Mold Allergy
Avoidance Tips

Mold allergy prevention begins by being proactive with a positive "can-do" attitude. It often requires more effort and prior planning because mold spores are everywhere. In fact, they are on your food that you bring home from the grocery store. As you put your food away in the refrigerator, mold spores are being put in along with the food. Most of us at one time or another has had something moldy in our refrigerator. How did the mold get there? Either it was on something that you put into the refrigerator or the spores floated in when the door was open.

The good news is that there are a lot of tips that you can implement that will reduce mold allergy symptoms. The goal is to bring mold allergy symptoms under control. Airborne allergies are cumulative. The tips below will help you find a way to keep the allergy symptoms below the level that interferes with the quality of life.

Most often, one strategy or one life style change is not going to help get the results that we’re looking for. Avoidance requires a combination of techniques and strategies need to be implemented. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to have the right attitude. Being determined to not live in a house that is a breeding ground for mold spores will put you well on your way to mold allergy symptoms reduction.

Moisture and Humidity Control

Mold needs moisture, the right temperature, and food in order to grow. Anything organic can be a food source. Extreme temperature usually makes a fungus go dormant rather than killing it. Thus, when it comes to mold allergy avoidance, moisture is the requirement that we need to pay the closest attention to. Ignoring moisture, humidity, or condensation will lead to mold growth in your environment.

It is much easier on our mold allergy if we address the prevention of mold growth rather than fighting it once it has colonized.

• Use a humidity monitor to keep track of your humidity levels.
• Keep humidity levels below 50%. The ideal humidity level for mold prevention is 35-40%.
• Use a dehumidifier to control humidity levels.
• Use your central air which will help keep down humidity levels.
• Keeping the windows open will allow for things to dry out. Good air circulation is good for moisture control. Open windows allow mold spores to enter but it also helps prevent them from colonizing.
• Try to limit the number of plants that you keep in your house. As you water them, that also adds moisture to your home. The soil can also be a good place for mold growth. Make sure that the pots have a moisture proof barrier.
• Look for condensation on pipes, windows, and on the air conditioner.
• Look for moisture coming in from the outside that could be a result from poor landscape drainage.
• Repair any leaks that you find.

Air Quality and Odor Control

Poor indoor air quality is something to pay close attention to in mold allergy symptoms avoidance. There are just as many mold spores in the air as there are anything else. Every one of those microscopic spores is going to colonize if they land on a surface that meets their requirements for growth. These spores can affect people who do not even have a mold allergy. Due to their small particle size, they can get past the nasal cavities and reach down into the bronchi tubes. This can increase the complications for people with asthma. If there is an odor control problem or a musty smell, these particles are small enough to reach the lungs.

• Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter. An air purifier can eliminate mold spores from being breathed in. It can take a long time for mold spores to settle. By removing the spores out of the air, it prevents and eliminates the spores from landing on a surface where they can grow and become a colony. A HEPA filter can filter out particles from the air down to the size of .3 microns.
• Don't forget to clean the air vents for the return air flow to your heating and central air conditioner unit.
• Have your indoor air tested with an air monitor to let you know what is going on inside your home.

Make your Bedroom a Sanctuary

When a person has allergic rhinitis, they should always have a room of oasis where they can go to find relief from allergen exposure. This room is most often the bedroom. If you have a mold allergy, your bedroom should never be located in the basement or other locations of high humidity. If you have a mold allergy, you should have a place that you can go to find relief and rest from the symptoms. The body needs this rest.

• Encase your bedding and box spring in an allergen impermeable material.
• Use a room air purifier for your bedroom.
• Use a room air purifier for your baby’s room so they are not exposed to the allergens at such a young age when their lungs have not fully developed.
• Vacuum the carpet in the bedroom at least once a week. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
• Once a month, take down the curtain or drapes and wash them.
• Keep closet items ventilated.

Laundry

Doing a good job with laundry is in important component in the fight against mold allergy. Mold spores are so small and light weight that they can hitch a ride on your shoes, clothes, and just about anything else. Washing out the allergens is important so that the laundry is not put away with the allergens on them. How you do your laundry can be an important component in mold allergy avoidance and what you do in the laundry room can be important in avoiding the conditions that mold needs to grow.

• Use a laundry detergent made especially for washing out allergens. There are many different kinds on the market.
• Make sure the vent to the dryer is vented to the outside.
• Avoid hanging your clothes outside to dry. Mold spores can attach themselves onto the damp clothing and then they will be brought back to the inside.
• Don't put clothes away that are damp.
• Avoid putting damp clothes and towels on the floor into a pile on the laundry room floor.

