Why It’s Important to Check For Mold in the Spring
Here’s How Mold Can Affect Allergies, Health, and Your Home
April showers may very well bring May flowers, but spring’s warmer temperatures and wet weather can certainly dampen one’s health.
Tag: Mold Spores
Fall Mold Allergies in Schools
Back-to-school may bring your child more than new teachers and books. Researchers have noted that there is a sharp spike in asthma symptoms among children during the fall. School classrooms and corridors often harbor mold and dust mites, as do ventilation systems.
Parents with children who are allergic to mold should find out if the school has cleaned their vents and if they use high-efficiency air filters to remove mold, pollen, and other particles from the air.
Here are some other precautionary measures you can take:
1. If your child is allergic to mold and rakes leaves during the fall, he should wear a mask to avoid inhaling mold spores.
2. Keep track of the pollen and mold count in your area by visiting the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology website. When counts are high, children who are allergic to mold will show symptoms that include runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes and nose, and dark circles under the eyes.
3. The AAAI recommends that parents make sure their child takes asthma or allergy medications all during the summer so that doses aren’t missed. Skipping medications can lead to increased symptoms in the fall.
4. Develop a treatment plan with your allergist to help prevent problems. Click here to find an allergist near you. Be sure to share the treatment plan with the school’s staff and discuss with them how to handle emergencies. It is prudent for your child to keep inhalers and medicine at school to be used in an emergency or during the course of treatment.
Dehumidifiers, bathroom exhaust fans, and kitchen range hoods can vastly improve the air you breathe indoors, but they also have a downside: if not maintained properly, they can become little mold-producing factories.
The September 2012 issue of Consumer Reports says that neglecting to thoroughly clean a bathroom fan or dehumidifier, for example, allows dirt to accumulate and this, plus a little moisture, creates the perfect environment in which mold can grow. Another place you are likely to find mold growth is in a front load washing machines.
Cleaning dehumidifiers once a month is recommended. Yet, according to the article, 60% of the dehumidifiers found in today’s households are not cleaned frequently enough and may be fostering mold growth. Bathroom exhaust fans are another source of mold but only 16% are cleaned every few months as recommended.
Failure to clean these appliances rigorously can also result in the growth of fungi and bacteria that cause lung inflammation.
Here are the recommended cleaning schedules for household appliances:
- Once every few months: bathroom exhaust fans and kitchen range hoods
- Once a month or more: humidifier, dehumidifier, portable air filter/purifier, and wood-burning stove/fireplaces.
- Once at least every six months for a heavy duty cleaning of a washing machine, and once a month or more for regular washing machine maintenance.
So, if you’re the culprit and neglected to clean household appliances regularly, check them carefully for mold. Mold can spread from these devices to other parts of your home, and that can be detrimental to your health – let alone your wallet.
Experts and allergists across the country are predicting that spring of 2012 may be one of the worst allergy seasons in a decade. Researchers blame climate change. The mild winter and early spring has allergy sufferers running to the medicine cabinet for relief. But high pollen counts are not the only issue – mold spores are unusually abundant this time of year. Both indoor and outdoor mold can significantly affect allergy sufferers, and can even cause asthma in otherwise healthy individuals.
What can you do to lessen the amount of mold in your home? Here are a few tips:
- Clean out your gutters, even if you cleaned them in the fall. Leaves and debris collect all winter, then rot, creating a fertile place for mold to grow – right on the exterior of your home;
- While you’re at it, remove organic debris from your yard – especially if it is decomposing. Dead branches and leaves are prime growth spots for mold;
- Clean bathrooms, and especially bathtub and shower areas, window sills and shower curtains with a bleach or disinfectant mixture at least once a month to prevent mold growth;
- Use an exhaust fan in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms to vent excess moisture;
- Use a dehumidifier – especially in damp areas of your home. Keep the dehumidifier set at 50% humidity. Any more than that will encourage mold growth;
- Try to keep your home dry and ventilated;
- Keep your basement carpet-free to avoid moisture build up and mold growth;
- Regularly check under sinks and plumbing for leaks. Mold can grow quickly in these areas;
- Don’t put wet shoes or damp clothing in your closets. Let them dry fully first to avoid mold growth.
If you are having problems with mold allergies, the best course of action is to have your home tested by a professional to identify the source of the mold and then devise a remediation plan. Then you can truly — breath easy.