An ounce of prevention and a proper cure can save your pocketbook and your health
What is it about mold? Few things cause people to break out in a cold sweat like the 'M' word...well, except maybe asbestos, but we will avoid the 'A' word in this article. That's a horror show for another day. But let's be real, if you own a home you will have to deal with mold from time to time. Let's hope that it is just in small, isolated cases, but left unchecked, it can cause more extensive damage, and cause health concerns. And if you have little ones in the home or pets, you want to be especially vigilant about taking care any issues before they spread.
What the heck is mold anyway?
Well....it's a fungus. Now before you lose it and start thinking about the fungi in "The Last of Us" which turns normal humans into flesh eating fiends, this is a more pedestrian kind of fungus. Head over to wiki and fill your boots if you really need to know everything about mold, but let's just talk a bit about what it likes.
It likes wet
It likes still (no air movement)
It likes dark
It likes warm
It likes organic (no you don't have to throw out those organic bananas...)
I mean if you really think about it, what are all those gross commercials about athletes foot? It's describing a fungus that grows in a dark, warm, moist, place with no air circulation inside an organic material like a cotton sock or shoe. Sound familiar?
Ok. So now that we are all gagging, what does this tell us about preventing mold?
If your house is humid, run fans, or get a dehumidifier
If you keep your curtains or blinds closed, open them
No extraction fan in your bathroom or kitchen? Get a little portable fan and run it to move that humidity around. (Maybe a battery powered one if it's near a water source)
Open your windows to let that breeze in...and yes I am aware that outside air has humidity. See below.
Treat the air you do have coming in with air conditioners and or the dehumidifier mentioned previously
Dust! Mold can spawn from dust, so regular cleanings can definitely help
Get some stand alone air purifiers
I did all that stuff and I still have mold. Now what?
No matter what you do, you might still get some mold. Now be reasonable. If it is in a confined space like a crawl space or an attic, it is extensive or very advanced, please call an expert. But if it looks like the picture at the top of this article, you can deal with that yourself. Some people advocate using bleach, but bleach does not prevent mold regrowth. Other people say to use baking soda, vinegar and any one of a number of things.
But for me, the clear winner is Concrobium Mold Control. (Take it easy judgy pants. I am not affiliated with this product, or company, and I do not get a kickback of any kind.)
So, why do I prefer this over bleach and other options? Well, it is non-toxic, helps prevent the regrowth of mold, and it is specifically made for this purpose. It also doesn't smell, and I have not had it stain anything I used it on. (Please don't take my word on that. Test fabrics before using it on your best curtains.) And the regrowth issue is big for me, because none of the other solutions have that quality. It's also not ridiculously expensive, retailing for between $10-18 dollars CDN.
So if you do decide to use this product, make sure you grab one of those N95 masks you got during Covid and mask up. Dust and mold spores are nasty so protect yourself while you are stirring them up. Follow the directions on the bottle which are basically:
Get rid of the bulk, or surface mold with a cloth
Spray with the product
Wait 24 hours
Once the mold has been turned into what looks like a white powder, use a rag with more product on it to wipe it clean
Let it dry out
Now if it were me, once it dried out and it was something like wood, I would sand it out (masked) and then seal it with some paint. Realistically, mold grows on porous, organic surfaces, so sealing them after the mold is treated is a great way to prevent its return.
And hey voila! You have dealt with the 'M' word. Look, you are going to get mold sometimes, and maybe it will come back, but with the right tools and the right information, it isn't the end of the world. The best cure is an ounce of prevention and just understanding the conditions which make it possible.
But please don't use this information or this product to solve that gross athlete's foot. That's a completely different article.
© Stephanie Paraskevopulos
The information in this article should be considered information and not advice. Please consult an expert if you are unsure of the toxicity of your mold, and if you do not have the skills and abilities to deal with the situation safely.
Stephanie is a renovator and founder of The Project Garage. If you would like to speak with her directly about any issue you may be having in your home, or renovation project, you can book her here.
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