It’s happening; the holiday you booked months ago – comprising of both travel and accommodation – has finally arrived. You’ve spent countless hours researching, booking, packing and envisaging a relaxing time-out from life itself. It stands to reason, therefore, that the last thing you’d like to find on entering your home-away-from-home is mold.
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You stumble downstairs bleary-eyed, first thing in the morning, desperate for a cup of coffee and slice of toast. Yet it doesn’t take too long for the realization to kick in that the fresh loaf of bread that you’ve been salivating over is not actually so fresh anymore and has decided to open its home up to mold.
It’s a universal scenario that is probably all-too-familiar, no matter where you are in the world. But is there more to it than meets the eye?
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Summertime is well and truly here and, with it, the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables. But like a contestant on America’s Got Talent who has only two minutes to change their destiny, the window of opportunity for some juicy summer berries or a crisp green salad – before mold and other unwanted visitors mark their territory – is tiny.
Luckily for you, we’ve put together a handy guide to ensure your five a day go the distance!
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The days are long, the sun is out and the beaches are having their moment; summer is well and truly here. Hooray! Yet, as the saying goes, there’s no such thing as a free, er, BBQ. For with all the fun of the summer comes the added risk of mold.
Yup, that pesky fungal growth really knows how to get everywhere, doesn’t it? Especially at this time of year. This is down to several factors, which we shall now explore:
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Clean Air Day 2018 came and went last week, but it got us thinking: If mold thrives off elements present in the air we breathe, surely there must be a connection pertinent to our cause. And we were right.
One of the largest factors in mold survival is the amount of moisture in the air, as it can – and will – grow anywhere and on any substance that dampness is present.
But did you know that, as well as causing mold, excess moisture in the home can also contaminate the actual air, too? Just think of the cold, musty smell often accompanying it. And according to Global Action Plan – the organizers behind Clean Air Day – mold in the home is a source of air pollution itself. Yet the relationship is actually more complex, as if mold is present, toxic particles will emanate from it and infiltrate the air you breathe – not to mention the fact that damp itself causes water vapor, which in turn encourages microbial growth, leading to yet more mold in an ongoing vicious cycle. Thus, this two-way relationship emphasises how important – both for the cleanliness of the air and the actual, tangible things surrounding it – controlling the level of moisture is.
Monitoring the levels of humidity in the home, therefore, is extremely important, and most experts believe that erring on the lower side of the 40-60% recommended bracket will help to prevent the build-up of mold – thus keeping the air clean, too.
But there are many other things you can – and should – do to reduce the growth of mold and – by extension – keep the air around you clean. You can breathe a (toxin-free!) sigh of relief, as we’ve done the hard work for you:
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“Black mold,” or stachbotrys as his mycologist friends like to call him, is actually a dark green mold, but not only did “Dark Green Mold” fail miserably at striking fear in the hearts of the public, Penicillium mold pretty much held the copyright to all-things-green. “Killer Mold,” too, fell short of fear-mongering. And “The Notorious B.M.” didn’t quite have the effect mycologists were going for, which could be why a dark green mold was given the nickname “black mold.” Or, more specifically, “toxic black mold.” But, what causes black mold? And why is it considered so toxic?
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I know why you’re here. There can only be one reason why you now find yourself reading an incredibly informative and superbly written article on moldy cheese.
You’ve bought into the American Dream, haven’t you? What was it? Student loans? A new car? Don’t tell me–the new iPhone? Look, it’s none of my business. We’ll just say you “fell on hard times.”
Some mistakenly believe that any and all green molds are penicillin. Penicillin, however, is not a mold. Penicillin is an antibiotic derived from the mold known as penicillium chrysogenum. Many times over, a common statement is made in regards to foods that have mold growth: “Ah, it’s just penicillin. It won’t hurt you.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, contact with penicillium chryosogenum–like any mold–can cause serious health issues. For instance, penicillium molds often cause chronic sinus infections and inflammation within the lungs.
The truth is, there are several types of green mold–thousands, actually–and none of them are friendly. So, what exactly makes green mold, green?
