Effective mold prevention techniques require at least a basic understanding about mold and how it grows. Mold is a fungus and it thrives in humid places where they’re guaranteed to get enough moisture to grow. Molds can often be found growing on dead organic matter and sometimes living organic matter if there’s enough moisture on it.

This means that your first hint to mold prevention is that molds like moisture.

When molds grow they release spores into the air. Spores are the cause of numerous allergies in humans. There are also molds that are potentially toxic to people. The toxic molds are dangerous not so much because of their spores, but because of the gaseous secretions they produce. These gaseous secretions are called myotoxins.

Steps To Mold Prevention

Mold prevention can be very challenging. A house that has some current or past water leakage is especially at risk of experiencing a mold infestation. Mold thrives near water, and walls dampened by flood waters make ideal growing conditions. You need to figure out if your house has had any past water damage in order to achieve proper mold prevention. Then you need to fix the water damage.

Mold prevention is both proactive and reactive. It’s reactive in that you’ll need to act quickly if you discover any leaking problems or flooding. The area affected by water damage needs to be dried as soon as possible. This greatly reduces the chance of molds growing in the area. Proactive mold prevention steps include basic maintenance. Clean your roof gutters regularly so that debris doesn’t collect. Collected debris can become a storage for moisture and ultimately molds.

Be sure that the ground from your home’s foundation slopes away from the building. This mold prevention technique will reduce the chance of water seeping into the structure’s foundation and prevent a mold investation.

Also put effort into keeping drip lines and drain pans clean and obstruction-free. Maintain a low humidity inside your home because molds go very well in humid conditions. Condensation is a moisture source. Even a small amount can become the breeding ground for mold fungi. Do your best to reduce condensation due to leaks or even air conditioner condensation. An air conditioner that’s home to fungus growth will spread the spores throughout your home every time it’s used.

The most important thing to remember in mold prevention is to maintain your home and the land directly around your home. Controlling leaks and sources of moisture, carefully monitoring areas that could possibly be high in moisture, and being observant are all the most effective ways to mold prevention.

Mold grows everywhere on the planet. It is a multi-celled organism often referred to as a fungus. Molds are highly resilient and grow into what are called hyphae once conditions are right for their growth. They can remain dormant for a long time until the environment changes to ideal growing conditions where lots of moisture is present.

Molds have a bad reputation, but not all mold is bad. Mold is essential to the production of several foods and medicines. They need moisture and humidity to grow. They also have microscopic spores that can float in the air and cause the symptoms of a mold allergy. The traveling spores can also land on anything where they’ll grow if conditions are favorable.

Symptoms of a mold allergy

The average person reacts to exposed mold spores with hay fever like symptoms. Red, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, nassal congestion and a runny nose are common. Other symptoms of a mold allergy include sinus headaches and chronic coughing.

Symptoms of a mold allergy can be controlled through prevention. Possible molds in the bathroom should be cleaned with a borate-based chemical solution. A dehumidifier and plenty of ventilation can reduce the humidity in a house. Do not store wet clothes or shoes in moist places. Make sure they’re dry before storage to help reduce the chance that you’ll experience symptoms of a mold allergy. Keep a watchful eye out for mold growth.

Anti-allergy drugs can be used to treat symptoms of a mold allergy, but it’s a better idea to remove the source of the problem. Constant exposure to molds can change the symptoms of a mold allergy from something mild to something more severe and life threatening.

Toxic Mold Symptoms

Severe symptoms of a mold allergy are often caused by toxic mold. Toxic mold can kill you and toxic mold symptoms include a regularly bleeding nose, blood when you cough, severe skin rashes, pulmonary hemmorrhage and difficulty breathing.

Don’t let this scare you. The symptoms of a mold allergy, even the toxic variety, can be controlled with preventative techniques. It may take some money and time to properly correct a mold problem, but that’s a much better alternative to having these symptoms so severe that you need to be hospitalized.

Understanding and Recognizing Mold Symptoms Could Save Your Life

According to a wide variety of doctors and researchers, the mold fungus is the biggest cause in the recent increase in allergies, sinus problems and asthma. A large percentage of mold varieties are simply slight irritants that affect people as they breathe in the invisible spores floating around in the air.

The mold that causes the more dangerous mold symptoms is the kind that grows unseen in your home. This is the type that you need to beware of. A few possible signs that you may have an infestation of this type of mold is if you are experiencing cold or allergy like symptoms that don’t seem to ever go away. If this is the case, your cold or allergy like symptoms may actually be mold symptoms instead.

