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Author:
Michael Russell

Mold. And no, we're not talking about the kind found on 40 year old bread. We're talking about the kind of mold found in your bathroom on the tub tiles and a number of other places you'd never even suspect. In this article we're going to go over the causes of mold and how to get rid of it.

Mold is actually always present in the air and all it needs to trigger it off is a little moisture and a food source. Most surfaces contain all the nutrients that mold will need for it to grow and any dirt on that surface only provides additional fuel for the fire.

Mold is pretty easy to spot even if you can't see it, which is usually white or can even be black. Mold can always be smelled and the odor is rather musty and not at all pleasant. It grows on paper, drywall, wood, paint and wallpaper and many other surfaces that contain sufficient amounts of moisture.

Okay, so if mold is so prevalent just how do we get rid of it or if possible keep it from forming?

The first step in reducing mold (you'll never completely kill it) is to keep things clean. A 1 part to 4 part solution of chlorine bleach and water will kill mold. If you add a detergent to that solution you will also remove dust and dirt. You have to be very careful when disturbing mold spores because they can cause respiratory problems, especially if you are allergic to mold, have asthma or other breathing problems.

The next thing to do is to reduce humidity. In a climate where you have to heat the air in the winter time, this can be a real challenge. Warm air holds much more moisture than cold air. Air conditioning systems can remove the moisture and circulate cool dry air back into the room. Of course if you live in a hot dry climate like Arizona, this isn't that much of a problem. Air movement, through the use of a fan, is another great way of reducing the moisture in the air. Just from cooking and bathing alone you can add as much as 3 gallons of water a day to your home unless you have adequate circulation.

Corners are a common place for mold to grow. Usually because of improper insulation the interior wall can become colder than the air that is inside the room and this causes moisture to form on the surface. The underside of windows is another common location. Humid air will condense on cold windows which will form frost and then go through a cycle by which the moisture will freeze and defrost. This will cause water to drip down underneath the window which is what causes the mold to form and grow and your wall to start rotting.

By following the above procedures, keeping your home cool and dry and cleaning often especially after a bath or shower, you can help prevent mold from taking over your house.

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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Mold
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| Article Keywords: Mold

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Mold... What Is Toxic Black Mold? Mold is a fungus growth, which starts with a microscopic spore. In a damp environment, it will spread on organic material, such as food or wood. It can be beneficial; for example, the antibiotic penicillin is a mold. Mold grows everywhere, but can become a problem when it grows in large areas inside a home, school, or workplace. Toxic black molds can be found anywhere that dark and dank conditions permit them to grow. When you try to kill them, they take to the air, spreading themselves with no forethought to the damage they can cause. They are just trying to survive. Spores can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin or ingested on our food. And, because some people are more susceptible than others, one person may become debilitated by exposure to mold in the home, another person sharing the same environment is essentially unaffected. Infants, the elderly and anyone with immune system deficiencies due to disease, chemotherapy, etc. are particularly susceptible to serious illness following exposure to microbial contamination. Many people are concerned about the potential health issues concerning mold in their homes. In particular, stachybotrys chartarum, which you may have heard about as “toxic black mold”, has been blamed for causing health problems. It is greenish-black, slimy, and can grow in homes with water damage. Many species of black mold and mildew (or the mycotoxins they produce) can cause or aggravate a number of ailments. Common effects from molds such as stachybotrys atra, penecillium, cladosporium and several strains of aspergillius, are asthma, pneumonitis, upper respiratory problems, sinusitis, dry cough, skin rashes, stomach upset, headaches, disorientation and bloody noses. Numerous other species of mold and mildew are also toxic, and many...