Dealing with a Moldy Environment

Addressing mold is a process that goes far beyond and is more complicated than standard ‘cleaning’. It is often a tedious and expensive task and is far beyond my area of expertise. Because the problem is the result of dampness, nothing you spray on mold will resolve the problem. Addressing the source of the dampness is the only way to prevent the mold growth.

Simply killing mold is not adequate, as every fragment of mold dust must be removed. Remember that we can use vaccines made with dead organisms to cause an immune response – just because something is dead does not mean it stops interacting with our bodies. Do not believe that you can address mold problems by merely cleaning the AC vents or replacing some damaged carpet. You need to work with someone who understands how mold forms and the steps needed to remove it entirely. Mold should be handled like asbestos, with airway protection and strong ventilation during the remediation.

Immediately, it would be wise to make sure you have one place to be where you are not mold exposed. Ideally, this would be a location entirely separate from your contaminated home or workplace that you are sure has no chance of being moldy. If this is not possible, you can attempt to limit your exposure in one area of your current environment by following these steps.

Until you are certain it is not contaminated, you should close off the vent to your HVAC system. To further improve the air quality, a HEPA filter will help prevent mold toxins from circulating. I recommend Rabbit and Blue Air filters. You will need to live in an extremely clean and clutter free space for a while because biotoxins with no spaces for dust or mold to hide. This dust-free environment is critical to having a biotoxin free environment. And you should eliminate dust through the use of a HEPA vacuum and dusting techniques. (Sidenote: A trusted local expert on this topic once warned me that a vacuum is not necessarily HEPA just because it has a HEPA filter on it. If the filter is not tightly sealed it is useless.) Damp cloths with a bit of borax in the water and Swiffer-like dry mops are great for dusting surfaces, as the particles they pick up tend to stay on the pad rather than move through the air to a new location. Make sure to entirely remove these dusting tools from your home once you are done using them.

To assess your Air Handling System (HVAC) system look at the coils to be sure there is no dust or other evidence of mold growth on the condensing surfaces or in the duct work. The air inside the air handler is being filtered, so any dust inside grew there, and is most likely mold debris. Make sure no insulation inside the plenum has mold growing on it.  Do not clean ducts unless they are metal-lined, as you do not want to add any additional moisture to the system. Cleaning flexible hoses will not work, and if mold is found there they must be replaced. Do not spray anything into the system, you do not want those products in your air handler. Again, please remember that dead mold is every bit as bad for you as live mold.

If you find that your home or workplace is severely mold damaged, the best option for your health is always to leave the space. This is a very difficult, emotionally trying, and expensive task, as you will likely need to leave most of your possessions behind due to biotoxin contamination. Make sure you have a strong support system in place for this process, and only keep essential, non-porous items.  Everything else can be stored in plastic bags and kept away from you til you feel well again.