Alliance Environmental Blog

Autumn Leaves…and Other Moldy Issues

There is a nip in the air, the mornings are foggy and chill; it even sprinkled this morning.
In other words, it’s fall and it’s damp.

And if you’re allergic to mold spores, as I am, your allergy season is beginning as the leaves change color.  Reactions to mold can range from migraines and rashes to itchy, watery eyes.

Both indoor and outdoor mold can affect those people who are sensitive to it.  Many people react when they are raking leaves because the activity stirs up mold in the grass underneath the leaves.  Mold can also grow in those piles of leaves waiting to be picked up by the sanitation team.

But it is indoor mold, and how to get rid of it, that we are most concerned with.

Mold indoors is not always easily detected and once you can see it on drywall, for example, it is much worse on the back where it is not visible.  Other places mold can grow:

* Under flooring
* Behind wallpaper
* Where pipes and conduits enter the structure
* Anywhere there has been flooding

An Ounce of Prevention

You know the rest.  How can you prevent mold from becoming a problem in your home?

* In the fall, check your roof carefully for leaks before the bad weather sets in
* Keep your bathroom clean and dry off the shower area after showering
* Make sure any water leaks around laundry appliances, kitchen and bathroom are repaired promptly
* Empty and clean air conditioner drainage areas

What if you have Mold already?

Whatever you do, do NOT clean it with bleach.  Mold thinks bleach is food.
Other ways to deal with mold challenges:

* Clean often—starve the mold by not providing any food for it to grow on
* Use a cleaning product specifically designed for mold and mildew
* Keep the inside of your house dry by using a dehumidifier to remove excess humidity from the air
* Use the ventilation fan in the bathroom whenever you shower

If your problem is worse than mold in your shower stall, you need to call in a professional.  Alliance Environmental Services provides mold remediation services for any structure and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions will make sure that there is nothing coming out of your air vents or ducts that could be harmful.

Mold can be dangerous and even lethal.  Prevention is better than remediation, but if you have an issue in your home, take care of it right away!