Mold Odors

From Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search

Mold and Mildew Odors


This article is intended to help the reader identify mold odors and smells commonly found in our homes and work places. Researchers estimate there are over 300,000 types of mold and many more types of smells. If you have smelled mold in the past you will most likely never forget it. It has a very unusual smell, much like rotting wood or paper products. If you have ever been in a super wet basement of an old house, you are most likely familiar with the smell of mold. Some people can recognize mold immediately when others are oblivious to the odors produced by mold and mildew.

Mold, mildew and bacteria will reproduces through spores that are microscopic in size and can float and remain suspended in the air indefinitely. Some molds are able to adapt and remain healthy in extreme environments such as server cold and extreme pleasures. If you are experiencing mold odors and smells, it is most likely that you have mold growing somewhere in your home. The first thing you should do is try to isolate the location and cause of the mold, have the area tested for mold. When you get the mold test back you can better determine the best course of action. Always call a professional mold consultant before attempting any kind of remediation. Toxic black mold could be present and you wouldn’t even know it. You may be working with toxic mold that can produce mycotoxins emitting V.O.C. or Volatile Organic Compounds. Mycotoxins can produce a variety of cold like symptoms ranging from headaches, neurological conditions and bleeding lungs.

A Dehumidifier should be the first item on your list, removing humidity from the room as well as air circulation is very important. Humidity should be in the range of 40% TO 60%. Air purifiers can be a great contributor to the removal of Allergen and the removal of dangerous V.O.C. There are several type of units available on the market, just make sure that you measure the room to be treated and invest in the proper sixe unit for the application. Install ceiling fans is a great way of keeping the air circulating throughout the house. This is important as it will keep the air from becoming stagnant and help to remove any musty smells that may be about. HEPA Vacuum cleaner is very important part of keeping you’re your home free of mold and mildew spores. HEPA vacuum are also instrumental in keeping a home clean of allergen and dust.

For any of the do it yourselfers out there, you can always use combination of 1 tsp. borax 1tsp. dishwashing detergent 1qt. warm water and mix together and place solution in a spray bottle. Spray area liberally with the solution and scrub with a brush until the area appears to be clean of mold and mildew.

1 cup of bleach and 1 gallon of water will remove mold and mildew stains but will not kill mold. To kill mold you will need a commercial product consisting of EPA approved ingredients that designed to kill black molds.

Mold odors and mold smells are here to stay. The only thing we can do is to keep them at bay. By keeping our homes dry and clean, we can eliminate most of the mold, mildew and bacteria. In any event, don’t let mold, mildew and bacteria take over your home. If you suspect you have mold in your home or you have been exposed to mold, call a professional immediately. If you feel sick seek out medical advice and make sure that you tell the medical staff that you may have been exposed to a type of mold, mildew of bacteria.

By: Bradley Skierkowski