How to prevent mould and mildew is imperative for it can have an adverse effect on people. Those with allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems should stay away from infested areas, as many fungi will seriously irritate and inflame lungs. Some fungi can cause skin and eye irritation and infections. Prolonged exposure to germinating moulds in closed areas can damage the lungs, mucous membrane, cornea, respiratory tract, stomach, intestines, and skin. Some varieties of mould are highly toxic.
People predisposed to upper respiratory problems such as allergies and asthma should not be exposed to areas affected with mould, even if they wear a respirator. For health reasons, even a small mould outbreak should be taken seriously. You should wear disposable rubber or plastic gloves and a respirator whenever handling mouldy materials. Ordinary dust masks are not sensitive enough to filter mould spores, use a respirator with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate arrestant) filter. Be aware that respirators are ineffective if used improperly; for example, people with facial hair will not be protected because they can’t get a tight fit. Wash protective clothing in hot water and bleach.
Symptoms of sickness from mould
Some people believe that mould exposure is a serious health concern. However, no conclusive research suggests that exposure to mould causes conditions as serious as cancer or lung disease.
Click here for the different types of Moulds
What can you do to prevent a mould outbreak?
The ONLY way to permanently protect your items from mould is to control the environment by keeping the temperature within 65°-70° Fahrenheit and the relative humidity within 45%-65%. Prevention is the key but if you do experience a mould outbreak there are non-chemical means for clean-up and recovery. Some chemicals kill mould, but the only safe and effective way to keep it from coming back is to modify the environment which contributed to the development of mould.
- Don’t place items directly against an outside wall. Due to temperature and humidity differences between inside and outside environments, moisture may develop along walls. Allowing air to circulate against the walls will enable the moisture to evaporate.
- Keep the quantity of indoor plants to a minimum and don’t allow indoor planted areas.
- Waterproof basements and walls below ground level. And use water-sealant paint on floors and walls.
- Place or adjust outside gutters and drains so that water does not collect near the outside walls. Check gutters and drains regularly to avoid clogs. Place lawn sprinkler systems so that they do not soak outside walls.
- Regularly inspect for mould or mildew. This will allow you to catch any infestation before it becomes large. And continue to monitor potentially hazardous areas until the environment can be stabilized in an appropriate state.
What can you do if you have a mould outbreak?
There are a number of things you can do when faced with mould, but first you need to determine what has caused the mould to grow. Check the humidity and temperature. Chances are good that, for a large infestation, the cause at least partially lies there. Also look for a source of water, such as an unnoticed leak, a broken window, or moisture along outside walls. A third place to check is the heat-exchange coils in the heating/air conditioning system; they are a prime area for fungus growth and spore distribution. They can be cleaned using a commercial antimicrobial cleaninf solution. You need to pinpoint whatever caused the mould to develop and then fix it, because until you solve that problem, mould will continue to grow, no matter how often you treat the affected material.
Your second response should be to isolate affected materials. If a small quantity of items are mouldy, seal them in air-tight plastic bags. If the infestation is large, quarantine the area. You should wear rubber or plastic gloves and a dust or filtration mask whenever handling mouldy materials.
Third, do what you can to increase air circulation and lower humidity. Open windows, provided it is not raining outside and the relative humidity outside is lower than that inside. Set up fans to increase air circulation. Set up dehumidifiers or readjust the HVAC system to lower the relative humidity. If you have a thermostat-controlled cooling system or one which simply lowers the temperature of outside air prior to ventilating it through the building, turn it off. This kind of “air conditioning” or cooling system does not provide humidity control and will in fact increase internal relative humidity because cold air cannot hold as much water as warm air. Furthermore, the moist heat-exchange coils in this system may be providing a fertile ground for the growth of mold, the spores of which are then distributed throughout the building via its ventilation system.
What other things can be done to deal with an outbreak, or to help prevent future ones?
Most authorities agree that fumigating collections with toxic chemicals is rarely necessary for dealing with mould and mildew problems.
Maintenance of proper environmental conditions will prevent mould growth. And if mould does occur, a relatively gentle form of cleaning along with improving the environment will solve the problem in most situations. We recommend that you try the following instead of chemical treatments.
Determine the Cause:
- Check temperature and relative humidity levels; check to see if the material has been wet and, if so, why; check heat-exchange coils in air conditioning units.
Isolate Material:
- Place individual items in sealed plastic bags; quarantine stacks; for large and heavy infestations, it may be necessary to restrict access to the building/room. Don’t leave materials in plastic bags for extended periods of time; follow up with cleaning as soon as possible.
Modify the Environment:
- Re-adjust relative humidity to the best of the HVAC system’s ability; set up fans to keep air circulating in the affected area; install portable dehumidifiers in the affected area if the HVAC system cannot be controlled; turn lights on in affected areas for as long as possible during periods of obvious mould growth. Continuously record temperature and relative humidity until they stabilise at an acceptable level.
Clean:
- Vacuum with a HEPA vacuum then wipe books or papers with a clean dry rag or a soft brush (wearing proper protective apparel); clean shelves, walls, floors, air conditioning heat-exchange coils, air vents, etc. with Lysol, Clorox, X-14, or other mold-killing solutions; if you are dealing with a small quantity of books you can set them out in the sun to dry out, otherwise use fans following the ethanol/vacuum cleaning.
Remove Odours:
- Charcoal and/or baking soda can be used to remove the odour of mould, if the treatment has not done so. Simply place briquettes and/or bowls of baking soda in the area to absorb the odour.
Monitor:
- Keep watch on the affected area for several months beyond the mould outbreak and clean-up, even after the environment has been restored to conditions which inhibit mould growth.
