For years now we’ve been told that mold in our homes is bad for us. It seems to creep into our homes before we know it. Damp basements and bathrooms are its favorite hiding spots and we need to seek professional help to get rid of it. If you have mold lurking in your home, there are more reasons to get rid of it than aesthetic value… your kids.
Numerous studies, including one from the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study found that 3-year-old children who had visible mold in their homes during infancy were 7 times more likely to have asthma. In the past, studies have shown that home dampness and visible mold lead to higher severity of respiratory symptoms in children such as asthma and wheezing. This is the first study where the existence of mold was found through professional home inspections versus parental reports.
If you have mold in your home here’s what you should do to protect the respiratory health of your children:
* You can try to remove the mold by yourself by using detergent and water and let the area dry completely. You will need to wear a respirator, gloves and goggles. You will have to look inside the walls as well to find and remove all mold. Eliminating mold from your home can be dangerous. Spores are probably already airborne and found in your home’s dust, but the cleaning process will unleash even more mold into the air.
* Fix the dampness in your home that is causing the mold to grow. Install better ventilation in your bathroom, laundry room and kitchen and have a professional examine the basement. Getting rid of the mold is great, but if you still have a moisture problem, the mold will be back.
* Porous materials such as ceiling tiles and carpet will probably need to be thrown out if they contain mold. It is next to impossible to remove the mold from those crevices.
* Call in a professional. Finding and removing mold is not a do-it-yourself project for the average homeowner. Without the proper tools and techniques, you could cause health damage to yourself and your loved ones.