlled by preventing their growth.

Health Check: how does household mould affect your health?

The most infamous type of mould is “black mould” (Stachybotrys chartarum), which can grow on water-damaged building materials and produce toxic spores. In 1994, it was linked to a serious respiratory illness after ten children experienced idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis (bleeding from the lung) and one subsequently died. But despite significant media interest and public concern, a causal link was never established.

Here’s What Actually Happens If You Eat Moldy Food, According To Doctors

But don't worry: In his 30 years of practice, Dr. Bedford says he has never seen anyone die or require more intense treatment due to mold (though that doesn't mean it's impossible). Just take mold as a sign that your food’s gone bad and move on.

How to Battle Mold and Mildew in Your Home

These unwelcome fungi cling to any damp area. You must destroy them.

How To Get Rid Of Mould In Your Home

Feeling slightly short of breath, wondering what that strange alcohol-like smell is or finding yourself with an irritating cough? Mould could be the perpetrator and it might be time to check your home for the presence of this potentially deadly household pest.

Is black mould really as bad for us as we think? A toxicologist explains

Mould in houses is unsightly and may cause unpleasant odours. More important though, mould has been linked to a range of health effects – especially triggering asthma. However, is mould exposure linked to a serious lung disease in children, unrelated to asthma? As we’ll see, this link may not be real, or if it is, it’s so rare to not be a meaningful risk. Yet we still hear mould in damp homes described as “toxic”. Indeed, mouldy homes can harm people’s health, but not necessarily how you might think.

Is It Safe To Eat Moldy Bread?

For food safety experts, the answer is clear: Moldy bread is bad news. "We don't recommend cutting mold off of bread, because it's a soft food," says Marianne Gravely, a senior technical information specialist for the United States Department of Agriculture. "With soft food, it's very easy for the roots [of the mold], or the tentacles, or whatever creepy word you want to use, to penetrate" deeper into the food.

Is Your AC Making You Sick? 5 Things You Need to Know

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is warning us that we may be more exposed to pollutants inside than outside, especially because central air conditioning does not bring in fresh air but circulates old air. This means that if there is mold, dust, animal dander or other people in the building have viruses or air-borne infections, individuals are more prone to be exposed and get sick.

Mold exposure

The most common types of household mold that are found indoors include Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Aspergillus. Stachybotrys chartarum (also known as Stachybotrys atra and sometimes referred to as "black mold") is a greenish-black mold that can also be found indoors, although it is less common than the other types of mold found in homes.

Mold in House? The Science, Remediation, and More

There is no way to rid yourself of mold forever. We exist in a world where a fungus is the most prevalent, living organism. Rather than avoid it or constantly be in fear of it, we can learn to live symbiotically with it.

Mold in the home: Identifying and treating the issue to prevent health problems

If the moldy area is smaller than a three-foot-by-three-foot patch, you can get rid of the mold yourself. The CDC recommends the following: Use soap and water, or a bleach solution with one cup of laundry bleach mixed with one gallon of water to scrub mold off hard surfaces. Dry completely. Open all the windows and doors for good ventilation, and wear rubber boots, gloves, and goggles while cleaning. You may need to throw away absorbent or porous materials like carpets or ceiling tiles, which cannot be thoroughly cleaned.

Mold in Your Home: What to Do with Your Belongings?

Clean your home regularly and thoroughly. Undiluted vinegar or one teaspoon of baking soda mixed with 2 cups of water may be great options for keeping mold away.

Mold is in your kitchen—and in places that might surprise you. Here’s how to keep it under control.

“Molds are part of the normal aerosol,” says Bennett. “Our air is full of microbes, and our surfaces are full of microbes.” Sometimes, with all the emphasis on eradicating microbes, she adds, “we forget that an awful lot of microbial life is normal and good.”

