Appears in apartments and houses not so often. If there is constant humidity in the premises, the level of ventilation is low or there is no ventilation, and the facade walls are always damp, then such an “uninvited guest” can appear constantly.
Fungus on the walls appears in rooms with high humidity and lack of ventilation.
The fungus not only has an unpleasant odor, but also negatively affects the appearance of building materials and overall health. Mold that appears on the walls can cause many diseases.
Black fungus and white on the walls of the room
Black mold can appear anywhere and negatively affect your body.
Black mold includes many different strains, but all of them are dangerous to your health. It can affect food, plants, and clothing. One of the varieties of this fungus is called kerosene mold. In terms of frequency of occurrence, it is in one of the first places. Even diesel fuel is affected. There is a fungus that only affects vegetables or fruits; it is dangerous for the digestive system and general health.
White mold on walls is no less dangerous. It occurs on flower pots, on the soil near flowers, on the plants themselves. It affects the white fluffy coating on pipes and surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens. This fungus is soft, it kneads in your hands. The smell coming from him is unpleasant. The fungus is dangerous for the skin and respiratory organs. If it is detected, then it is necessary to carefully inspect all surfaces in the house, pay attention to the level of humidity and temperature. Removing mold is simple: it can be easily wiped off with citric acid, but you should work with gloves.. You should not touch such mold with your hands, as the damage can be deep and quite dangerous.
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Sineva and actinomycetes
Blue stain mainly appears on wooden surfaces and has a bluish tint.
Blue mold is mold on the walls of residential premises; it spreads mainly on wooden surfaces. Many people think that bluish or greenish spots are a purely cosmetic defect. But this is far from true: mold easily penetrates even through layers of paint, severely destroying walls and other structures. The room becomes damp, and colonies of other types of fungi appear. Headaches and allergic reactions begin that do not go away for a long time. The health of all residents is deteriorating. You can determine that it is a fungus by the smell of mold and dampness. In this case, it is necessary to examine all wooden surfaces to detect characteristic blue spots; they are noticeable quite well. It happens that the mold has penetrated deeply and it is necessary to completely cut out part of the wood to remove it.
Rot exists in the form of brown, white and bacterial. Mold on walls of the bacterial type is dangerous, since rot affects the respiratory organs, skin, and mucous membranes. To get rid of it, quite serious treatment with antibiotics is often required, and such a disease is difficult to detect. Diagnoses such as asthma and pulmonary edema are often made, but in fact the lungs are affected by mold spores.
An unusual fungus on the walls in the form of actinomycetes is a formation similar between algae and mushrooms. Such fungi affect the wall material, they penetrate deeply, and it is almost impossible to get rid of them. Most often they affect wooden walls, which literally soften their structure.
Mold spreads quickly, and it is impossible to fight it with dry rot remedies under any circumstances, since the lesion will only increase in size.
Actinomycetes are algae that spread quickly and penetrate deeply.
Mold on walls spreads quickly. It quickly attacks organic matter, paper, and any type of wood. It can affect the skin and negatively affect overall well-being. If you have been bothered by causeless allergic reactions for a long time, and there is dampness in the room or an unknown coating on wooden surfaces, then it is best to immediately consult a doctor for an examination.
Fungus on the walls can take the form of efflorescence, that is, a whitish or other color deposit based on silicates, carbonates, etc. Efflorescence is formed when water moves inside walls, and in dry weather these salts come out, forming stains. Most often, brick and concrete walls, marble, and plaster are affected. Efflorescence itself is not dangerous to health if its area is small. If no measures are taken, then mold quickly begins to form on the walls, and it is already quite dangerous for the general condition of those living in the house. In addition, building materials begin to deteriorate.
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Consequences of the appearance of fungus
Why is mold dangerous? The spores that form when it appears on the walls affect a person in the following way:
- directly through the skin;
- when eating foods that are contaminated with fungus;
- through the circulatory and respiratory systems.
The fungus can enter the human body through the respiratory system.
When the fungus enters the body, it can cause a number of diseases with quite dangerous consequences. This applies to the respiratory system, the fungus is also dangerous for the lungs, it causes swelling and symptoms that strongly resemble asthma.
How else is fungus dangerous? The following diseases should be noted:
- mycoses, dermatoses, skin fungus, allergic reactions;
- diseases of the respiratory system, upper respiratory tract. These are sinusitis, sinusitis, cough, runny nose, rhinitis, pneumonia, etc.;
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- rheumatic joint pain;
- upset stomach, severe headaches;
- exhaustion.
If you do not begin measures to get rid of the fungus at home and treatment for the identified disease, then mold can easily cause internal serious bleeding, emphysema, damage to the kidneys, liver and other internal organs.
I want to talk about a problem that quite a lot of people face, but, unfortunately, do not attach much importance to it. This - home mold and its health hazards.
Mold can appear anywhere - on walls, windows, leaves of indoor plants, bread, jam, fruit, etc. These microscopic fungi have enviable vitality. They are not affected by any extreme conditions or radiation. As they develop, they penetrate living organisms and infect them with various diseases.
Just imagine that in your room, which is clean at first glance, microscopic spores of mold fungi are flying through the air, of which there are approximately 500 spores per cubic meter of air! Almost one hundred thousand species of fungi have been identified, most of which are dangerous to humans. If you think that mold formation only humidity provokes it, then you are mistaken.
Yes, the favorite place, of course, is the bathroom, where there is high humidity and insufficient ventilation. But mold can even appear in the freezer compartment of your refrigerator, having “loved” a piece of meat. Mold formation occurs at extreme speed and in a small area their number can reach several billion.
So why household mold is dangerous for health? Once in the human body, it can provoke allergies, childhood diathesis, bronchitis, rhinitis, migraines and many other diseases, including cancer. Therefore, if you see mold on bread, jam or other product, throw it away without regret.
When cutting or removing visible mold accumulation, do not be under the illusion that the problem has been eliminated. The fact is that the fungus is a separate body connected to the mycelium by a fungal thread. And while the source of mold is alive - the mycelium, mold formation will happen again and again.
Summer is coming - the season of fruits and vegetables. The people will intensively begin to “vitaminize” the body. However, you need to know that if a trace of mold is found on a peach, pear or apple, cutting it off is useless - the fruit is already completely infected. Of course, such a product will not lead to death, but a huge number of spores and compounds entering the body will begin to do their “dirty” work, poisoning it, penetrating the circulatory and respiratory systems. Moreover, the first to suffer.
The fungus can become more active at the slightest decrease in immunity. People with chronic diseases, the elderly and children, whose immune system most often fails, are at risk. It can manifest itself not only in the form of skin diseases, but also respiratory tract problems such as cough, runny nose, asthma. In the first place among the signs are allergies and intestinal infections. Fungal spores may cause dizziness, nausea, headaches and joint disease.
