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| Networking Women fits easily into busy lifestyle and helps women achieve personal and professional enrichment. |
| All rights reserved 2008. Questions? Contact Sally Smalling, President (270) 792-9875 Lena Mulcahy, President Elect (270) 991-3830 |
MOLD AWARENESS
Marsha Wyzykowski, Owner: Merry Maids and ServiceMaster of Bowling Green
Mold is all around us---in our homes, our offices, our yards, our parking lots, our malls, schools, and so forth. And
in some cases, it is a great friend of ours. After all, without mold there could be no penicillin. But the mold that we
hear about is a fungus that grows in the form of clusters of very, very tiny spores. There are some of you who may
have experienced allergies because of it, but for the most part, it is an annoyance rather than a danger. There are
some instances where blood and lung infections result, but these are the exceptions rather than the rule.
You also hear the term mildew, which is simply a nickname and nothing more. Mold must have a food source to
exist, and those are all around. Free-standing water is a breeding ground for mold. Make sure to drain your dishes
after rinsing and awaiting dishwashing, make sure your trash containers do not hold fluids, change bird baths and
other pots that hold water after rainfall, and so forth. Mold can grow and thrive in piles of wet leaves, gutters,
firewood stored outside of your house, or in any damp environment. Keep an eye out for neighboring properties as
well as mold spores can blow far and wide.
Check your basements regularly for water leaks. Slow, gradual dripping from water heaters, dehumidifiers (even
the ones installed on your furnace and air conditioners), humidifiers, and supply lines that get condensation from
being in cool areas are the most common causes of mold issues in a home. There are also frequent situations with
slow, gradual intrusion of ground water into basements and crawl spaces, and this has been a very wet summer,
so do a visual inspection. If you find mold, it is best to call a professional to remove it, as once it is disturbed, it
erupts into the entire air cavity that it is growing in—therefore, your entire home.
Indoors, unattended laundry is a large attractor for mold, as is food left too long in a refrigerator. Also infrequently
used showers, pet bowls that are not changed often enough, and tennis shoes—oh my!!
The media tells us frequently that the best way to fight mold is bleach. I suggest avoiding bleach as it is a harmful
chemical in and of itself, not only to the user but to the items it is used on. Rather, I would propose that the best
defense in controlling mold growth is regular cleaning, inspection in all areas where dampness may be present,
and a plan to control moisture. It is also a much healthier environment when moisture is controlled.
If you do find that there is a mold problem in your home or work location, or if your doctor suspects that your
allergies are mold related, there are some steps that need to be taken—the first of which is to find out exactly what
it is. An indoor environmental professional can take both air and swab samples for laboratory analysis and
determine exactly what is in the air. They can then write what is called a “protocol” for a remediator. Then a
company like ServiceMaster would follow that protocol and contact the hygienist upon completion, and a post-test
would be taken. If the air samples are within an acceptable range when compared to outside air, they can issue
what is called a “clearance letter.” This is what the banks are requiring if you are wanting to sell your home and a
home inspector has found mold.
We are providing more and more mold related services today for a couple of reasons: awareness of mold growth
in buildings has risen sharply in recent years and new buildings are much more air tight and hold more moisture
inside. Our first step when a customer calls to inquire about to mold is to visit the home and do a moisture
analysis with an thermal imaging camera. There is no charge for the evaluation. If moisture is determined to exist
in hidden areas, we have specialized equipment to dry wall cavities, wood floors, crawl spaces, and other areas
without tearing up your home. If left unattended, however, and moisture turns to mold contamination, there is
nothing that can be done other than to tear it out.
So be smart, keep an eye out for mold, control the moisture, and call the professionals early rather than waiting.
You’ll be glad you did.
Marsha Wyzykowski, Owner: Merry Maids and ServiceMaster of Bowling Green
Mold is all around us---in our homes, our offices, our yards, our parking lots, our malls, schools, and so forth. And
in some cases, it is a great friend of ours. After all, without mold there could be no penicillin. But the mold that we
hear about is a fungus that grows in the form of clusters of very, very tiny spores. There are some of you who may
have experienced allergies because of it, but for the most part, it is an annoyance rather than a danger. There are
some instances where blood and lung infections result, but these are the exceptions rather than the rule.
You also hear the term mildew, which is simply a nickname and nothing more. Mold must have a food source to
exist, and those are all around. Free-standing water is a breeding ground for mold. Make sure to drain your dishes
after rinsing and awaiting dishwashing, make sure your trash containers do not hold fluids, change bird baths and
other pots that hold water after rainfall, and so forth. Mold can grow and thrive in piles of wet leaves, gutters,
firewood stored outside of your house, or in any damp environment. Keep an eye out for neighboring properties as
well as mold spores can blow far and wide.
Check your basements regularly for water leaks. Slow, gradual dripping from water heaters, dehumidifiers (even
the ones installed on your furnace and air conditioners), humidifiers, and supply lines that get condensation from
being in cool areas are the most common causes of mold issues in a home. There are also frequent situations with
slow, gradual intrusion of ground water into basements and crawl spaces, and this has been a very wet summer,
so do a visual inspection. If you find mold, it is best to call a professional to remove it, as once it is disturbed, it
erupts into the entire air cavity that it is growing in—therefore, your entire home.
Indoors, unattended laundry is a large attractor for mold, as is food left too long in a refrigerator. Also infrequently
used showers, pet bowls that are not changed often enough, and tennis shoes—oh my!!
The media tells us frequently that the best way to fight mold is bleach. I suggest avoiding bleach as it is a harmful
chemical in and of itself, not only to the user but to the items it is used on. Rather, I would propose that the best
defense in controlling mold growth is regular cleaning, inspection in all areas where dampness may be present,
and a plan to control moisture. It is also a much healthier environment when moisture is controlled.
If you do find that there is a mold problem in your home or work location, or if your doctor suspects that your
allergies are mold related, there are some steps that need to be taken—the first of which is to find out exactly what
it is. An indoor environmental professional can take both air and swab samples for laboratory analysis and
determine exactly what is in the air. They can then write what is called a “protocol” for a remediator. Then a
company like ServiceMaster would follow that protocol and contact the hygienist upon completion, and a post-test
would be taken. If the air samples are within an acceptable range when compared to outside air, they can issue
what is called a “clearance letter.” This is what the banks are requiring if you are wanting to sell your home and a
home inspector has found mold.
We are providing more and more mold related services today for a couple of reasons: awareness of mold growth
in buildings has risen sharply in recent years and new buildings are much more air tight and hold more moisture
inside. Our first step when a customer calls to inquire about to mold is to visit the home and do a moisture
analysis with an thermal imaging camera. There is no charge for the evaluation. If moisture is determined to exist
in hidden areas, we have specialized equipment to dry wall cavities, wood floors, crawl spaces, and other areas
without tearing up your home. If left unattended, however, and moisture turns to mold contamination, there is
nothing that can be done other than to tear it out.
So be smart, keep an eye out for mold, control the moisture, and call the professionals early rather than waiting.
You’ll be glad you did.
