Thursday, 12 July 2012

Ten things you should know about Mould

  1. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.
  2. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
  3. If mould is a problem in your home, you must clean up the mould and eliminate sources of moisture.
  4. Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mould growth.
  5. Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60%) to decrease mould growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.
  6. Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
  7. Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.
  8. Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
  9. In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).
  10. Moulds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are moulds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.
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4 comments:

  1. Anonymous24 August 2012 at 11:04

    Hi, i am renting a three bed house i have only been there for three months and in this time my son has been ill with a bad chest asthma ect
    well after 2 weeks we thought it may be something making him ill, so we had a look in the loft to see if its damp and we were shocked to find not only damp but the whole of the roof the beams the floor covered completely in black mould, huge amounts of mould!!
    we thought it could be wet rot so we reported it to our letting agent sraight away! after several calls later they finally sent some one to look at it!
    turns out there was a bad leak from pipes up there (before we moved in) which has caused rot mould ect....

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  2. Mould Busters24 August 2012 at 16:52

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. Mould Busters24 August 2012 at 16:55

    Actions you can take
    · If mould is a problem in your home, you
    need to eliminate sources of moisture and
    clean up the mould.
    · Wash mould off hard surfaces and dry
    completely. Absorbent materials, such as
    carpet may need to be replaced if they are
    contaminated with mould.
    · Fix leaky plumbing and other building
    faults.
    · Use exhaust fans or open windows in the
    bathroom and kitchen when showering,
    cooking or using the dishwasher.
    · Vent clothes dryers to the outside.
    · Avoid conditions that encourage mould
    growth by using heat insulation and
    ventilation.
    · Vacuum cleaning using a HEPA filter1.
    Small areas of mould can be cleaned DIY kits. Commercially available mould
    treatments can bleach the mould white, but may not
    remove the mould.
    Wear safety glasses and long rubber gloves and
    take care not to splash the cleaning solution.
    Ensure the area is well ventilated. If you are
    sensitive to mould you should consider wearing a
    ‘P1’ or ‘P2’ respirator during clean up. They are
    available at most hardware stores.
    Don’t dry brush the mouldy area as the brush can
    flick mould spores into the air, which may cause
    health problems.
    If the mould affected room is to be painted, you will
    need to clean the area (see above) and allow it to
    dry thoroughly before painting. Use low sheen, semi
    gloss or gloss enamel rather than flat acrylic paint.
    Mould resistant paint and additives are available
    from paint stores.
    Prevent the mould from returning by reducing
    moisture. Fungi need moisture to grow!
    1

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  4. enochdavis24 September 2013 at 05:12

    One reason is that bleach cannot completely kill mold growing in porous materials. The chlorine in bleach cannot penetrate into porous surfaces such as drywall or wood. The chlorine is left on the surface of porous materials and only the water component of the bleach is absorbed into the material, providing more moisture for the mold to feed on. Some of the mold on the surface might be killed but the roots of the mould are left intact meaning the mould removal soon returns, leaving you in a cycle of repeated bleaching. Perhaps this is why some people believe that spraying bleach on mold doesn't affect it but instead just bleaches its color so you can no longer see it. Another disadvantage of bleach is that it can damage the materials it's used on as it is a harsh, corrosive chemical. Chlorine bleach also gives off harsh fumes and it even produces toxic gas when mixed with ammonia. There are safer alternatives such as borax or vinegar which don't produce dangerous fumes or leave behind toxic residue. For these reasons try

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