Non-Toxic Mold Symptoms

The common types of molds that grow in your home may be responsible for your cold- and allergy-type symptoms. These symptoms are irritating, but they’re rarely toxic. The molds that cause these minor mold symptoms are usually easy to clean up. One way to prevent such molds from growing is to increase the air circulation in your home. Home with poor air circulation can produce prime growing conditions for mold.

Nasal passageway swelling, and eye or throat irritation experienced in some areas of your home may indicate a mold growth present in that section of your home. You need to get rid of mold at its source in order to effectively treat it. One of the biggest things you can do to get rid of mold and eliminate mold symptoms is to deal with any moisture problems.

Find out if you have a leaky pipe or condensation anywhere. Fix it immediately. Increase the air circulation in the affected room by adding an exhaust fan. Be sure to clean up and destroy any existing mold growth.

Toxic Mold Symptoms

Toxic mold will create mold symptoms that are much more severe than those produced by the non-toxic variety. Toxic mold will likely cause cold and allergy type symptoms, but will also cause worse mold symptoms like fever, nausea, memory loss, hearing loss, fatigue, diarrhea, coughing up blood and dizziness. The severity of toxic mold symptoms depends on the condition of the person’s original immune system.

Severe mold symptoms brought on by toxic mold can make diagnosis of the cause of the symptoms difficult. Unless you know that you have a mold infestation, few doctors and patients will consider it to be the cause. These mold symptoms could be caused by almost anything.

For your own health and safety, never try to kill or clean up toxic mold on your own.

Prevention of Mold Symptoms

Logically, the most effective way to prevent mold growth and the subsequent mold symptoms is to prevent mold growth in the first place. This may not always be possible, especially if you’re buying someone else’s home. But you can protect yourself by hiring an inspector to identify problem areas or places where mold is growing in small amounts. The money spent on this is well worth it.

The inspector will look at the roof, plumbing and appliances. You should also do this yourself every few months. Thoroughly inspect your home for possible leaks that could cause a mold infestation. Examine areas like the attic, major plumbing sources, the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room carefully.

You can prevent mold symptoms by taking the proper precautions to prevent mold growth in your home. Your body will thank you.

Symptoms Of Toxic Mold Poisoning

Molds are a type of fungi that produce a type of potent gas as a way to get rid of wastes. Sometimes the gases molds create can be dangerous to people. The spores from mold can also be a health hazard. But there are times when the gaseous secretions are more dangerous than the spores. The gas secretions, called mycotoxins, can be lethal to everyone regardless of age or health. Spores can make you sick, but are fatally dangerous more to the elderly, sick or infants.

Life Threatening Mold Toxins

The human body is designed to tolerate very small amounts of mycotoxins. But we have no defense mechanisms to deal with larger amounts. Those will immune defense system diseases will feel the affects of mycotoxins much sooner than a healthy person. Small babies and the elderly will also experience toxic mold poisoning sooner than a younger, healthy adult. Individuals with any type of other illness, like an infection, will also feel the effects of a mold allergy or toxic mold poisoning much sooner.

Signs of toxic mold poisoning include coughing up blood, heavy chest congestion, anemia and frequent nosebleeds. There are milder symptoms of toxic mold poisoning as well, but even the mild symptoms can be aggravated through continuous exposure. Mild symptoms include  throat irritation, sneezing, a runny nose and red, itchy, watery eyes.

It’s important to see a doctor immediately if you suspect that any of your symptoms are from a mold allergy or toxic mold poisoning. Exposure to mycotoxins is the cause of death in many people because they make the mistake of believing that mold is a benign fungus without the capacity to kill. Toxic mold poisoning can begin as a mild allergy and can turn into a full-blown problem which could ultimately take your life.

Things To Watch

A frequent musty smell in your home may be the sign of a mold infestation. If you suspect a musty smell, it’s a good idea to hire a professional who can assess your home. The professional will be able to tell you where you have mold growing and what you can do to fix it. A professional also has the proper protective equipment because it’s dangerous to continually inhale molds. Always be vigilant.

Watch out for very small black specks on your ceiling and walls. This may be a sign that mold is growing in the drywall or insulation behind your walls. Even clothes can become mold-infested if they’re stored even a little bit wet. Molds will grow from specks of black and destroy clothing. If you suspect clothing has been infested with mold, do not wear it. The same advice holds true for towels and other pieces of fabric. Mold contact with your skin could be dangerous and lead to toxic mold poisoning with all the unwanted effects like mold allergies.