To prevent mold from appearing at home, you need to take preventive measures, the implementation of which is not difficult. As already mentioned, mold loves humidity and is afraid of cleanliness and dry, cool air. That's why:
- ventilate your home, bathroom, ensure good ventilation throughout the apartment,
- do not place furniture close to the walls, leave a gap of 1-2 centimeters,
- do not put freshly washed but not completely dried items in the closet,
- do not place wet dishes in kitchen cabinets,
- take care of indoor plants, as they can often become a source of mold fungi,
- dry washed laundry in places designated for this purpose, but not on interior doors. This point may seem strange to some, but I had to observe this,
— It is advisable to wash the bread bin and refrigerator with a solution of baking soda. And if mold appears there, the places where it “resides” should be additionally wiped with table vinegar.
If you, my dear readers, have encountered the presence of mold indoors or have your own prevention methods, share them in the comments - I will be grateful. Considering that Household mold is dangerous For health, it is better to take preventive measures in a timely manner than to fight it later.
Why is black mold in the house dangerous?
Good day! I very rarely go on long trips. But now there was a joyful reason for traveling: my sister had a second child.
The road flew by unnoticed, and now I was already standing on the threshold of their house. And then the moments of congratulations and joy for me gave way to shock.
They had black mold in several corners of their house. Having reprimanded my sister for such carelessness, I immediately began to remove the mold. This is not a joke! Want to know the dangers of black mold in your home? How to prevent its formation? Later in the article I will describe everything in detail.
Why is mold in the house dangerous to human health?
Often in homes with high humidity, black spots may appear on the ceiling and walls, especially in the bathroom, which are very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to remove using simple methods. This black mold is a type of fungus that lives primarily in moist and warm environments. The fungus can also appear on the street, but there it does not pose any particular danger.
Mold in the house not only spoils the appearance, but also contains substances harmful to humans.
But if the fungus appears in a residential area, then constant contact with it can be very harmful to the people who live there. Mold, which seems harmless at first glance, can gradually destroy walls and lead to various diseases, ranging from simple rhinitis and even ending with terrible oncology.
Causes of the disease
Today, approximately 300 species of fungal mold are known. Mold comes in different colors: black, gray, blue, green, but the most dangerous for the human body is yellow mold, which can even cause a fatal disease, accompanied by chest pain and constant attacks of suffocation.
Mold has a very bad property - it multiplies quickly. The bathroom in the house is the most favorable room for mold. The best conditions for its reproduction are considered to be a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and a humidity of approximately 80 percent.
Mold especially often appears in the bathroom, kitchen and toilet, in places where condensation collects. Mold appears most often in the bathroom; there are all the conditions for its appearance: steam, condensation and wet towels contribute to its growth.
It is also better to dry washed clothes not in the bathroom, but on the balcony or loggia. If you constantly monitor the serviceability of your plumbing, install good ventilation and a heated towel rail, you can prevent the appearance of this harmful fungus.
If mold appears in the kitchen, it is especially dangerous because it can contaminate food.
Such products must be thrown away immediately, otherwise, if you accidentally eat them through negligence, this can lead to bad consequences and human health will be at risk. Therefore, it is very important to have perfect order in the kitchen so as not to expose yourself and your loved ones to fungal infection.
If you try to make simple cosmetic repairs, mold will still appear on the walls or ceiling after a while. Mold also appears in damp basements, where the pipeline is located, on the floor of the first floors of buildings. If good ventilation and heating are provided in these buildings, then mold will not appear.
Dampness and mold can also appear on the outer walls of a building if the thermal insulation and waterproofing are poor, this can especially occur in the cold season. To eliminate this drawback, you must immediately additionally insulate your home to prevent its slow destruction.
Large aquariums and lots of indoor plants can also contribute to increased humidity and mold growth. Mold can also appear on the wooden floors of private homes and wooden furniture.
To prevent it from corroding the tree, it is necessary to fight its spores. For this purpose, it is recommended to use not wooden furniture, but metal or plastic furniture.
Danger to humans
Why is mold in the house dangerous? The main harm from the fungus is in its spores, which spread in the air and can settle on human skin, and can enter our body through breathing. This will cause a lot of problems for people's health, causing all kinds of diseases.
Inhalation of spores and contact with skin. Mold spores can cause allergic reactions and colds.
When contacting human skin, fungal spores can cause various skin rashes, eczema and dermatitis, which are difficult for doctors to diagnose. When spores get on hair and nails, they can also cause damage. The general condition may worsen, the person begins to feel weak, the body is exhausted, and migraine attacks often occur.
By inhaling mold spores, which are a strong allergen, a person is at risk of developing a chronic runny nose, cough, and conjunctivitis.
Spores can very quickly penetrate our respiratory tract and cause allergic diseases, often even causing diseases such as bronchial asthma.
In addition to spores, the allergen can be volatile components with a rather bad odor, which can quickly penetrate our blood through breathing and cause intoxication of the body. The person’s condition deteriorates sharply, he may experience an unbearable headache, dizziness, which is often accompanied by nausea and even vomiting.
Living for a long time next to mold can often cause problems with the musculoskeletal system, leading to joint diseases and rheumatic pain. There may be stomach problems, possible damage to the liver and kidneys, and in particularly difficult cases, internal bleeding may occur.
The most severe harm
The most dangerous mold for human health is yellow, which can cause food allergies.
Attention!
The most dangerous mold for human health, yellow mold, can severely affect fish, liver, milk and its products, as well as rice and groundnuts. Often people, instead of throwing away such products without mercy, remove the affected parts of the products and thereby expose themselves to mortal danger.
Once in the stomach, such mold can cause food allergies. The poison will accumulate in the body and over time will begin to damage the liver, which can even lead to cirrhosis.
Under no circumstances should you eat foods that have mold on them, or cut off a small part of it from contaminated bread or fruits and vegetables, and then eat such foods. You just need to throw them away without exposing yourself to the strongest poison.
All mold is dangerous for the health of children, especially those with reduced immunity; their fragile, growing organisms are most susceptible to the influence of mold spores. And if a child is in constant contact with mold, he can become ill for life.
If a child shows signs of an allergy, you should not self-medicate, this can be very dangerous, you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will direct you to the necessary tests, determine the cause and prescribe treatment. If it turns out that the cause of the allergy is mold, it is important to protect the child from contact with it as much as possible until it is completely destroyed.
Many diseases that are caused by mold fungus are still poorly understood, which causes difficulties in determining the correct diagnosis. Often, due to similar symptoms, a person can be treated for a completely different disease, but the dangerous consequences of the harmful effects of mold remain without proper attention and appropriate treatment.
Therefore, it is very important when mold is discovered to immediately determine its origin and make every effort to eliminate it.
source: http://1poclimaty.ru/gribok/chem-opasna-plesen-v-dome.html
Black mold
Thanks to the media, a hype has been created around the fight against black mold in an apartment or house, that it is difficult to fight, it cannot be removed or removed, and it cannot be gotten rid of.
