Growing 

First of all, don’t flip out when you hear the word “mold.” Molds are a perfectly natural part of the world and we actually owe them quite a bit of respect and gratitude. Every living thing that dies will be cleaned up by molds and other decomposers. They’re like nature’s garbage disposals. They do their job so well that we can’t even imagine the mess that would be all around us should they slack off for just a second’s rest.

Now that we have a general understanding of mold, let’s shiver and freak out because molds inside the home are definitely something of a concern. Whether it’s the stuff on the ends of your slice of morning toast or that filmy stuff peeking from the corners and cracks in your concrete basement walls, molds may be dangerous, especially to people with weak immune systems or respiratory conditions such as asthma.

Spreading

See, mold spreads by releasing invisible-to-the-naked-eye spores which kind of float through the air until they happen to land on a surface. If it’s a dry surface then there’s not too much concern. However, if that surface is wet, watch out!

Wet surfaces are incubators for mold allowing it to rapidly spread along the surface and eventually release even more spores.

Molds can cause hay fever-like symptoms (and if you’ve ever suffered from hay fever, the word “suffer” barely describes it), including a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, itchy throat, constricted breathing and sinus pressure. But on the other end of the spectrum, mold spores can cause even more severe reactions like internal infections and, in rare instances, even death.

There’s nothing more I’d rather say to ease your fears than, “Sure you can rid your home of mold.” But that’s not the case. Mold spores are everywhere, and there’s simply no escape. They slip in when you open the door for three seconds, they cling to your clothes as you walk inside and they come in through the air conditioning and ventilation units in the home. But if you keep your home clean and dry then mold should not become an issue.

In your home? 

If you discover mold in your home (through unusual sicknesses, a feeling of exhaustion for no reason…or a huge colony that has made your basement or bathroom walls a giant Petri dish), the first move is to evacuate the home until professionals can assess the extent of the mold infestation. The next step, since mold clings to wet surfaces, is to locate any water damage and fix it immediately. Then clean the mold.

Cleaning 

The EPA suggests that an area no more than about 10 square feet – or a patch 3 foot by 3 foot, give or take a foot or two – should be the line between doing it yourself and calling in professionals. Just make sure the contractor you use has experience removing mold. Some people claim they do, but have no real credentials. Using such unqualified contractors may result in a mold problem recurring not too far down the road.

When cleaning mold yourself, use an N-95 respirator and rubber gloves. These masks can be bought at almost any major hardware store for about $30. These respirators have a “lint trap” that blocks mold spores from entering your breathing tube. Do not clean these filters when you’re through. Instead, dispose of them immediately. If you need more than soapy water works then that’s a good indication that you need professionals on the job. Now, with your equipment set, open every window and you can have at it!

Mold grows on concrete, marble, wood, and organic material…as long as it’s wet. So don’t take chances; get rid of dampness, repair leaks and prevent condensation. And keep watch on your bread too. Nothing’s worse than eating half a slice in the morning and looking at the end of your nose while you take a bite only to see a little green or white patch on the corner of the toast.