There are a large variety of household molds, and though not all of them are serious, they should be treated with caution. The most dangerous household mold is known as Stachybotrys, and is commonly called black mold or toxic black mold. The mold actually appears somewhat greenish, and is slimy when wet. It grows on anything with a cellulose base, meaning made of wood. Paper, cardboard, wood, and even wallboard can all support black mold. Sometimes it will grow under carpet or flooring, and often it grows inside walls, where it can be very difficult to remove.
Toxic black mold has been implicated in many severe respiratory problems, and has even been linked to infant deaths. This is because the mold spores can cause Pulmonary Hemorrhage (PH) in infants and anyone with a depressed immune system. Even healthy adults can be affected by the spores, and complaints range from itchy eyes and sneezing to shortness of breath and asthma attacks.
If you suspect you may have mold in your home, it is a good idea to do a visual check. Mold requires moisture to thrive, and you may need to get into some of the farther corners of your home such as attics and crawl spaces to have a look. A good flashlight would be handy in this regard. Also look under carpets, behind refrigerators, and possibly even cutting open a wall might be necessary, if there appears evidence of moisture behind it.
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Plumbing leaks, roof leaks, pipes dripping from condensation, constant high humidity, can all contribute to mold growth. It is imperative to get the correct balance of moisture in a home to deal with recurrences of mold. Bathrooms and showers can generally be cleaned with common household cleaners, or if the problem is persistent, with commercially available mold killers.
If you do find any black mold in your home, do not scrape or rub at it. Doing so could release the spores into the air, where they will be at large to be breathed in by a family member of pet. If perhaps you have experienced a flood, the best idea may be to remove the wallboard of the affected areas in the immediate aftermath of the flood, to prevent the mold from taking root. As stated earlier, black mold will grow on wood surfaces, and often what happens behind a wall is that the mold grows on the wooden studs and keeps moving up. After the water has dried out, the mold spores remain behind, and even though the mold itself is dead, the spores can still spread and cause serious respiratory problems. Also, with mold spores present there is always the danger of a recurrence of the mold should anymore moisture be present. It is best to get things dried out as quickly as possible, remove all mold that has begun, and make sure that the source of moisture is completely dry before replacing walls, carpet etc.
Toxic black mold is a serious problem in many homes, and often the owners are not even aware of it. If you have any reason to suspect you may have mold, for instance if you are experiencing respiratory problems constantly, or if you have recently had a flood or found a persistent leak, then consider hiring a professional mold testing service to examine your home and find the mold.
If you do have black mold in your home, then it is in your best interest to hire a professional company to come and remove it from the walls or under carpets. It is not recommended as a do-it-yourself project! If you do decide to tackle it, make absolutely certain to wear a mask and take heavy precautions to prevent the mold spores from spreading throughout the home. Using a good HEPA filter air purifier will help.
Toxic black mold is a common scourge in modern homes, but one that can be dealt with. This is not a problem that should be ignored; your families health may depend on it.