Cleaning

Good house cleaning habits is important in the fight against mold allergy. There are two kinds of cleaning. The first type of cleaning is prevention. The second kind is cleaning the mold once you have a problem. It is much easier and healthier to be involved with prevention then it is to have the problem. You want to develop a lifestyle change to prevent from having the environment where mold can grow. The problem with having an environment that fungi can thrive in is that mold and mildew can grow behind walls and in other places that you can’t see or reach. It is very difficult to eliminate those problems once it has started. And once they have started, mold growth will reoccur if the conditions are not changed.

• When you find mold growth, don't let the problem go on. Clean it up right away. Use a vacuum that is powerful enough to pick up allergens and has a HEPA filter to be able to retain the allergen once it is caught in the filter.
• Vacuum the carpet twice a week. Without regular cleaning, allergens accumulate in the carpet fibers. Mold spores are so small and light weight that they be sent back into the air as movement on the carpet takes place.
• Dry dusting will spread allergens instead of collecting and eliminating. Mold spores are so small that if you disturb them, they will stay airborne for a long time. Dusting with a damp cloth is better than dry dusting and never use a feather duster.
• Dust before vacuuming.
• Wear a mask while going outdoors when the mold count is high. Wearing a mask and gloves is especially important if you are cleaning up a mold colony. It is best to have someone who does not have mold allergy to be cleaning up mold.
• Use cleaning supplies that don't have harsh chemicals and irritants. People with allergies are more sensitive to irritants.
• Places like the bathroom which has high humidity and surfaces that are exposed to moisture always have mold and mildew growth. Use products that also prevent mold growth. It is always easier to prevent mold from growing than to eliminate it once it has started.

In the Kitchen

• Keep your garbage container clean. If you use liner, inspect the bottom of the garbage container for mold growth when you empty it.
• Clean your refrigerator on a regular basis. Mold likes to grow on the door gaskets.
• If your refrigerator makes ice and water, make sure that you have no leaks.
• Throw out any food that shows signs of mold growth. Try not to disturb the mold. Place the moldy item in a bag to dispose of it so that the spores do not get put into the air. Remember, spores can be so small that you don't see them.
• Always run your kitchen exhaust fan while cooking to remove steam and vapor.

In the bathroom

Paying attention in the bathroom is essential for mold allergy avoidance. All 3 requirements for mold growth (temperature, nutrients and moisture) are found in the bathroom in amply supply. Once the mold growth has started, it tends to re-colonize even after cleaning.

• As hot baths and showers are taken in this room, pay attention to the dampness and humidity as this promotes the growth for mold.
• Do not throw damp towels on the floor. Hang them up to allow them to dry out.
• Keep the shower curtain on the inside of the tub to prevent water from getting on the floor.
• Spread the shower curtain out when you are finished to allow it to dry out faster.
• Replace the shower curtain if you start to see mold growth.
• Wipe down wet surfaces before leaving the room. This is a lot easier than scrubbing mold once it has started to grow.
• Wall-to-wall carpet should not be installed in the bathroom since the floor gets wet frequently. Mold growth will develop between the floor and the carpet.
• Bathroom rugs should be picked up and air dried if they get wet. They need to be cleaned and replaced periodically since the moisture promotes a breeding area for mold and dust mites.
• An exhaust fan should always be used when showering. This exhaust should be vented to the outside and not into the attic. Remember, long hot showers is going to put moisture into your home which can promote mold, mildew, and dust mite growth.
• Inspect all piping for water leaks.
• Clean the sink, tub, walls, tiles, grout, and shower curtains on a regular basis. A fungus likes to grow on soap film.

The picture below shows mold growing on a mold and mildew resistant caulking. It drives home the point that fungi do not need many nutrients to survive and moisture is the most important requirement for growth.

In the Basement

The basement area needs particular attention if someone in the home has a mold allergy. It is one of the most neglected areas. If you have mold growth in the basement, one way or another, these spores will find their way upstairs to the main living quarters.

• Begin by using a dehumidifier. Keep humidity below 50%. Continue to empty the water as the reservoir fills up so it can continue to work. Keep the dehumidifier clean to prevent mold growth.
• Look for water seeping in from the outside. One cause for this can be from the down spouts coming off from the gutters not being drained properly.
• Look for water leaks and condensation on pipes.
• If your basement has a concrete floor, do not install carpet of the concrete slap. Mold growth will develop under the carpet where you can't see it.
• Don't store things up against the wall and keep furniture away from the wall to allow for better air circulation.
• The less you store in damp and humid places, the better.
• Use a water-proof sealer on the cinder block walls.

Outside

• Check for the mold spore count. It tends to be higher in cool, damp weather.
• Avoid areas that mold likes to grow such as compost piles, barns, and pile of leaves.
• You are going to encounter mold spores while doing outdoor chores such as mowing the lawn, raking leaves, and working in the garden. Be prepared and wear a mask. It is always best to ask someone who does not have a mold allergy to do these chores.
• Make sure you have proper drainage for rainwater.
• Avoid pile of leaves and dead and decaying vegetation.

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