With so many issues to worry about in life, few individuals designate time to areas that should receive attention, too, like black mold. Black mold (also known as “toxic black mold”), broadly defined, is a type of fungi that tends to grow in areas of buildings and homes that have a lot of water damage or terrible air quality. This type of mold is usually of a greenish-black pigment, and it is highly toxic. Although most people have some form of mold and mildew in their homes, this particular kind needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible; unfortunately, however, it can be tedious and in identifying a particular mold as “black mold” over another one. It is paramount to realize that when one type of mold forms in a home, more are likely to follow, and as they start to follow, the cleanliness of the home tends to fall rapidly. A person may have to consult an expert, then, in seeing if the mold in his home is a toxic species or not. Individuals must also educate themselves on the health effects of having toxic mold in their homes, and they need to understand how to kill the black mold permanently.
Fortunately for all shelter owners, the chances of a specific mold being “toxic mold” are rare. Still, if an environment is able to foster its growth, it can develop. For instance, mold spores are often transported by positioning themselves on hosts (e.g., humans, animals, sandals, etc.). The spores then seem to thrive and grow in areas that tend to be damp and/or moist, such as water-soaked wooded objects, tiles on the bathroom ceilings, items made of cardboard, dry walls, insulation, floors, carpets, windows, and other areas as well. Thus, any environment that is wet and moist is a potential habitat for allowing the toxic mold to thrive.
Every single day, scientists are learning the health effects and other ramifications associated with homes having all types of molds. Toxic mold spores (i.e., black mold), is one of the most serious kinds, though. While the effects of toxic mold may not be serious for one person, it could be lethal to another; thus, there are individual differences to the effects of mold on people- this ordeal makes it difficult for researchers to come up with a set of health effects that is characteristic for the entire human population. Regardless, though, there are allergic reactions experienced by many people who encounter it, which can develop into issues that are more serious. Some of these include bronchitis, heavy coughing, prolonged headaches, dizziness, depression, fatigue, loss of hearing, loss of memory, nausea, pneumonia, runny nose, restlessness, sinus infections, itchy skin surfaces, rashes on skin, breathing difficulties, watery eyes, stiff body parts, loss of balance or trouble maintaining equilibrium, diarrhea, immune system suppression, sore throat, achiness and pains, and fevers. All of these serious health issues, if prolonged, can develop into worse issues that cause permanent damage to one’s brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, blood, stomach, liver, and possibly more organs. The outcome, then, would be death due to prolonged exposure to it. Interestingly, medical scientists have found that certain groups of people are at a higher risk for developing the most serious detriments of this mold exposure. They include: young infants and children (their immune systems have not developed fully), elderly individuals (their immune systems have started to devolve), AIDs and cancer patients (their immune systems are weaker than normal), and people who already have problems breathing (e.g., asthmatics and individuals with bronchitis and pneumonia). Thus, the health effects for individuals who come into constant contact with black mold are simultaneously serious, scary, and deadly.
It is probably no surprise that health advisers suggest engaging in some form of mold treatment as quickly as possible to ensure that it does not get carried to another part of the house that can allow it to grow. There is good news, however: black mold removal is not as hard as one may fathom. Because this toxic type of mold tends to grow in places where many people may not even see it, people need to be extra cautious and check all areas of their homes that may allow a damp and moist atmosphere to manifest itself. Below is a small step-by-step guide on how a person can kill the mold off, ridding his home of its nasty trails:
1) Fix the moisture problem! If there is a room in your home that is above 55% moisture, it is generally recommended that you buy a dehumidifier (i.e., an object that lowers the humidity of a room). To determine how much moisture is present in a room, invest in a moisture meter. In wet environments, invest in fans and towels to get rid of all the water and damp features. Make sure walls and other areas that can foster black mold are kept dry. The faster you address these issues, the better the chances are that you will not develop moldy substances.
2) Get rid of Dust! Dust is known to transport the toxic spores, so putting time into cleaning areas of your home that may be heavy on dust is generally recommended. Thus, dust your home regularly, room-by-room. If a room is already infected with any mold, seal it off from the rest of the house by using duct tape or plastic on ventilators, doors, and other openings. Place exhaust fans next to all the doors that enter into your home (and do the same for many large windows if feasible), which will blow the dust (and spores) back outside before they have a chance to enter your home. Another gadget that is worthwhile is an air purifier: an item that sends mold spores to areas of the home that cannot foster its growth. The best thing to do, though, is use multiple items: dehumidifiers, exhaust fans, and air purifiers.
3) Clean the mold! If the surface that you are going to clean is dry, use water first. Afterward, apply soap or, preferably, a disinfectant, to kill all of the spores. Very thoroughly wash all areas that are affected, even areas that do have mold on them (remember: mold spores cannot be seen by the naked eye, and they are very durable and can last months, so it is best to take every precaution available). Next, dry the surface that you have just cleaned. All materials that have been washed should be completely dry and free of mold before being exposed to them again!
4) Remove the mold! Take all materials that have mold on them (e.g., wooden boards, etc.) and place them into a heavy-duty plastic, disposable bag. Do not drag the bag throughout your home, as it can allow toxic spores the opportunity to escape; rather toss them out of a window or other entrance to the home. Take these plastic bags to a landfill, not to your trashcan.
5) Verify that the mold clean-up task was a success! Make sure that the moisture is back to normal (using one of the gadgets from step one). There should be no mold that is visible to the naked eye. Water damage and moisture problems should be gone from sight completely. Any health problems of an inhabitant of the home should cease over time.
Toxic black mold is a vicious beast; but humans can take the beast by its horns and learn to deal with it appropriately to ensure that their homes do not encourage health problems.