Dealing With the Problem of Mold Allergies

It’s likely that you’re a victim of allergies if you’re inflicted with a seasonal chronic cough, itchy eyes and sniffles. Seasonal symptoms usually appear between late spring and early fall. If your symptoms seem to appear all year around, mold may be the cause of some of these allergies. Mold grows in certain environments in all seasons. Mold allergies can be a challenge to deal with. Thankfully, there are several steps you can take to prevent any type of allergic reaction before it even begins.

How Mold Thrives

Mold can grow indoors and outdoors and can be found in almost every area. Mold needs moisture to thrive. This is a necessity for mold growth. Moisture can come in many forms like a leaky pipe, a damp basement or a moist shower stall. So in order to prevent mold allergies, the first thing you should do is get rid of an environment that encourages mold growth: Dry out any wet areas.

The bathroom is one of the most common areas for mold growth in a house because it’s constantly wet. To discourage mold growth, remove carpeting in the bathroom and replace with vinyl flooring or tile. Prevent mold growth on the wall by painting the room with a paint that has a mold inhibitor. Exhaust fans help reduce the humidity in the room by removing moisture. Repair any leaking pipes, dripping showers and dripped tap faucets. Make sure there is no leaking around your toilet.

You can also prevent mold allergies by making sure the overall humidity in your home doesn’t exceed 50%. A drier house makes it more difficult for the mold to thrive. Inhaling mold spores is what causes mold allergies. trap the spores before they’re released into the air by installing a hight efficienty filter to your heating unit and central air conditioning unit. Be sure to change the filter frequently to make sure they’re as effective as possible in helping you fight mold allergies.

It’s a bit harder to control mold allergies outdoors because you have less control over your environment. But there are a few things you can do to protect yourself. Keep plant containers dry and clean. Regularly clear the rain gutters of vegetation. Also remove vegetation from around your home’s foundation to make sure no water accumulates and water drainage is at its peak.

Mold allergies require a bit of work to manage, but they are manageable. Prevent them before they start by focusing on moisture issues in the inside of your home and the outside.

Mold Growth - What is Mold?

When you think about mold, you’re probably like most people. The first image that comes to mind is a black somewhat furry substance that grows in humid places. And you’re partially right. Mold does grow in places where moisture tends to collect. Places like air conditioning units, underneath freezers and fridges, and in bathrooms. But mold does not always have to be black. It can be brown, green, and even white.

Mold is a microscopic fungus that needs organic materials and water to grow. It gets nutrients from the organic matter from matter as varied as wallpaper, wood and plant roots. Mold that grows in a house is one of the major causes of respiratory problems and allergies.

Is there "Good" Mold?

Mold in a house in bad for you. Period. But mold does have some positive applications in properly controlled environments. Pencillin is probably the best known form of good mold. It’s one of the most common anitbiotics used to treat bacterial infections.

Mold is also used to create gourmet cheeses. Examples of gourmet cheeses made from mold are Stilton cheese and Brie cheese. Stilton cheese has a green looking mold growth on it. Brie has a white moldy crust on the outside. Mold is also used in the production of certain blends of black tea, soybean paste, tempeh, sake and soy sauce.

Bad Mold

Although there are positive uses for mold, most forms of this fungus are not good for you. For those with compromised immune systems, such as people with AIDS, mold is especially hazardous. The most deadly types of molds are the ones that excrete mycotoxins.

Mold that excretes mycotoxins can be found in buildings that have suffered water damage. Buildings that have suffered water damage but have been untreated may still have mold growth that’s not visible to the naked eye. Homes damaged in Hurricane Katrina had to be stripped to the studs and foundations because of the risk of invisible mold growth. Roofs and pipes that leak are two other causes of mold growth in homes and other buildings.

In a building infested with mold, be sure to wear an appropriate EPA-approved mask. This will protect you against mold poisoning your respiratory system making sure you don’t breathe in any of the spores. Inhaled spores can thrive in the mucosal lining of your nose, eyes and mouth for an indefinite period of time. The spores then can find their way to your lungs and cause health problems.

Bleach can be used to clean small amounts of this toxic fungus. Always consult a professional to remove larger amounts of mold or to treat entire rooms or homes. Make safety your ultimate priority when dealing with mold.