Basement Mold Dangers | 7 Fast Facts to Help Keep Your Family Safe

 Having basement mold in your home can be damaging on many levels. Of course, we all know that mold causes damage to the framing members, drywall and other components of structures. More importantly though, it can cause an array of serious health conditions for your family, including your pets. The good news is that there are steps you can take to become aware of developing mold, and to keep your family, and your home, safe from any damages it may cause. 7 fast facts about home and basement mold: 1. Mold is alive. It requires warmth, moisture, nutrients, air and other favorable environmental conditions to develop and thrive. The nutrients needed for mold growth are easily found in paper, wood, fabrics - and even things like paint and glue. 2. Molds are known as decomposers of organic substances like wood, certain chemicals, plants and animals. You'll find the most mold developing in places like piles of leaves, compost piles and manure heaps. Mold spores can travel through the air, or attach to passing animals and people. In this manner, mold makes its way into buildings, where it can set up permanent residence! 3. Most molds are not really harmful to humans and animals. There are more than 100,000 known types, and we are surrounded by mold always. The most common mold health issues are normally with allergic reactions like watery eyes, sneezing, etc. However, there are at least a few molds that can be potentially deadly, especially to people who may already have compromised immune system functioning. Certain molds produce powerful “mycotoxins”, which are known to cause severe illness in humans and other animals. 4. Without professional air testing, which is quite unreliable in many cases, the best ways you have to detect developing mold is to use your eyes and your nose. Look for fuzzy black or green growth areas. Check the air for smells of mustiness and decay. By physically inspecting mold-prone areas (like bathrooms, kitchens and basements) on a regular basis, you'll significantly increase your probability for early detection. Early detection is a key for the effective remediation of a mold situation. 5. If you spot mold growing in your basement or home, the best thing to do is call a professional mold remediation specialist. Alternatively, there are some steps you can take. You can discard any furnishings or boxes with mold on them. You can clean small mold areas of less than 12 square feet (or so) with hot, soapy water. Wash it thoroughly. Rinse it thoroughly. Let it dry thoroughly and then protect the surface with paint, or whatever else is appropriate for the situation. 6. It is a myth that simply spraying bleach on mold areas is sufficient remediation. It's not. Yes, bleach does kill mold spores, but it does not remove the dead spores. These dead mold spores can still be very detrimental to human health as they travel through the atmosphere. 7. There's no way to completely stop the travel of mold into your environments. Only clean rooms in hospitals and laboratories are equipped to do that. So, know that mold spores are all around you, all the time. It's up to you to be mindful of your surroundings, to detect and take action against mold in its early developmental stages. One of the best ways to prevent mold colonies from growing in your home is to keep the inside and outside air exchanging regularly. Use fans to get the air moving in your home or other structures. By increasing your mindfulness about mold and understanding more about the true dangers of basement mold, you'll empower yourself to stay healthy, and help to keep your family that way too.