Mold in the Home/Resolution

Mold kills! This is a fact. I am a victim of this deadly problem. I happen to be allergic to most forms of mold and therefore may be more susceptible to its effects. In the year 2002 I became weak and was plagued with a series of unexplained health issues. Ever doctor I saw found nothing but signs of pneumonia. I was treated for pneumonia several times to no avail.

Having found mold in his own home, my son did a Google word search for black mold. He learned that carpeting was the worst item in the home for hosting, breeding and the growth of parasites, viruses, dust, danger and mold. He rushed the 65 miles to my home and informed my husband of this discovery. They immediately pulled up one corner of the carpet in our dining room. After removing me from the home they began to remove the carpeting in the dining room, kitchen and living area. The 100 + year old home that we reside in had several layers of carpeting , linoleum, tile and even tar paper. Each of these layers was coated with black mold.

Believing that we had solved the problem life continued. But I never seemed to recover my strength. In the wee hours of one October morning in 2006, after having been asleep for more than five hours, I awoke with the sudden need to vomit. I do not recall making it into the bathroom. I had a seizure that lasted more than 40 minutes. It wasn't until January that I recalled two incidents with our housecats. Both these cats suddenly began to have seizures that ended their lives. As they both also had other health issues we had not associated it with my seizures.

My husband had rescued a baby bobcat in August of 2006. Working in the fields where he is employed one afternoon he saw a coyote attacking the kitten and rescued it. In January that healthy now grown cat was sleeping at my side when she began to have her first seizure. It was then that I suspected that there had to be an association. Emailing a friend from a writers forum I am a member of I described the three cats and their symptoms. She immediately answered telling me to check for black mold or lead in our home. Tests confirmed that this was indeed my health problem.

I am writing this today in the hopes of saving at least one person from the permanent brain damage that I now suffer from. Perhaps even save a life. I have been told that I could write and market an eBook that would generate an awful lot of money for the tips I am about to give you. I am no martyr, I will be paid for this article but it will be more widely available using the services provided by Associated Content than in any other manner I can think of.

It is best to first remove as much mold as possible. If your home is infested with this problem it is likely that it is in every nook and cranny. It is not reasonable to expect a person to tear out the walls of their home and replace them as some advise. There are even communities that will condemn your home if it is found to have a certain percentage of mold content. Following these steps will save your home and possibly your life.

Steps to a healthier home:

1. First, purchase a good mask. Preferably one that ties around your head instead of those that only cover your nose and mouth. Than, get rid of any and all carpet where ever possible. If you are not able to do this you will find a solution in the tips below.

2. Using bleach clean every possible surface of your home.

3. Every housewife will tell you that cleaning should begin at the top. If you start at the bottom you will find you have to start all over after cleaning the top. I would advise you to start in your attic. Ideally a power sprayer should be used, however a hand pumped garden sprayer can also be used effectively. Using a three gallon sprayer, fill it with distilled vinegar and one quarter cup of bleach. Heavily spray the rafters, decking and especially the insulation used in your attic. This will cut down on the insulating properties but is well worth the few pennies it will cost you in energy. You can later purchase mold resistant insulation to either add to or replace what you already have in the attic. You may want to spray the rafters and decking of your roof with bleach first. Bleach does not kill or remove all the mold but it is a good first step. Be careful that you do not saturate your insulating material with bleach. Some insulation can be ruined by bleaching or in some cases bleach can destroy the fireproofing properties of the material.

4. Allow the vinegar mixture that you used to dry. If it is in the winter months you may want to place a fan in the attic to aid in the drying. Next you will need a drill and a 1-1/4" boring bit. You will need to drill holes in the 2x4's that form the top of your wall framing. Drill a hole every 2-3 feet through these boards. Spray your vinegar/bleach mixture into these holes. You can then reseal these holes using wood paste and the plugs you found in your boring bit if you like. This is not a necessary step and we left ours open for future use.

5. The Bathroom. This will be your greatest challenge. Many of us have shower or tub enclosures made of a plastic material. Sorry, it has to go. There is not a home anywhere with these wall coverings that does not at least have mildew behind them. If you are able to remove them without damaging them, great! You can use an industrial glue to replace them later. In this case you will want to only glue the outer edges of the sides and bottom of the sheets. You will need to be able to treat behind them again later and by leaving the top unglued this will be easier to do. You can use a removable caulking material to seal the top.

For the best result pour or wash behind these wall coverings with peroxide. Allow it to sit for an hour and if you have not removed the wall covering pour the peroxide behind it again. Spray the inside of ALL your cabinets and around your tub using the peroxide. If you have a tile or linoleum covering on the floor in this room you can use the peroxide there as well. Be generous around the base and behind your toilet. Peroxide will bleach most wall paper, rugs or other material including hard wood. You will want to use your vinegar in these areas. (Your throw rugs or facility coverings should be dipped in vinegar after washing and before you place them in the dryer.

6. Use the same method under your kitchen sink and around your hot water heater. I would advise you to use vinegar whenever you clean. It is non-staining, non-bleaching and the smell will soon be gone. (It you are bothered by the smell you can use oils intended for use in slow heating air fragrancers.

7. Lightly spray all upholstered materials with vinegar ONLY. If your cushion covers are removable, dip them in vinegar and hang them to dry. Spray the foam cushion with the vinegar and allow it to dry before replacing the covers.

8. Even if you do not have a problem with mold in your home this is a tip that you should still use as it will also kill parasites, bed bugs and other undesirables in the bedroom. I am going to tell you to ruin the nice pattern on that lovely mattress of yours. Spray it with peroxide. Do not soak it but be generous and do all sides. Make sure that the top is dry before flipping it. If you have time you should also spray it with the vinegar after the peroxide dries.

9. Treat your pillows in the same manner. If you can wash them in the washing machine add peroxide to the wash cycle and vinegar to the rinse. Most pillows can be machine washed using the gentle cycle, it is the spinning process that often ruins their shape. Hang them outdoors to dry.

10. NEVER, EVER SHAMPOO YOUR CARPET IN THE FALL OR WINTER MONTHS. THEY WILL NOT DRY THEY WILL ONLY MOLD AND MILDEW!!!

11. If you are using ventless heating methods replace your heating system. If at all possible replace it with a hot water heating system that runs through your flooring materials. If this is not an option consider some sort of vented or central heat. Ventless heating forces moisture into your attic! I would not be surprised if in the near future insurance companies refuse to insure homes with ventless wall heaters.

I hope you find my efforts to inform and help you lead to a healthier and happier existence for you and your family.