Therefore, when people see black mold on the wall, ceiling or in the bathtub in their home, it raises more health concerns than mold of a different color. In fact, the color depends not only on its type, but also on the stage of development and the material on which it grows.
As a rule, the following strains have a black color: Ulocladium, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Chaetomium, Phoma, Wallemia, but again, it all depends on the material on which the mushrooms grow.
Ulocladium– the fourth group of pathogenicity, affects not only materials, but also products. Very demanding on the presence of moisture.
Cladosporium— at the initial stage it is colorless, except black it can take on a wide range of colors. It is most dangerous for seeds and plants, does not require moisture, and can develop at low temperatures. The most common fungus found outdoors in the summer.
Some species feed on diesel fuel and fuels and lubricants, which is why they got the name kerosene mushroom. It also affects other types of materials. When conducting mycological examinations in our country, it is in third place in terms of frequency of detection, following Penicillium and Aspergillus.
Penicillium— mushrooms of this family play a huge role in the environment; they are actively used in pharmaceuticals for the preparation of medicines, in the food industry for the preparation of gourmet cheese with white mold.
But some strains, such as Penicillum marneffei and Penicillium spp. belong to pathogenicity groups 3 and 4 and pose a significant danger to human health; in addition, they are very often found in apartments.
Alternaria- the fourth group of pathogenicity, a very common fungus. It most often affects fruits and vegetables, but can also grow on the skin and respiratory tract of humans. Sometimes it has a gray color, there are about 300 strains.
Aspergillus- refers to higher mold fungi, depending on the type, belongs to pathogenicity groups 4 and 3, and causes aspergillosis in humans and animals. The mycelium itself is initially white, but the spores are black. Most often found indoors.
Chaetomium– typically colored black, often causing allergies. The main danger when ingested is the digestive tract; deaths caused by this fungus are known.
Phoma- the fourth group of pathogenicity, the mycelium is almost always black, and the spores are colorless.
Wallemia- painted black, does not pose a serious danger to humans, but belongs to the Xerophile type, that is, it can grow in conditions of low humidity and high temperatures, which causes some problems when fighting it.
What to do if there is black mold on the walls, how to deal with it? Just like with any other, you need to start by eliminating excess moisture. Remedies for such a fungus must be selected depending on the material on which it grows.
As you can see, even the same species can be painted in different colors. Therefore, if you have a dark-colored fungus in the bathtub, on the wall, or it has a different color, you need to start fighting it immediately.
Mold is harmful to humans due to toxic compounds produced by some types of mold and its spores. Think about it, 1 m2 of mold produces billions of spores per day, which spread around, but what if the walls are affected by mold for a month?
Mold spores can be inhaled, they settle in the lungs, they are absorbed through the skin and end up in food. Contact with skin can also cause fungus to develop, which is why people in swimming pools check for mold under the nails.
If you feel the taste of mold in your mouth after brushing your teeth, then your toothbrush is a breeding ground for fungus, do not delay replacing it. Mold allergies are also common, especially in children.
Attention!
Since everyone’s immunity and susceptibility to mold is different, the severity of the consequences of being in an infected place also differs. Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems due to illness, chemotherapy, antibiotics, etc., are especially susceptible to severe illness after exposure to fungal contamination.
What diseases can mold cause in the body? Common effects of mold include asthma, pneumonia, upper respiratory illness, sinusitis, dry cough, skin rashes, upset stomach, headaches, nosebleeds.
Most types of mold found in our region are pathogenic. Long-term exposure can lead to internal bleeding, kidney and liver damage, and emphysema.
When mold gets into a person, mold poisoning is called mycosis. It is possible to diagnose mycosis or the presence of an allergy to mold in most allergy centers and in a number of laboratories.
In addition to the negative impact of mold on human health, mold damage greatly affects unprotected wooden structures.
First of all, we are talking about wood-destroying fungi, which can turn a tree into dust in a short period of time.
source: http://plesene.net/o_plesene/blackplesen/
Why is black mold dangerous in the house?
This problem is very unpleasant; many owners even have some complexes regarding their own uncleanliness. However, the point is not at all about cleanliness and order in the house. Even those people who “rip out” their homes from top to bottom develop fungal spores.
It's not about dirt, but about factors such as:
- High humidity;
- Poor air circulation;
- Incorrect heat exchange between the room and the street (condensation on the windows);
- Very warm room (together with humidity);
- Poor sealing of panels inside walls (in panel houses);
- Old buildings (in brick houses);
- The presence of a damp basement (if the first floor);
- The presence of a constantly wet roof with poor liquid drainage (top floor);
- Availability of bodies of water nearby.
Fungal spores are always in the air, they are just waiting for suitable conditions for life and growth.
Preventive measures
Most people do not know what mold is in an apartment, how dangerous it is and whether it is necessary to deal with it immediately, or maybe wait for repairs. And when the time for renovation finally comes, the fungus, as it turns out, has already filled all the walls and furniture, and now you also need to buy new furnishings.
To prevent this, take action immediately:
- Ventilate the room, even in winter.
- Leave the bathroom door open.
- Dry washed clothes and linen outside the apartment or in a specially designated place for drying, where there is good air circulation and it is dry.
- Always ventilate the apartment after wet cleaning.
- Avoid humidity in the house.
- Make sure that there is no condensation on the windows.
- Dry your feet before entering the house.
- Do not create tropical heat indoors.
Types of fungal formations
There are simply countless varieties of spores. We will talk about the main types of fungus and why mold is dangerous in residential areas.
These single-celled organisms have six main types that are found in everyday life:
- White household (household) fungus;
- White mold spores;
- Sineva;
- Decay fungus spores;
- Actinomycetes;
- Mold is black.
What are the differences?
There are many of them, but the main ones are the following.
What affects wooden houses and structures is precisely the white mushroom. Now we have chemicals that can fight it, but in ancient times people burned their houses if they were affected by such mold - it was unrealistic to defeat it. This fungus develops at lightning speed, causing enormous harm.
Paper, wood, metal, plastic - all this can be rendered unusable by white mold spores. In addition, such a fungus has a high rate of spread.
The fungus is gray with a blue tint - this is blue. It can destroy the paint or varnish that covers the wood in order to get inside.
If your wood has changed color, become brittle, as if compressed from the inside, then this is a dry rotting fungus. The color is usually brown or white, and the structure of this mold can be either dry or wet.
If your wood is infected with spores of a damp fungus, it becomes streaked and then cracks. This type of mold only lives in wood structures.
Actinomycetes, in other words, are a mixture of fungus and algae. They also only affect wood, softening its structure and gradually destroying it.
Black mold, like white mold, spreads instantly, filling the air with spores. Harms everything, not just wood. It has black, brown and green colors. Penetrates deep into the structure of the material, causing irreparable damage.