Most homes are teeming in the thousands, if not millions, of various types of mold spores and any location that offers adequate moisture will provide it the perfect home. Laundry rooms especially provide the key ingredients to what makes mold grow: moisture, decaying organic material (soiled laundry), warmth, and usually no direct sunlight. Thus, it is not uncommon to find mold on clothes.
If you’ve discovered or suspect you have mold in your home or workplace, the next most common question is “is it dangerous?” Not all molds are created equal. Some are considered toxic mold while others are less of a hindrance. While no mold is good in the home or workplace, there are some types of mold that fall into the “most dangerous molds” category. That is what today’s blog post will cover. These are the molds that will cause the most harm to your home and/or your body, especially with long term exposure.
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Whether top-load or front-load, new or used, every washing machine provides an ideal habitat for mold. The high moisture content in both the machine and the resulting atmosphere, the typical poorly-ventilated laundry room with its stale warm air, and the continual supply of decomposing organic material provided by soiled laundry all contribute to an environment conducive to mold growth and its accompanying mildew smell.
Don’t wait until you experience that distinct mold odor. Because of such steady, mold-welcoming conditions, it is important to be consistent in regular maintenance. Cleaning a machine that appears to clean itself during each use might seem a little superfluous, but even washing machines could use a good wash from time to time.
We’ve all heard of black mold and the associated horror stories of how it destroys your home, your wallet and your health. But what about white mold? What is it? What are the effects on your home if it gets infected with white mold growth? How is your health compromised if you are around white mold? Is white mold as dangerous as black mold? Today’s blog post will give you all the answers you need should you end up with white mold in your home.
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In general, an all-purpose cleaner is a bottled liquid cleaning agent that is concocted from ingredients that are harsh enough to remove dirt, grime, and stains, but gentle enough not to damage a wide array of surfaces, such as carpet, plastic, linoleum, porcelain, stainless steal, laminate, glass, or finished wood.
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You see something strange and unsightly on the surfaces in your home and immediately your mind starts questioning what it is and how to get rid of it. Is it mold? Is it mildew? What is mold anyway and how is it different than mildew? How does one clean or get rid of mold or mildew? Are mold and mildew the same thing?
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Borax, or sodium tetraborate, is a natural white mineral and salt powder compound derived from boron, a non-metal element which is mined from the ground (generally from dried-up lake beds). Read More
There are numerous aromas our olfactory organs are subjected to each day. Whether it be the smell of food cooking or baking, the distinct aroma of herbs or essential oils, or the unpleasant reek of yesterday’s trash, our nose encounters a host of various scents, both appealing and unappealing. While our sense of smell has many purposes, it is often overlooked as an alarm system. In fact, when it comes to personal safety, our nose is an excellent source for warnings against danger—not just burnt toast. Are there smells that can alert us to potential health hazards or signal that the environment we are in is not safe? Certainly. Aside from the distinct smell of smoke or gas, mold’s pungent odor is a helpful indicator that your health, as well as the health of those living with you, is at risk.
At some point you may find yourself wondering if you have mold in your walls. Perhaps you have been through a flood or identified a leak in your home that has been there for awhile. Now, as you start the cleanup, you may wonder what the least destructive (and least expensive) method is for determining the extent of the damage and if there is indeed mold in your walls.
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How often do you spend time in your attic? Perhaps once a year to retrieve Christmas decorations? If you are like most homeowners, you probably don’t visit this non-living space very often. Because of that, attics are often left out of regular home inspections and maintenance. The bad news is that attic mold (along with a multitude of other issues) can easily be overlooked. It is important that you take the time to periodically visit your attic space and give it a thorough once over. Mold attic can quickly become dangerous because it often goes unnoticed until it begins to penetrate the rest of your house. By the time that happens, there is likely quite a bit of mold and may already be affecting the health of your family.
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Do you know all the facts about mold that you should? The average person isn’t educated about mold, and most people don’t seek answers or do their research until they have found mold in their home or have been affected by mold in some way.
Mold affects more people than you might think. Mold is everywhere. It surrounds us. In one way or another, mold affects us all! You may even be exposed to it right now whether you know it or not. Because it is so predominant in our world, there are some basic facts about mold that everyone should know. Here are 10 facts about mold that you may not know … but should!
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