Mold Warning Signs: How to Tell if You Have a Mold Problem

Discovering that you have mold within your home can cause you to feel a strange gamut of emotions. You might initially feel disgusted, frustrated or you may even feel a sense of being overwhelmed. Placing your home up for sale might be the first thing that pops into your mind, but that should be a last resort. Having a mold problem does not mean that you cannot get your house back. However, it does mean that you must take immediate action.

Signs Your House Has Mold—And How to Get Rid of It

Indoor microbes like bacteria and fungi aren’t inherently bad. “Even a healthy home has a rich and diverse indoor microbial community,” Dannemiller says. Things go wrong when there’s excess moisture, such as after a leak. “Then the fungi start to grow to create areas of mold and produce things that are linked to health impacts.”

The Effects Of Breathing In Mold

Normally when we come across mold – whether in our home or somewhere else – we recoil, perhaps gag and then set about getting rid of it or simply walking away. And whilst mold is, unarguably, a less-than-favorable sight to behold, the real concern can actually be a lot more serious,

The Key to Preventing Mildew in the Summer, According to Cleaning Pros

Despite your best efforts, mildew may still pop up, particularly during the more humid summer months. The key is to address it before it spreads. Small, surface-level mildew (generally under about 10 square feet, says DiClerico) can usually be handled at home with a cleaner specifically formulated for mold and mildew, like top-tested CLR Mold & Mildew Stain Clear Stain Remover.

The Looming Consequences Of Breathing Mold

Mold will mark the divide between people who can afford to escape it and people for whom the storm doesn’t end.

The Surprisingly Fierce Battle Over a Scientific Paper About Mold

A paper used against mold insurance claims came off the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine’s website. Hurray?

The Truth About Toxic Black Mold: It’s Probably Not What You Think

Few topics get us more upset than seeing misinformation publicized about Black Mold, and mold in general, by unscrupulous companies and zealous media articles who seem more interested in sensationalism than fact-based reporting. To put it bluntly, our industry is full of scare tactics and misinformation about mold—especially regarding black mold. The term Black Mold and its typical health effects are commonly misunderstood. If you have visible mold or a suspected mold problem, our advice is always the same regardless of the color of the mold: Get rid of the mold.

We Don’t Need to Freak Out About ‘Toxic Mold' After a Hurricane

The notion of black mold conquering family homes and commercial buildings post-storm is slightly more alarming. Where does this terror come from? The ever-present myth of "toxic mold" has become well-established on the internet, ironically similar to the the way stubborn mold clings to indoor surfaces in damp environments.

Resources

7 Tips for Preventing Mold In Your Home

Most often bleach and water can be used to rid the house of mold. The problem is this does not guarantee that the mold will not come back. The only way to keep your house clean is to prevent mold from occurring.

Mold Blogger

MoldBlogger is dedicated to providing a place to share and receive information that will better allow us to fight and conquer toxic mold and the consequences of mold exposure. MoldBlogger is the result of the creative genius of Jonathan Wold, and currently is the joint efforts of Brian and Krystle Reeves, and the many participants in our community who answer questions and share their stories.

Moldman

Since 2006, we have fixed mold problems in thousands of properties and provided clean air to all the countless people involved in the process. And we have done it by always following our mission: To educate and tell the truth about mold. This mission grows out of a sincere desire to correct the widespread misinformation and eliminate the unnecessary scare tactics that dominate the subject of mold. We’ve learned from every job and have refined our process as new techniques and technologies come available in this fast-growing industry.

My Toxic Mold Story

Read our story. Share your story. Learn about Toxic Mold.

Truth About Mold

If you are looking for accurate information about toxic mold, you have come to the right place. If someone tells you that toxic mold isn't harmful, they are not telling you the truth.

CDC

CDC''s Mold Web site provides information on mold and health, an inventory of state indoor air quality programs, advice on assessment, cleanup efforts, and prevention of mold growth, and links to resources.

EPA

A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home.

OSHA

Poor indoor air quality is one of the most important health issues we face today. Molds and fungi are found in virtually every environment and can be detected, both indoors and outdoors, year round.