Where can you most often find it?
Usually the bathroom, corners of rooms (especially where there are load-bearing walls or a neighbor’s apartment), places under the sink, inside ventilation, in the thickness of the floor are attacked by spores.
Why is fungus on walls dangerous for health?
Black mold, as we have already found out, is the most dangerous in the house, since it lives in everything possible, and spreads with lightning speed, thanks to the release of countless spores into the air. These spores are toxic and can seriously harm health, even rare cases of death are known.
In the home. You spend most of your time, of course, at home. When you come home from work, you rest, sleep at night, and if there are mold spores on the walls and ceilings of your apartment or home, you breathe them in, putting your health at risk. The most suitable area for fungus is the bathroom.
What is dangerous about black mold in the bathroom is that you breathe in steam, which cleans and opens the pores of the body, the respiratory tract and makes the mucous membranes sensitive.
The most susceptible to intoxication from spores are the elderly, children, people with a weak immune system, people prone to frequent fatigue (working a lot and hard) and allergy sufferers:
- In older people, blood pressure may rise, cough and bronchial diseases may occur, and the musculoskeletal system and bones may also suffer.
- People with weak immunity and those who work a lot are very tired; if mold reigns on the walls and ceilings, they suffer from all types of pulmonary diseases, and can also occur: conjunctivitis, stomatitis, dermatitis and eczema, nose and internal bleeding, liver and kidney damage , thrush.
- When there is a fungus on the wall in an apartment - what is dangerous for a small child: asthma, cough, pneumonia, colds and runny nose, skin condition worsens, headaches, nausea, lack of appetite, exhaustion.
- Allergy sufferers experience all allergy symptoms constantly, since mold spores interact with any liquids, including body fluids.
If there is already black mold in the house, you know why it is dangerous. How to deal with this “miracle of nature” is a matter of technology. Mold that has grown throughout the apartment will be removed only by renovation, with knocking out the plaster and appropriate treatment of the walls.
After the renovation, do not relax and follow all the precautions described above, otherwise the fungus will happily attack your new walls.
In agriculture
Black mold on the walls of premises where livestock is kept is very harmful to the health of animals. The fungus, which appears in places where crops are stored, can destroy most vegetables, fruits and grains, which can have an unpleasant effect on the financial situation of the owners.
source: https://serviceyard.net/sovetyi/chem-opasna-chernaya-plesen-v-dome.html
What danger does black mold pose in the home?
Very few people ask this question; the majority are calm about the blackish coating that makes its way through the joints of wall tiles. And in vain.
Not long ago, a full-length film “Mold” was shot about the role of mold in nature and its impact on people, in which, along with scientifically proven facts, controversial theories that did not receive scientific confirmation, looking like legends and fiction, were voiced.
However, despite the fact that this film must be considered as a mixture of the author's fantasies with historical facts, some of the maxims presented there deserve the attention of the general public.
A caring attitude towards your own home speaks best of the character of its owner. However, even the most zealous owner sometimes makes unforgivable mistakes, not paying attention to the obvious danger that has settled in his house.
Why is black mold in the house dangerous for human health? First of all, because you never know exactly how constant presence in an infected room will affect your health. Therefore, if harmful fungus has taken a fancy to your walls, take this problem seriously and have it professionally treated for black mold.
Indeed, black mold spores that have sprouted on building materials or decorative surfaces of an apartment not only do not look very aesthetically pleasing, but also have a negative impact on people’s health.
Mold (no matter what color it is) is a living microorganism, microscopic fungi that reproduce through spores.
The fruiting bodies of mold fungi are so small that they can only be seen under a microscope. Distributed everywhere, found in nature and everyday life. And if mold in the natural environment has virtually no effect on people’s health, in everyday life it becomes a real aggressor.
The fact is that black mold releases tiny spores into the air, which provoke the development of various ailments. If we exclude elements of speculation, the list of the dangers of black mold in the house is as follows:
- Provokes the development of skin diseases and allergic reactions that are difficult to diagnose;
- May cause chronic cough (bronchitis, pharyngitis and even asthma) and rhinitis;
- Negatively affects mental and physical well-being, causing loss of strength, severe headaches, and depression;
- There has been a connection between black mold and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, joint and rheumatic diseases.
As you can see, the list of reasons why mold is dangerous is quite extensive, so in no case should you be calm about the appearance of fungus in the house. Even doctors constantly warn about the dangers of mold in an apartment. Considering it to be the culprit of allergies and immunity problems.
When entering an organism with low immunity, mold fungi manifest their aggressive properties as clearly as possible and are capable of causing diseases in almost all organs and tissues.
Historical facts
History knows many facts confirming the danger of black mold. Let's remember why black mold is dangerous in the house; the fungus causes a wide range of diseases, the key cause of which, most likely, doctors will not be able to determine.
Attention!
However, there are cases in history where toxins contained in mold have led to death. The most famous historical fact is the fate of the explorers of Tutankhamun’s tomb.
In 1922, the tomb of the legendary Egyptian pharaoh was opened, and a chain of mystical deaths followed. First, a strange death overtook the patron of the excavations, Lord Carnavon, who was the first to enter the open tomb, followed by the death of the chief archaeologist and 19 other people who took an active part in the excavations.
English biologist Sylvain Gandon devoted 10 years of his life to solving these mystical deaths and came to the conclusion that the death of the excavation participants was caused by a black fungus of unknown origin, which, over 3,000 years of development in a confined space, literally flooded the room.
After such a conclusion, the uncertainty that black mold in the house is dangerous disappears.
Prevention and control methods
So, you already know about the dangers of black mold on the walls and in the bathroom, how to deal with the uninvited guest. The solution to the problem must be sought in the causes of mold.
As in nature, so in everyday life, mold selects only highly moist and, as a rule, dark and windless areas. A spore that lands on such “soil” will be able to grow comfortably, constantly receiving the necessary nutrition from a moist environment. The fungus feeds on non-living organic matter.
The fight against fungus must begin with studying the microclimate of the infected room and normalizing its humidity and temperature.
In the bathroom or kitchen, it is enough to install an additional hood and ventilation, which will speed up the process of drying the premises. If you exclude the cost of additional equipment, you can simply leave the bathroom door open and ventilate the room for a long time.
What else can provoke the growth of black mold:
- A large number of indoor flowers;
- Uneven heating of the room;
- Large difference between room temperature and outdoor temperature;
- Leaking taps and pipes.
All defects in water supply pipes must be eliminated by carrying out repairs; you can replace metal pipes, on which condensation constantly accumulates, with more modern ones made of plastic.
However, overcoming the humidity and making repairs will not get rid of mold if it has already appeared on your walls. Mold is dangerous due to the fact that once it appears, it will be very difficult to get rid of it.
Folk remedies
In order not to encounter real manifestations of the danger of mold, you can use traditional methods of combating fungus.
