Mold is a type of fungi that can grow both outdoors and in your home – not to mention on your food! There are different types of molds, all of which can have different effects on the human body.
Some people are very sensitive to mold and exposure could cause them potential harm. However, no matter who you are, if you have a serious mold problem in your home, then you’ll need to get in touch with mold remediation services to avoid serious illness.
Here are a few important things to know about mold in the home.
What Causes Mold?
Table of Contents
Mold will typically grow in moist, damp places – this is where fungi flourish. With that in mind, you’ll need to be aware of places in your home that have a lot of moisture. This includes areas around the plumbing in your bathrooms and kitchen, plumbed appliances, areas around leaks, the walls and windowsills of your home, and even potted plants.
If your home is persistently humid, or if you struggle with leaks, your environment might be more prone to developing mold.
Mold can also develop from food sources – but this is a different story and something we’d hope you’ll notice early on!
What Are the Dangers?
As mentioned, exposure to mold can pose some health risks. Some people may suffer from respiratory issues and other, long-term health issues if they come into frequent contact with mold. Mold allergies are considered progressive – they’ll get worse over time if exposure isn’t limited or removed.
Prolonged exposure can cause skin irritation and infections, sore, itchy eyes, postnasal drip, headaches and asthmatic symptoms. One of the more serious risks of mold exposure is Toxic Mold Syndrome, which results from black mold in your environment.
Who is At Risk?
Some people are more sensitive to mold exposure than others. For example, if you have a mold allergy, you might notice a particularly bad reaction to mold in your home, such as mold-induced asthma.
Others that are more vulnerable include infants and young children. Some studies have shown that children who grew up in mold-infested homes had lower cognitive scores, highlighting a developmental impact. Children who grow up around mold are also more likely to struggle with asthma into their adult lives.
Due to a decreased lung capacity, older adults and seniors might also be considered more vulnerable to mold exposure.
How Can I Prevent it?
Obviously, when it comes to mold, prevention is better (and far easier) than cure. But how can you keep mold out of your home and be sure of it?
First of all, keeping your home clean is crucial. Hiring professional cleaning services around once a year is also a good idea if you want to be certain that the grime in the hardest-to-reach places is taken care of.
It’s also important to do regular checks around the mold-prone areas mentioned in this article. If you notice anything amiss, have it cleaned and sorted out as soon as possible, rather than let it grow and spread.
