As a homeowner, you probably can’t think of a worse situation than coming home from a long day only to find that your bathroom is infested with mold. Not only is this fungus incredibly smelly and gross, but it can also be pretty dangerous, especially for people with weaker immune systems.
© istockphoto.com Get Rid of Mold in the House
In order to keep your home mold-free, you must eliminate moisture by maintaining proper ventilation, regularly inspecting your gutters for damage and maybe even investing in a dehumidifier. But if it’s too late to take preventative measures because you’re staring at a basement full of mold, here’s what you should do.
Cover your bases
If you’ve found mold in one area of your house, do a search of the entire property to make sure the problem isn’t more extensive. Pay particular attention to the bathroom, kitchen, basement and other areas that are prone to moisture. Sniff for a musty odor and search for black and white spots around your house.
Protect yourself
When cleaning mold, wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, protective gloves and glasses, an N-95 mask and waterproof boots. This will help protect you from mold’s dangerous effects. If you have asthma or a compromised immune system, it is unsafe for you to be cleaning the mold yourself.
Stop the mold from spreading
Before you start cleaning the mold, make sure you prevent the problem from traveling by removing any clean furniture from the room and throwing out moldy items that cannot be salvaged. Make sure you cover your air vents and open the windows so the problem doesn’t spread throughout your home.
Consider the material
Determine whether the mold was found on a porous surface (which has holes for liquid or air to pass through) such as drywall or carpet, or a non-porous surface, such as a window sill or tile.
If you’re working with a non-porous surface, use detergent and water to scrub away the mold. (Bleach is also effective, but isn’t necessary.) Make sure you dry the area completely.
For porous surfaces, hydrogen peroxide penetrates much more effectively than bleach. Pouring hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle and saturating the surface may get rid of the mold, but in some cases it may be necessary simply to remove the material.
If a musty smell lingers after you finish cleaning, place bowls of vinegar, lemon water or salt water around the room until the smell is gone. This all-natural cleaning method may take at least a few days to eliminate the odor.
If necessary, hire a professional
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if the moldy area is more than 10 square feet in size, it may be time to call a professional. Mold specialists will inspect the damage by collecting air and swab samples, which are then sent to a lab so they can then make recommendations. Professionals will typically use an antimicrobial coating to treat the area, an air scrub to remove any mold spores and a dehumidifier to remove excessive moisture.
Once your house is mold-free, it is important to consider what changes you can make in your cleaning routine to prevent this problem from recurring. There are many germy spots around your house that you may not think to clean, but really should.
What Is It?The green stuff on your slice of bread is called mold. Mold is a microscopic, living organism in the Fungi kingdom, related to yeast and mushrooms. Although it can be harmful if handled incorrectly, mold is not a bacteria or virus. In the first stage of its life cycle, mold lays dormant as a spore, a reproductive structure that is similar to the seeds of plants. When these spores find a warm, moist, nutrient-rich environment they set up a colony, mature and produce more spores. That's the growth that you see on your food–trillions of mold spores! These spores are a constant part of our environment, but they rarely cause health problems. People with sensitive respiratory or immune systems may have an allergic reaction to these background levels of spores. What Are They Doing On My Food? Mold spores are everywhere–in the dirt, on doorknobs, on your clothes and in the air. They are spread around by air circulation and through contact with living organisms. That's right, YOU are a mold spore bus. Mold spores cling to your hair, skin and clothing. Although washing up temporarily decreases the number of spores on your body, it does not prevent you from being exposed to the spores in the environment. It's just a matter of time before the spores settle again. But don't worry! Mold is a natural part of our world and it will not do you harm in these small quantities. In fact, some people think mold is pretty tasty. EW! What Foods Are Made With Mold?
Want to See Your Little Neighbors? You can get a closer look at the mold that lives in your home by trying out this bread mold science experiment. Start growing your own mold colony today. Experiment #1: Grow Different Kinds of MoldThings You'll Need:
Bread Mold Science Experiment #1:
Questions: When did the mold first appear? What color is the mold? Why is the mold different colors? Where on the bread did the mold grow? (e.g., the corner, the middle) Why do you think that is? Why do you think inhaling mold is bad? (Hint: Mold loves to grow in warm, moist places and will eat just about anything organic) Experiment #2: Investigate the Effects of MoistureIn this first experiment you made some spores very happy by setting up the perfect environment. There was moisture from the water, warmth from the environment and bread as a food source. What do you think will happen if you change the amount of moisture? Try it to find out! Things You'll Need:
Bread Mold Science Experiment #2:
Questions: Did the amount of moisture affect mold growth? Which slice of bread grew the most mold? Which grew the least? Can you think of a reason more water would prevent/aid the development of a colony? Experiment #3: Investigate the Effects of TemperatureThings You'll Need:
Bread Mold Science Experiment #3:
My Mold Won’t Grow!I started my bread mold experiments in February–but I didn't see any colonization until APRIL! Why did my mold take so long to grow? (HINT: Look at the water droplets on the interior of the bag) Do Language Help Mould The Way We Think LoveKeep Thinking…In which environment did mold grow the best? The worst? What other foods do you think would mold? Does the type of bread make a difference? What happens if you rub the bread in the dirt before putting it in the bag? the counter? your hands? What are mold's favorite foods? When does it grow the fastest? Language Help Mould The Way We ThinkResourcesMoldy Experiments–Want to try out some more bread mold science experiments? Mold & Health--Find out how mold can affect your health.
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