Lessons Learned the hard Way, Twice
So it has been established that I know a lot about mold. This is not a subject of which I wanted to become an expert, but here we are. My house has had several episodes of unwanted water breaches since 2007, mostly in the basement area. We had so much junk down there that we were unable to keep up with the moisture, and we ended up with a World-Class mold problem by the time we remediated in 2017 at a cost of $30,000. My health problems were so bad that I was told to leave the premises immediately, so I spent two weeks at my parents’ house detoxing and reading up on mold.
We had a second go-around in September 2019 when my daughter, Grace, began feeling sick while away at Kent State University. Her symptoms jibed with mold, and sure enough, an inspector found her apartment absolutely riddled with it. Almost all of her things had to be thrown out and she had to find a new apartment at the worst possible time. (We were able to walk away from the lease but management did nothing to account for her property loss, or the dangerous conditions in her apartment. In fact, someone else moved in right after her.)
So through our experiences, we learned a lot. Here are some pearls of wisdom:
Nearly everything should be thrown away. If spores are still around, they can multiply in the right environment (dark and damp). Some things can be wiped down with mold-specific cleaners and others can be thrown in the washing machine. But most items made with fabric, paper or wood had to be discarded. (We were given the option for the remediation company to de-mold items…for the cost it was cheaper to just get something new, i.e. they wanted several hundred dollars to clean the basement couch.) If you are putting considerable money into remediation, you don’t want to keep moldy items around and risk another problem in the future.
Mold symptoms can include vertigo, brain fog, headache, sinus problems, asthma and gastrointestinal problems. Fatigue is the most prominent issue that Grace and I experienced…you literally feel like you cannot move.
If a person is sick, he/she should not be anywhere near the cleanup. I was told to vacate the house immediately and not be involved in any mold-related activities. Grace had to go back into her moldy apartment a few times to get things out, and became symptomatic right away. Our inspector told us it takes two weeks for mold to clear the system.
On that note, mold illness affects 25% of the population, or one in four people. A genetic component means there is a correlation between family members. My husband was completely unaffected, so he handled most of the cleanup. It is hard for people to understand why everyone in the environment is not sick if there is a mold issue…it is because they are not genetically predisposed.
People who have experienced symptoms from mold tend to be more sensitive down the road. They should avoid living in older structures and working in buildings with water damage.
Mold is not great for anyone’s health long-term, but people who are mold-sensitive typically have trouble clearing toxins. My detox regimen included Glutathione, NAC and Vitamin C (which instigate detoxification) as well as activated charcoal to absorb and release the toxins.
Mold can hide in a lot of places. The basement is obvious, but also under cabinets, in bathrooms, in attics and in ceilings. Our inspector even suggested that I avoid cleaning the litterbox, as the moisture is a conducive environment for mold growth.
Mold is not always black. We had aspergillus all over the basement, which presented as white dust. Grace had green powder in her furniture. Just because it does not look like your idea of mold does not mean you are free and clear.
Humidity in the basement should be kept at under 50%. We run a dehumidifier constantly, as well as fans in the summer. The dryer the air, the better.
Our inspector suggested an air scrubber to help pull mold out of the house. They can be rented, but I bought one at the time of remediation and use it occasionally to clean the air. I also use air purifiers in several locations in the house. You will want to look for ones with HEPA filters.
When cleaning mold, always use a mask. Cleaning stirs up the spores. N-95 masks are the minimum protection you should wear. If I’m ever around mold, I use a product called CitriDrops afterward to help counter the effect.
Mold in your home can affect your health, but your work environment also matters. You are at work most of the day, so what you breathe in absolutely affects your health. It is very common for teachers in old school buildings to suffer from mold symptoms.
If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to contact me at kate@heretohelpcoaching.com.
