Mold Center
Mold, mildew, fungi and bacteria are the leading biological pollutants generated in a home. Molds such as fungus mold, and slime molds are most often found in areas that have high humidity levels such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms or damp basements (especially after flooding). It is important to try and prevent mold and mildew growth, and if it's too late, try mold remediation and mold removal.
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Because mold and mildew release mold spores in the air that can float throughout the house, it can cause severe allergic reactions such as watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing, nasal congestion and fatigue, especially to those with a mold allergy. In fact, when mold starts to reproduce inside a home, it can eat away at the structure, cause thousands of dollars in damage and possibly make family members sick from mold exposure. However, the situation is not hopeless. There are several mold cleaning, prevention, and mold removal methods to deal with this persistent problem that really do work.
Click here for a Mold Solution Buyers Guide
The Mold Center provides the most popular information found in our Learning Center to help you identify molds such as slime mold or fungus mold in your home or office and explain what you can do to prevent mold growth from occurring. Be sure to visit us often for new mold facts and information on mold removal and see below for our list of best-selling mold cleaning products for battling this problem.
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Mold Prevention
The key to mold prevention and mold & mildew removal is to eliminate moisture. Basements must be dried out, and humidity levels should be maintained at about 50% relative humidity or lower to prevent mold growth. Dehumidifiers can be very useful. Vapor steam cleaning or vacuuming with High Efficiency Particulate Absolute (HEPA) filter vacuums can reduce mold spore concentrations in damp areas and carpets, but if not done properly mold spores can remain or be spread into the air. See our Mold Solution Buyers Guide for a complete selection of productss to keep your home mold-free.
We have collected several helpful articles on mold prevention in this section. One of the best is a concise FAQ on Molds and Allergies by Dr. R. Vincent Miller.
Why Dehumidification is Important to your Heath? This is an article by Mercia Tapping, President of Allergy Buyers Club, which discusses the advantages of a dehumidifier for reducing a high humidity level in your house that can breed mold and dust mites. For more information on the features and benefits of whole house and single room dehumidifiers, be sure to look at our Dehumidifiers Comparison Guide.
Mayo Clinic researchers say they have identified mold as the leading cause of most chronic sinus infections (a condition that affects over 37 million people in the U.S.). More specifically, it is not an allergic reaction to mold, but rather an immune system response to fungus.
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Mold Cleaning
Ever wonder if the mold that grows in your bathroom and basement is harmful or not? Thad Godish's article explains what type of mold this is and how you can get rid of it. Also, Stan Halpern, Environmental Cleaning Consultant, provides you with plenty of good tips for Mold Cleaning.
Here are some other helpful links on mold cleaning
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" How to Remove Mold and Mildew - University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service
" How to Prevent and Remove Mildew - Home Methods - University of Missouri-Columbia
" Cleaning Mildew From Mattresses, Rugs, Upholstery - Michigan State University Extension
" How to Make Your Home Mold-Free and Keep It That Way [PDF format] - Kansas Department of Health and Environment
" Prevent Mildew in Your Home - University of Illinois Extension
" Controlling Mold Growth in the Home [PDF format] - Kansas State University-Sedgwick County Extension Service
Favorite Picks from our Learning Center on Mold
Mold Allergy by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation and Moisture and Biologicals by the Montana University Education Project are both excellent FAQ articles that will answer a lot of your questions about what to do about mold.
Is Indoor Mold Contamination a Threat to Health is an in-depth 2-part article by Harriet Ammann, a senior toxicologist for Washington State Dept. of Health, that gives a comprehensive overview on types of mold and characteristics as well as recommendations for reducing mold in homes.
Is Mold a Winter Problem? Reveals that mold can grow even in cooler weather especially in our HVAC systems.
Here are some other useful links concerning mold (these pages will open up in a separate window):