Common folk methods of dealing with dangerous black mold at home:
- Surface treatment with grapefruit seed extract;
- Treating the walls with a solution to which tea tree oil has been added;
- Treatment with table vinegar (use table vinegar in its pure form);
- Treatment with hydrogen peroxide.
These methods are good for combating all types of mold on building materials, but they do not always work. The reason for the impotence of folk recipes lies in the peculiarities of the spread of the fungus. It not only covers surfaces, but also penetrates their internal structure.
Modern ultraviolet scanners can diagnose the presence of mold spores in the walls. In this case, contaminated surfaces are cleaned and treated with antifungal drugs.
source: http://demold.ru/chernaya-v-dome/
Aspergillus fumigates
From time to time we encounter mold in our own home or apartment. It forms on products whose existence we for some reason have forgotten. Black mold often appears on walls.
Moreover, it is not so easy to destroy it, but one cannot put up with its appearance either. To find ways to get rid of this scourge, let's talk about the dangers of black mold in the house.
Types of black mold plaque
If you don't look closely, it may seem that black mold is just emerging dirt that can be easily gotten rid of. But that's not true. Black mold is an external manifestation of a colony of microscopic fungi.
Moreover, these colonies can form different types of fungi. The varieties listed below are most often found in our homes.
Black Aspergillus (Aspergillus niger). Aspergillus black is a saprophyte that has chosen rooms with high humidity: kitchens, bathrooms, toilets or combined bathrooms, swimming pools. Colonies of this fungus often form in humidifiers, washing machines and even air conditioners.
Damp ceilings and walls, covers of old books, and pots for indoor plants are often covered with this black mold. If the seams between the tiles in the bathroom or toilet have turned black, then most likely their surface is also inhabited by colonies of Aspergillus niger.
This is how cute and cute mold can look under a microscope, which can deprive a person of not only health, but also life itself.
Thanks to them, completely harmless diseases can arise:
- meningitis;
- myoarditis;
- bronchial asthma or even pneumonia;
- rhinitis.
The presence of spores of this fungus can cause the formation of papillomas and even cancer cells. If a person happens to inhale a large number of spores at once, he may develop intoxication of the body. With a weakened immune system, which is not uncommon these days, there is a risk of death.
It is Aspergillus niger that can cause pulmonary aspergilloma. Volatile spores of the fungus can easily penetrate through the nasopharynx into the trachea, and then affect the bronchi, alveoli and bronchioles.
Once established, they begin to develop rapidly. Toxins released by the colony contribute to the formation of foci of necrosis. As a result, the parenchymal tissue of the lungs ceases to function, suffocation and death occur.
The peculiarity of this mold is that it can withstand increases in ambient temperature from 12 to 53 degrees. The spores of these fungi are very small: only 2-3.5 microns, so they easily penetrate the lungs of animals and people.
People can inhale several hundred spores of this fungus without consequences. But in a person with a weak immune system, the risk of aspergillosis increases many times over.
These colonies, isolated in a Petri dish and surrounded by a greenish glow, are a very dangerous enemy that has no place in our homes
When renovation work is carried out near hospitals and clinics where there may be patients with reduced immunity, the risk of infection of patients increases sharply. In such situations, it is considered necessary to conduct air monitoring to detect cases of high concentrations of pathogenic spores.
Most often, Aspergillus fumigates affects fruits and vegetables that have mechanical damage. If fungi have infected the grains from which baked goods are subsequently baked, black fluffy spots or mold deposits will quickly form on the baked goods.
Fuming Aspergillus is dangerous because the toxins that accompany its activity are allergens. They are capable of destroying red blood cells that make up the blood. In addition, the toxins of this fungus can suppress the production of immunity.
Alternaria alternata (Alternaria tenuis). Another variety of spore-forming mold fungi is Alternaria alternata. The appearance of the colonies of this fungus depends on the nutrient medium on which they are formed. Most often these are dark gray, almost black, spots. But they can also have a greenish-olive tint.
This fungus lives on a dying part of a plant. Its colonies can be found on autumn leaves, overripe fruits, and even just on the surface of the soil. This mold can grow on food, including pork, as well as textiles. The toxins of the fungus infect plants and poison grain seeds.
Surely, you have more than once come across this onion or other vegetable on sale, affected by black mold: under no circumstances bring it home
Not only fungal spores, but also its fragments can be found both outside and inside the home, concentrating in house dust. The risk of Alternaria tenuis colonies is higher in homes with a humid atmosphere.
This mold spreads faster in wooden buildings than in concrete houses. The spread of its spores occurs on windy, sunny days with low air humidity.
In addition to direct infection, which occurs when a person comes into direct contact with Alternaria tenuis, poisoning from the toxins of this mold can occur. Toxins can provoke an attack of bronchial asthma and the occurrence of dermatitis. In addition, this mold is dangerous and can cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive specifically to Alternaria alternata.
Conditions conducive to the spread of fungus
So, we found out exactly why mold is dangerous for the human body. Obviously, it is necessary to take all possible measures to ensure that it is not in the house. You should know exactly how this infection penetrates into your home so that, by taking preventive measures, you can prevent its occurrence.
Warmth and humidity are the two most important conditions for the development of mold fungi. The optimal parameters for their existence are 70% humidity and temperature from +18 to +25 degrees. If the room is not yet ventilated, then all the possibilities for the formation of mold colonies are obvious.
Attention!
It is much easier to prevent the appearance of mold than to deal with the consequences of its impact on the body when everything has already happened: do not waste time.
It is clear that eliminating these factors will not require any significant material costs. Ventilating the room is not that difficult. But, besides those mentioned above, there are other reasons for the occurrence and development of mold.
People, as a rule, are not aware of them. The appearance of mold can be a side effect of the development of the construction industry and the emergence of innovative construction technologies.
Doors and windows made of plastic. Those who have installed at least one plastic window in their home have already appreciated the benefits it provides. Such windows have remarkable soundproofing properties. They help retain heat. They are easy and simple to care for.
In addition, plastic products are durable and repairable. But if they are not used correctly, they can cause mold. The problem with the formation of condensation on the glass of plastic windows is especially relevant in the kitchen, where dishes can be prepared using broths, compotes, and so on.
Plastic windows and doors close almost hermetically. That is, the circulation of air masses that arose during the existence of frames made of “breathing” wood is now disrupted.
If the number of glasses in a double-glazed unit is selected incorrectly, the product itself does not meet quality standards, and the installation is carried out in violation of existing standards, then condensation may form on the surface of the glass.
It turns out that plastic products create ideal conditions for increasing humidity in the home. Realizing this danger, window manufacturers tried to provide every opportunity for quick ventilation of the room.
Regular ventilation of rooms, regardless of weather conditions and time of year, helps to avoid the formation of mold colonies in the house.
