Search Results for: blog mold patrol

The Mold Patrol

It’s getting to be fall here, and that brings with it abundant moisture that falls from the sky. It also brings a moist environment indoors, and that means mold. Black mold is a danger to your health. Where I live, mold spores have entered numerous buildings and have thrived inside the walls, leading to massive renovations at large expense. Mold can cause allergic reactions and breathing difficulties. In your home, like mine, mold might wage a small but successful battle to exist. Our main problem area is windows, since they get damp overnight. Our secondary problem area has been the … Continue reading →

Mold Basics

I’m allergic to mold. Allergic enough that I can’t take penicillin when I’m sick — I break out in hives. I can’t even eat bleu cheese — it makes my mouth burn. Fall is one of my big allergy seasons thanks to leaf mold. Mold is a definite health problem for certain people. You may be more sensitive to mold if you: Have allergies Have asthma Have another lung or breathing condition Have HIV Are a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy Have received an organ transplant Have any other immune system suppression or issue Exposure to mold can cause a number … Continue reading →

Damp, Mold, and Mental Health

A recent study from the Brown University School of Medicine looked at a possible link between damp, moldy homes and emotional problems like depression. Researchers looked at living conditions and health conditions in several cities around Europe, including Bonn, Germany, Budapest, Hungary, and Geneva Switzerland. Their data came from World Health Organization surveys performed in 2002 and 2003. Nearly six thousand men and women from households around Europe were asked about their health, including any diagnosis of depression in the last year. Participants were chosen at random, divided equally between men and women, and ranged in age from 18 to … Continue reading →

The Allergy Patrol

Do you or someone you love suffer from allergies? A monthly allergy patrol can help get rid of allergy triggers and help you live a little more comfortably. Use air filters on the heat vents in the rooms you use the most. You can use disposable cheesecloth — replace the cloth monthly — or pick reusable filters. Just don’t cover every vent in the house, because that can strain your heating system. Wipe down walls and ceilings once a month with a wet or magnetically charged cloth. You’ll be amazed at how much dust, dirt, and cobwebs you clear away. … Continue reading →

Cleaning Mildew on a Budget

Popular commercial mildew cleaners don’t come cheap. What’s more, when you are battling a severe mildew problem you will often need more than just one container of cleaner to get the job done. If you are strapped for cash, but need to get rid of mildew in a hurry, then consider looking around your home for pantry products that can help you eliminate nasty mildew stains on the spot. Some of the most effective homemade mildew removers cost only pennies to make. For example, if mildew has infiltrated your washing machine then add a cup of Borax to your next … Continue reading →

Mildew Be Gone

Are you sick and tired of dealing with mold and mildew? If you have a poorly ventilated bathroom that has become the prefect breeding ground for the smelly living organisms, then you might feel as though you are fighting a losing battle. Fortunately, there is hope for a clean lavatory that doesn’t require detoxing every week. The following mold and mildew removers have served me well in the past: Remedex Mold and Mildew Remover: I used this when I was living in a tiny one bedroom apartment in Hawaii where mold and mildew came to party. The product is safe … Continue reading →

Battling Smelly Bathrooms

The family bathroom can be one of the smelliest rooms in the house, but not for the reasons you may be thinking of. Mold and mildew love to grow in warm, damp bathroom, and the smell generated from the living organisms can make you want to lose your lunch. Some homeowners don’t realize that mildew doesn’t grow exclusively on bathroom tile and grout. Rather, the ugly organism doesn’t discriminate and is able to grow and prosper on items such as clothing, shower curtains and upholstery. Since most people don’t place sofas in their bathrooms, they might not realize that there … Continue reading →

Cleaning Money

My dad cleans his money. Seriously. Not all of it, just the coins he finds in puddles and near car tires… and on the floor of the men’s room. He mainly reaches down for heads-up pennies. He thinks they’re good luck. I used to follow his lead until the day I picked up a heads-up penny on the way to my car only to find a parking ticket pasted to the windshield. I haven’t picked up a stray penny from the ground since. Still, my dad is a coin cleaner. I should be so lucky to have spare money around … Continue reading →

The Dirtiest Job in the House

You can learn a lot by watching TV. Just the other day I discovered that you come into contact with more bacteria while cleaning out a fish bowl than disinfecting a dirty toilet. In addition, according to the PBS kids’ show my daughter had on while I was making breakfast, the average refrigerator door handle harbors more germs than the bathroom floor. Thanks, Fetch! Kids’ show science facts aside, in my opinion, cleaning toilets is the dirtiest job in the house. I can’t stand dealing with rings above the water line. The unsightly rings around the toilet are typically caused … Continue reading →

Deep-Clean Your Bathroom

Don’t wait for spring to deep-clean your bathrooms. During the winter months, when homes are locked up tight to keep the cold air out, mold and mildew can wreck havoc on your tile, showers, counters and faucets. If your bathroom has a musty smell, then you likely have a mold problem and need to address it right away. Most people wait for telltale black spots before they worry that they have a mold problem. However, mold comes in a variety of colors, including brown and pink. Pink mold is prevalent in grout, showers and even in the toilet if you … Continue reading →