When you find a growth of mold anywhere in your house, and you suffer from allergies or asthma, you need to get the infestation cleaned up so you and other family members do not become seriously ill. If you have experienced a serious water leak or flood in your home and it is not properly addressed, you may wind up with a serious mold infestation that gets into your walls and behind tiles.
Mold Allergies
Mold can affect you more than it does someone who does not suffer from allergies. You may experience respiratory symptoms, irritated eyes and skin rash if you are exposed to mold. Those who suffer from asthma may find their symptoms worsened. If you are exposed to high levels of certain molds that produce mycotoxins, you experience stronger symptoms, including headache, fatigue – and nausea, states the Washington State Department of Health.
About Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are produced by yeasts, mushrooms and molds. These chemicals are toxic and can cause serious health conditions in those exposed, if the level of exposure is high enough.
When conditions are moist enough, mycotoxins reproduce, forming colonies. When levels are high enough, these spores can make you sick. If you believe your symptoms are related to mold infestation, especially if you are experiencing eye and respiratory problems, nausea, headaches or fatigue, call your doctor.
Finding Mold
Look for any black speck clusters or thready white growths in areas of your house where dampness can accumulate, such as your basement, kitchen or bathroom. Other areas of your home where mold might colonize include bedroom closets, behind bedroom furniture, in laundry rooms and inside exterior walls where cold seeps in. Carefully sniff. If you smell a musty odor is an indicator that you may have a mold problem. If you have mold in your home, you may not see it; it may be hidden behind tiles, growing on drywall. If you have large areas of mold growth, you suffer from allergies and are experiencing nausea, call a professional to clean the mold infestations.
Addressing Mold Growth
As soon as you find mold growing in your house, repair water leaks. Increase air flow in your house with open windows or fans. Clean and remove wet carpeting, bedding, clothing and upholstered furniture. Inspect windows and look for water droplets and any condensation. Wipe them up regularly so mold won’t begin growing. Move undamaged furniture to another area of your home, toss items that have become moldy into a plastic trash bag and tie the top of the bag. Take the trash bags outside and throw them into your garbage cart immediately. Use a water and detergent solution and wash all areas that have mold growth, then allow these ares to dry. Mix a solution of one gallon of water to 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach. Wipe the now-cleaned areas with the solution, wait for 20 minutes and wash one more time. Wait for another 20 minutes, then wash the areas with a detergent solution containing water and borate. Do not rinse.