Drywall that everyone loves. And how can you not love this building material, if with its help you can level any horizontal or vertical surface so easily and quickly. It is plasterboard that allows you to erect partitions of any configuration in the shortest possible time.
This very inexpensive material is really convenient to use in repairs and construction, which is why it enjoys well-deserved popularity. Of course, structures made of plasterboard are convenient, beautiful and economical, but when creating them, do not forget that this material is hygroscopic.
But this material also has a significant flaw: drywall absorbs moisture well, allowing it to linger inside for a long time. In order to avoid being captured by black mold when using drywall, you must strictly follow the installation technology and remember that the mixtures must have time to dry.
In a room with drywall, you need to create an antifungal microclimate.
In rooms with high humidity levels, special drywall designed for such operating conditions should be used. In addition, antifungal drugs must be added to solutions used during work.
Consequences of poor ventilation. A window in a bathroom is a real rarity. As a rule, the layout of our apartments does not provide not only windows in the bathrooms, but also sufficiently effective ventilation. Meanwhile, a lot of humid air can form in bathrooms as a result of drying clothes or water procedures for which this room is intended. It is difficult for natural exhaust channels to cope with it.
Poor ventilation in the bathroom, combined with high humidity and heat, creates ideal conditions for the formation and spread of black mold
One method to solve this problem is to use forced ventilation. Thanks to this measure, the problem of excess humidity will be solved, and at the same time, conditions for the development of mold microflora will not arise.
Damp basements and damp walls. Quite often, miscalculations in design can lead to the fact that during rain the walls or corner parts of buildings get wet, and freeze in the cold part of the year.
The same problem occurs when drainpipes are missing or clogged. If you do not pay attention to this, then over time mold colonies may form on the walls.
Gradually, the fungus grows through the brickwork or panels and ends up indoors. Invasion will occur even faster than might be expected if there are cracks in the brickwork or the panel joints are not well waterproofed.
The source of mold may be in a damp basement. In it, colonies can form and multiply, and then, using the ventilation ducts, they spread throughout the house. Faulty sewerage and water supply also create conditions for the development of fungi.
It’s a shame if you bring black mold into your home and also pay money for the product on which it is found: contaminated grain produces contaminated bread.
We can bring black mold into our home ourselves, without meaning to. It is enough to buy bread products baked from contaminated grain in the store. Such bread will very quickly become covered with plaque and then mold.
Under no circumstances should you eat it: it is dangerous to your health. It is also not suitable for animal feed. It should be placed in a plastic bag and then placed in an outdoor trash bin.
How to fight
If you find black mold in your apartment, then you need to deal with such a neighborhood without delay. The longer colonies remain in your home, the more harm they can cause to health, and the more difficult it will be for them to survive.
Attention!
An excellent and very effective way to get rid of mold is to treat the room with a UV lamp. Under the influence of ultraviolet rays, the spores die.
The ultraviolet radiation emitted by the lamp is destructive to fungal colonies; it is not for nothing that black mold prefers shady places outside buildings.
When using this lamp, it is necessary to observe some safety measures: remove pets from the room being treated, including birds and aquarium fish, and also remove all fresh flowers from the room.
There are other methods of combating mold fungi:
- If mold colonies are located on specific objects that can be taken out, they must be removed outside the home. Send old wallpaper, moldy textiles or contaminated putty to the landfill.
- Special antifungal drugs and antiseptics should be added to all construction and finishing mixtures that are used in the construction of a private house or when renovating your apartment. Often mold takes root in the tile joints in the kitchen and bathroom. This means that special attention should be paid to the grout.
- Areas affected by fungi can also be treated with special industrial preparations. In case of their absence, use the means that every housewife has.
- If mold stains appear on non-porous surfaces, which include, for example, tiles or mirrors, then to eliminate them you can use the popular Belizna bleach, ammonia, borax solution or vinegar. You can apply hydrogen peroxide to the affected surface, and after 15 minutes, rinse the area with water.
- Baking soda has also proven itself to be excellent.
All surfaces on which traces of mold are present must be ruthlessly removed: it is better to do this job conscientiously once than to endlessly return to it.
The situation is more complicated when colonies appear on the plaster: the entire affected part must be mechanically removed. It is better to do this with a wire brush. Cleaning is carried out to the entire depth of mold penetration. The seams between the tiles are also cleaned with a sharp tool.
It is advisable to dry the cleaned surface using an industrial hair dryer and treat it with an antiseptic. Moreover, not only the area from which the mold has been removed should be treated, but also the adjacent surfaces.
Whichever of the methods listed above you choose, it is important that the mold is destroyed or, at worst, removed outside the apartment. Its appearance cannot be ignored. This is too dangerous a neighborhood that needs to be gotten rid of by any means.
We do not suggest that you use a gas mask or overalls as personal protective equipment, but you should have goggles, a respirator and rubber gloves.
Required Security Measures
Considering that spores, particles of mold itself and the toxins it releases can spread with air currents, gathering to fight fungal colonies, it is necessary to protect your respiratory tract and skin from unwanted contacts.
- Do not neglect personal protective equipment such as a respirator, waterproof gloves and safety glasses.
- To prevent spores that have been removed from one surface from taking root on another, the surfaces of the furniture and floor must be covered with oilcloth, which you don’t mind throwing away later, or with plastic film.
- Anything that can be taken out of the room during cleaning is best removed. In the bathroom this could include, for example, washcloths, brushes, towels and curtains.
- If the situation is serious and mold has managed to take over large areas of the room, all objects that can get fungal spores should be wrapped in film. Choose a thicker film to ensure reliable protection. It is not advisable to save on your health: then you will spend more on medicines.
- Never turn on the fan while cleaning. Mold spores can easily spread throughout the room, and then there is simply no escape from them: they can appear unexpectedly and in the most inappropriate places.
- Do not use a household vacuum cleaner to remove fungal colonies. The spores or toxins themselves may end up on the inside of this household appliance. The spores in the vacuum cleaner do not die, but simply wait in the wings and suitable conditions for the revival of the colonies.
- But the dehumidifier, if there is such a device in the house, should be turned on. Dried air will deprive microorganisms of the chance to continue existing.
- After cleaning the contaminated area, you must throw away all rags, brushes, gloves and films along with the respirator.
Fighting mold is an inevitable event in case mold has already started. But it is much better to prevent its occurrence by not creating conditions for the development of fungal colonies.
One day you notice that damp spots with a gray or black coating have appeared in the corners of your apartment. If you look more closely, you find them in many other places. And the worst thing is that over time there are more such stains, they increase in size and spread an extremely unpleasant odor. Unfortunately, your home has been attacked by mold. But why did this happen and what does this threaten us with? And how can we get rid of this scourge without damaging our homes and our health?
