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Mold spores are all around us…in garbage pails, old plants, damp carpets… It takes very little for them to survive, just oxygen and moisture. Though highest spore counts occur in summer, some molds give off most of their spores as the months grow colder. This is a particular problem for homes in the woods or close to a body of water. Leaf raking and jumping in stacks of raked leaves is an added invitation for mold spores to enter your life.
There’s not much you can do about the outside air but you can make a difference inside your home. Since molds grow under humid conditions, dehumidifying damp areas will reduce the chance of regrowth. Electric dehumidifiers are good but you have to keep them clean, too. Keep home humidity levels less than 50%.
Avoidance is where to start. It’s best to get rid of leaves, clipping and compost piles around the outside of your house. Remove growth from shrubs and trees that come in contact with your home. And be sure to do any repotting of plants outside. Wearing a mask during these activities is helpful.
Inside your house, most likely places for mold are basements, closets and bathrooms, especially showers. An exhaust fan can be helpful while cooking on the range or showering in the bathroom. A mixture of one ounce of Roccal solution (Zepharin) in one gallon of water can be used to decontaminate walls, woodwork, and floors.Apply the solution to the surface with a large brush or forced air sprayer until it is thoroughly wet. Zepharin can be obtained from your local pharmacy and will prevent mold growth for several weeks.
Generally speaking, the mold sensitive patient should live in upstairs rooms of homes since they are drier and less contaminated. Sources of mold contamination in modern homes can be humidifiers and vaporizers, heating system humidifiers, and air conditioners. If central humidifiers are needed, they should be set at the LOWEST setting possible. These units should be cleaned regularly with special care or not used at all.
If you have a radiant heating system in your home, further control of the indoor aero allergens may be achieved by the use of a portable HEPA
air filter.
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