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Winter is upon us; and, with our homes closed up, there is a danger that we can be at risk to mold and mildew and their accompanying health effects.

Mold is a fungus and is part of nature’s way of breaking down dead organic matter in the outdoor world. Mold can survive the cold of space, as well as high temperatures. It is when mold comes indoors that it can play havoc on our homes and our health. Overexposure to high spore levels can cause breathing problems, congestion, hay fever, and allergies––just to name a few.

The best way to prevent mold-related illnesses is to stop mold at its source of growth, which means stopping moisture. Water damaged building materials is a good food source to promote mold growth in the home environment. Keeping the house dry, especially in predictably damp areas like the bathroom is imperative. If an area of your house starts smelling like mildew, it is important to act quickly to bring the mold under control.

The EPA has an on-line booklet designed for homeowners, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home, that can be found at the website: http://www.healthri.org/environment/risk/EPA_Mold_Homes_July2002.pdf.

According to the EPA, it is impossible to get rid of all indoor mold. Mold is only a problem when the spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds reproduce by spores that are invisible to the eye and float through the air and generally settle in an area where there is little air movement. Some particles, however, can stay airborne, so that inhabitants can be exposed not just in the room where the mold is growing, but also throughout the entire house.

Mold needs food, air, water, and a good temperature to grow. Since mold will eat almost anything and there is always air available, and mold likes the same temperature that we do, moisture control is the key to mold control. When there is a mold problem, the mold must be eradicated first and then the water or moisture problem must be repaired. It is not enough to kill the mold; it must also be removed.

Keys to effective mold control include keeping an eye out for areas where mold can congregate and finding the source of any musty odor. Decrease moisture inside the home and increase ventilation to reduce indoor moisture, keeping your home as cool and dry as you can.

According to Anne Berthold-Bond, in Better Basics For the Home, several hints for eradicating mold include:
1. Dry out anything that is damp.
2. Remove the water and use a dehumidifier.
3. Use an ultraviolet light bulb called a germicidal UV light to kill up to 100 percent of the mold.
4. Cover mold with cornstarch to remove moisture.

A good spray to have handy in the bathroom is her Tea Tree Treasure, which calls for 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil in 2 cups of water. I keep a spray bottle handy in my bathroom and spray the shower often and this keeps mold at bay. Other environmentally friendly ingredients to handle mold include citrus seed extract, hydrogen peroxide and borax.

I also find that wiping down the glass and tile with a squee-gee after a shower eliminates excess water and mold and mildew, as well as hard water stains.

If you have questions or comments, email me at eviecology@aol.com I look forward to hearing from you on issues of importance to you.