Mould
Mould in the Home: Four Facts About Mould
Mould is an incredibly frustrating addition to any home, so it’s in your best interests to do what you can to prevent it from taking root. Mould, like mushrooms, is a fungi, meaning that it thrives in moist, dim places. Like most forms of fungi, mould that is found in your home is designed for one real purpose: to multiply in size, grow, and continue to expand.
You handle mould every day, whether you are conscious of it or not: that greenish/blue coating on top of that bowl of soup that you left out is mould, some forms of cheese are made from mould, and mould is a fundamental agent in the decomposition of organic materials. Essentially, mould is both good and bad, depending on the context that it’s found.
1. Man uses mould every day – Bread, beer, wine, cheese, and other foods and beverages are made from various forms of fungi, including mould, and are completely harmless. These types of moulds represent no danger to you.
2. There are over 250 different types of mould that can exist in your home – This isn’t even considering the many species of mould that can grow outside your home either. Like all forms of life, mould exists in a myriad of different combinations and varieties, so while you think you are free of one variety, you may be susceptible to another.
3. Mould is useful to people – Specific varieties of mould, such as the ones used to make wine or penicillin, are harvested and used by people every day. Our lives would be much different were it not for the inclusion of these moulds. In this way, moulds are useful and helpful.
However, other types of moulds exist which are harmful, causing respiratory or cardiac problems if the mould takes root in your home. Unfortunately, mould may be any color and thus hard to differentiate between other stains, such as the ones produced by pollution, cigarette smoke, or food and beverage stains.
4. Mould can not grow in a dry environment – Mould needs two things to survive: moisture and nutrients. Removing one elements, such as moisture, makes it impossible for the fungi that cause mould to “take root”, and thus mould will not flourish.
Moisture can enter your home in a variety of ways, though it is most commonly introduced via man-made entrances, such as faucets, showers, or sinks. To avoid the possibility of mould, dry up all moisture that you may leave after you bath, shower, brush your teeth, or cook.
Mould is incredibly frustrating to get rid of once it’s started to flourish, and you may need to enlist the help of a professional if it has become rampant. Mould is quite resilient, so be patient, wear safety goggles, a face mask, and gloves when you set out to clean it as you don’t want to breathe any in. Use an odorless cleanser and immediately dry the area once you’ve finished cleaning. You will be able to detect a musty, earthy smell if you were unable to remove it all.