Mold, Moisture, and Home: How big a health problem is it?

Mold is a very uncomfortable and undesirable visitor to any property, isn't it? And he arrives without an invitation: just a humid and dark place for the mold to spread throughout the house, leaving the environments looking dirty and badly cared for. As if its unpleasant appearance was not enough, the mold often presents full discomfort and, worse, it stimulates the appearance of respiratory diseases and allergies in the residents. The good news is that this problem can be prevented and resolved!

 

To begin with, we need to understand that mold is formed by a fungus that proliferates easily in humid and dark places, as we said. It can develop in various places in the house, such as walls and ceilings or even in the bathroom and in cupboards, and can be of different colors: more grayish, greenish, or whitish.

 

One of the main factors responsible for facilitating the appearance of mold is infiltration. That's right! After all, when there is infiltration, naturally the humidity in the walls, the ceiling, and the floor increases. And, as we have seen, environments with excess humidity are preferred for the development of mold. But there are other issues that can also trigger it.

 

Poor ventilation

In periods of heavy rain and low temperatures, it is natural for people to leave windows and doors closed. However, this is a big problem when we talk about mold, because the poor ventilation keeps the humidity inside the environments. In addition, opening doors also applies to cabinets and wardrobes, so that ventilation occurs and provides natural light in the spaces. Remember: keeping rooms and furniture cool and dry is essential to avoid mold!

 

Inadequate cleaning

Failure to clean properly is another factor that contributes to the proliferation of mold. Using the same cloth or water to clean more than one wall, for example, can worsen the problem, helping to reproduce the fungus on more than one surface.

 

Mold problems

In addition to the unpleasant stains that form around the house, mold can cause serious health problems for residents. Anyone who already has a respiratory problem, such as asthma, bronchitis, rhinitis, or sinusitis, may have the symptoms intensified due to the fungus, which penetrates the body through inhalation and is capable of triggering an allergic process.

 

In addition, mold can be the cause of infections. To give you an idea, headaches, weakness and fatigue may be associated with the presence of mold in homes. Hence the importance of preventing and eliminating this unwanted visit to your home for good.

 

How to prevent and eliminate mold once and for all

Keeping the house ventilated, allowing light to enter and the wind to circulate is halfway to avoid the proliferation of the fungus. In addition, there are several homemade tips that help when cleaning the environments. Surely you've already received some advice on this, haven't you?

 

Chalk and cedar

Chalk is an important ally to fight moisture. You can spread sachets with chalk on furniture or environments and, when you notice that they have become damp, you should change them. It is also possible to spread cedar pellets in places where there is a higher incidence of humidity. When they get wet, dry them in the sun and feel free to reuse them.

 

Sanitary water

After cleaning the environment with the presence of mold with a dry cloth, you can mix some bleach in the water, moisten the cloth and then clean the area infected by the fungus. Then, just let it dry well to use the space.

 

Lemon, vinegar, and baking soda

Acids present in lemon and vinegar, together with bicarbonate, can also help fight mold. Just mix them with the water, spraying it on the moldy objects and letting it act for a few minutes. Then just dry with a clean cloth.

 

Although these homemade tips help, they are not enough to stop mold, especially in cities where humidity is high all year round. Here are some cleaning products which will keep your house free from mold and other fungal agents.