What is mold and how to spot it in your home
Mold (popularly also called fungus) is one of the oldest organisms on our planet. Even cockroaches will envy its vitality, because it is known that mold spores do not tolerate the lowest temperatures, and they can travel in space without losing their basic functions. However, they need warmth and high humidity to develop. Mold that has already grown in such conditions feels great in the cold.
The basis of mold is mycelium (or mycelium), which attaches to the surface and penetrates deep into its structure. Therefore, organic matter, such as wood, becomes the most favorable soil for mold. But the fungus also develops well on stone surfaces, penetrating microcracks. What you see outside - a slippery dark coating, growths, fluff - is just the tip of the iceberg. Even if you wipe these formations with special care, you will very soon see them again.
When you look very closely, such as through a microscope, you can see what mold actually looks like. These are many thin long threads, at the ends of which there are tiny balls. It is in them that spores ripen - mold seeds, which are very dangerous for people and animals. They fly out during flowering, when the balls burst.
When greatly magnified, mold looks like many thin threads with balls at the ends
You can understand that mold has already penetrated into your home by some external signs:
Well, if you find visible signs of mold - that same plaque - it means that the fungus has already settled in your home, and it’s time to take drastic measures.
Types of mold that can appear in your home
You probably noticed that mold is quite diverse in its external signs. At first glance, this appears in the color of the fungus. Differences in shape may also be noticeable. This is due to the fact that mold can be of several types. Each of them has its own characteristics of reproduction, manifestation, and development. So the ways to deal with them can be completely different. We will look at the most common types of mold that can appear in your home.
Black mold
Most often, black mold forms in residential areas. But even it has several subspecies. What they have in common is color, but each of them acquires it at a certain stage of growth and development. It also matters what material the fungus settles on. There are several strains of black mold:
Green mold
Microscopic fungi called ascomycetes (the scientific name for green mold) can also cause a lot of problems. Their spores primarily settle and develop in organic materials and can often be found in soil and compost. But stones are often affected by this fungus. Green mold is similar in appearance to moss, it has an uneven surface and a rich green tint.
The main habitat of green mold is organic materials, but it can also take root on stone surfaces
The danger of green mold is that it targets food products, especially vegetables, fruits and fermented milk. The mycelium of this fungus penetrates deep into the material, and only after that it appears on the outer surface. Therefore, if you find green mold on a product, do not rush to eat it, removing the top infected layer. This may lead to food poisoning. This product should be thrown away.
Pink mold
The peculiarity of pink mold is that its mycelium does not attach to the surface of walls and ceilings. It usually settles on foods that have been stored incorrectly: vegetables, fruits, cereals, grains. But from them it easily moves to hard surfaces, simply developing on them and without the mycelium penetrating into the structure of the material.
Pink mold primarily affects food, but it can spread to floors and walls.
Pink mold itself does not harm the body, but it is not recommended to eat food affected by it.
White mold
Mucor is the scientific name for white mold. Its main habitat is the soil, from which spores quickly move to plants planted in it. White mold often affects cheeses and baked goods. Mucor does not pose a particular danger to the health of people and animals, but in rare cases, with prolonged exposure, it can cause damage to internal organs.
White mold usually grows in soil, but in rare cases it can harm your health.
Infection occurs through the penetration of spores through the respiratory tract or directly into the blood. There they multiply, spreading through the bloodstream, in an ideal microclimate for them. Low immunity can also cause infection.
Blue mold
Living spaces are not often exposed to blue mold. The usual habitat of this fungus is trees. It can be recognized by a bluish coating on the surface. Since blue mold is not dangerous to humans, its spores are used in the production of elite cheeses.
Blue mold usually affects wood
Gray mold
Saprophytic microfungi, also called gray mold, pose a particular danger to human health. Its spores penetrate almost all surfaces, growing inward. The external manifestation is a thin coating of gray color. Food and plant seeds (especially indoor flowers) are also a breeding ground for saprophytes.
Food is especially susceptible to dangerous gray mold.
The cause and development of gray mold is mainly high humidity. It is very difficult to remove this type of fungus; its mycelium penetrates deeply and takes root well.
Causes of mold in residential areas
Since mold is nothing more than a fungus, it adheres well to any surface: wood, stone, brick. And it can arise for a number of reasons:
As you can see, the main reason for the occurrence of fungus in the house is high humidity and its prolonged exposure (85% at temperatures from +20 °C). You need to start by fixing this particular problem.
Harmful of mold to our health
Although the mold itself is located on surfaces, its spores move freely through the air along with dust. We can say that they are in constant flight. Their state is passive under unfavorable conditions. But enough dampness and heat to reach the minimum level of mold viability, the spores immediately become active, like tiny plant seeds. This results in rapid growth on any surface.
A black, gray or dirty yellow coating on walls and furniture looks unsightly. But the aesthetic side is not the most dangerous thing about the appearance of fungus. Mold constantly releases more and more spores into the air, and they contain chemical compounds harmful to the body. The result of the activity of microorganisms that distribute these volatile substances is the smell of mold.
All these substances, penetrating into the human body, over time provoke many diseases, such as:
In addition, exposure to mold causes frequent headaches, nausea, dizziness, and upset stomach and intestines. All this leads to general exhaustion of the body. The longer such exposure, the higher the likelihood of emphysema, internal bleeding and damage to abdominal organs.
Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems after severe treatment are especially susceptible to the consequences of infection with fungal spores.
Video: reasons for the appearance of a tribe in the house and its harm
Ways to get rid of mold in a living space
Once you have found out the cause of mold in your home, it’s time to start eliminating it.
How to remove the first signs of mold
If you see a small amount of mold on the wallpaper in one or two places, you can treat the affected areas with folk remedies that you probably have on hand:
Please note that any of these products may discolor the wallpaper. In addition, mold may soon return: colonies of fungi have probably already taken root deep into the walls, and you will have to take more drastic measures.
Destruction of mold on walls
Even if you completely re-paper all the wallpaper in your house, you will not get rid of mold. Visible manifestation of fungus indicates the need for careful treatment of walls with antiseptic agents and waterproofing. The following actions will be optimal.
- Tear off all wallpaper with visible traces of mold and sheets close to it.
First of all, you need to tear off the wallpaper on which mold has appeared.
- All loose surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned with a spatula.
- Wet the walls with water: it will block the path of new spores into the surface.
- Remove the layer of plaster. Use a scraper or wire brush to remove the deposits.
Thoroughly clean the wall of plaque with a spatula.
- Sweep the entire room. It is better to destroy the swept garbage, for example by burning it, to ensure that mold remains are removed.
- Wait until the walls dry well and treat them with an antifungal agent according to the instructions.
Treat the cleaned and dry wall with an antiseptic
- fungicidal solution Fongifluid Alpha, odorless;
- Dali universal antiseptic, well absorbed, used for preventive purposes;
- Olympus Stop Mold product, suitable for rooms with high humidity - basement, bathroom;
- Biotol spray is used in kitchens, laundries, and on balconies.
These products do not contain chlorine, so they are safe for people and animals. It is very important to calculate how much of the drug you will need. Typically, 200 ml of substance is required per 1 m².
The most convenient products to use are those that come in cans. They are well suited in cases where the area affected by the fungus is not very large. Apply substances in the form of solutions with rollers or brushes. The treatment must be carried out in 3 layers, and each previous layer must be completely dry.
To apply antiseptic solutions to walls infected with fungus, it is more convenient to use a roller
Pay attention! Be sure to follow safety rules when working: wear gloves, a mask and closed clothing; Ventilate the room during processing. Before you begin, move furniture and indoor plants to another room. If it is impossible to remove some items, cover them with thick cloth.
After finishing the treatment, wait at least a day, and after that, start plastering. It is recommended to use a gypsum plaster mixture for this purpose, which contains an antiseptic.
When working with chemicals to kill mold and mildew, follow safety rules
Video: fighting mold in your home
Fungus on the ceiling
If mold has formed on the ceiling, there are several ways to get rid of it. The reason for its formation may also be neighbors from above who allowed water to leak in their apartment. Moisture accumulates in the ceilings and becomes a breeding ground for fungus. In this case, the best option would be a major repair of the floors, but in apartment buildings this is not always possible.
The cause of mold on the ceiling is most often stagnation of moisture in the ceilings between floors
But you can get by with a very affordable product - Whiteness. Saturate the ceiling thoroughly with it, making sure to use gloves. Due to the chlorine content, Whiteness has strong antiseptic properties; it will destroy fungus and will not leave streaks. Be sure to ventilate the treated area during and after the process.
White, familiar to all of us, will do an excellent job of removing mold on ceilings.
The Whiteness treatment method is fast and effective, but its results, unfortunately, are short-lived. Fungus stains may reappear on the ceiling over time. Therefore, it is necessary to combat mold with more radical methods.
- Clean the ceiling completely from whitewash and plaster. It will be easier to do this if you wet the ceiling with water: this way you will avoid the formation of dust.
- Apply an antiseptic primer to all floors so that it saturates the surfaces. Cover the seams with a brush.
- When the primer is completely dry, apply another coat. This will secure the surface and protect it from new mold.
- Now you can plaster or putty the ceiling. Apply another layer of antiseptic primer on top.
Fungus in the bathroom
In bathrooms, a favorite place for mold is the seams between the tiles and the joints between the bathtub and the wall, treated with sealant. This black coating cannot be washed off with water; another method is suitable for its destruction. The contaminated sealant must be completely scraped off and the area treated with a fungicidal agent. After this, the sealant is reapplied. Choose a product that contains an antiseptic.
As for the cracks between the tiles, they need to be scraped off with a metal scraper and then sealed with a special grout with an antiseptic.
Folk remedies to combat mold
You can get rid of fungus in your home using affordable products that you will probably have on hand. There can be several combinations of the solution, for example:
The solution must be heated to 70 °C and applied to areas affected by mold. Wooden surfaces need to be re-treated after a month.
Mold prevention
Fighting mold is not an easy job, so it is better to completely prevent mold from appearing in your home. As part of prevention, always follow these rules:
- ventilate rooms as often as possible, paying special attention to the kitchen and bathroom;
- do not dry washed clothes in the bathroom;
- promptly repair all plumbing breakdowns, monitor the serviceability of the water supply and sewerage systems;
- install a ventilation system;
- heat the house or apartment so that the walls do not become overcooled;
- leave bathroom doors open;
- When arranging furniture, leave gaps between it and the walls;
- Wipe down surfaces that may be most susceptible to mold on a monthly basis;
- When carrying out renovation work in the house, be sure to use moisture-resistant materials and antiseptics.
If you like to grow indoor flowers, try to avoid violets and geraniums. These plants are an excellent place for fungus to multiply. On leaves and flowers this may be completely unnoticeable, but on the soil in which these flowers are planted you will very quickly see white mold. Believe me, it will not stay in the pot for long, but will very quickly begin to conquer new spaces.
Such a beautiful and easy-to-care geranium can become a source of mold in your home.
A house in which mold has appeared is not only uncomfortable, but can also pose a serious threat to its inhabitants. Even a small amount of fungus on the walls can trigger a number of diseases, including allergies and asthma. A “pest” can also aggravate existing ailments and seriously affect the well-being of household members. Let's take a closer look, why mold is dangerous to health.
Mold on walls - what is it and how does it form?
Mold is a type of fungus that spreads throughout the home through spores. Favorable conditions for the formation of fungus in the walls of an apartment are high humidity and warm temperature conditions. This is why you can most often see mold near windows where condensation accumulates.
Mold on walls is classified into the following representatives:
- penicillium - manifests itself in the form of green or blue formations, spreads on damp objects;
- Alternaria - this species can exist in a very humid environment; it grows in the bathroom and around the kitchen faucet;
- cladosporium - the main habitat is wooden surfaces and fabrics;
- Aspergillus - most often “started up” during repairs on building materials.
Fungal spores are invisible to the naked eye. They can get inside the house during ventilation, “stick” to clothes from the street or to animal fur. In other words, it is impossible to protect yourself from spores entering your apartment.
The fungus will begin to attack the walls only if favorable conditions are created for this. One of the factors for the spread of mold in an apartment is poor sanitary conditions. Insufficient air exchange and improper furnishing of the apartment (furniture excessively pressed against the walls) can also cause the spread of fungus.
The impact of mold on health – what are the dangers of “household” fungus?
Mold causes harm to health through prolonged contact - if a pest has been infested on the walls of the house for a long time, and its inhabitants do not fight the problem. Brief contact does not pose a health risk. Clinical studies have shown that mold is involved in the pathogenesis of most human diseases. The impact of the fungus occurs as follows:
- direct infection– a rare category of “danger” that affects people with a seriously weakened immune system;
- allergic reactions– are caused when the fungus gets on the mucous membranes. In this case, the cause of reactions can be both active and dead mushrooms;
- toxic poisoning– the main route of infection is the gastrointestinal tract, after which extremely painful reactions can occur in humans and animals.
In most cases, mold in the house leads to an exacerbation of various diseases and allergic reactions. The greatest threat to humans is a yellow fungus that produces aflatoxin. This may cause mycosis, exacerbation of asthma, migraine, runny nose, otitis media, bronchitis, cardiovascular diseases and so on.
White and black mold are also found, which are less dangerous to a person’s well-being, but can cause a number of disorders and deviations. Numerous studies have revealed a connection between the presence of mold in the home and the development of respiratory diseases. If there is a person with hematological diseases in the house, then the presence of fungus can lead to fatal complications.
US scientists claim that spores have a detrimental effect on children and cause occurrence of asthma. Several theories regarding this claim have already been proven.
How to protect your home - preventive measures:
