Carpet Mold Removal May Improve Your Health

Planetary environmental problems like carbon emissions, deforestation, air and water pollution, and habitat destruction deservedly command a lot of our attention. But, keeping our own indoor environments healthy can have a huge and immediate effect on the health and well-being of ourselves and our families. Mold can be one of the biggest dangers to health in the home and in commercial buildings. Toxic molds can grow in basements, under floors, and inside carpets and walls.

Indoor mold and mildew are among hundreds of thousands of species of fungi found throughout the world. There are about forty fungus species that account for most of the mold inside buildings. The spores from some of these fungi can be highly toxic, resulting in serious health consequences to people exposed to them. Exposure to mold spores can cause or exacerbate medical problems, especially in sensitive individuals subjected to chronic levels of contamination over extended periods of time. Health effects can include:

• Increased allergy symptoms


• Asthma attacks


• Respiratory problems


• Excessive fatigue


• Memory problems


• Skin irritation


• Loss of balance


• Headaches


• Depression

In addition to deleterious health effects for occupants, chronic mold growth can cause permanent structural damage. It can destroy drywall and carpets and release unpleasant odors which build up in poorly ventilated areas.

Molds grow most commonly in damp environments and humid climates, especially in dark enclosed places like basements and inside walls and beneath carpeting in areas with chronic exposure to water. Carpets in bathrooms or other areas with wet foot traffic are likely to have mold growing inside or beneath them. Mold will thrive inside walls, basements and flooring repeatedly exposed to water.

If your home or commercial building has extensive mold growth and damage, you may have to call in professional experts to remediate your problem, but in most cases, you can take steps to eliminate the problem yourself. These steps can include:

• Using dehumidifiers


• Providing adequate ventilation to enclosed areas


• Caulking all cracks around doors and windows


• Repairing plumbing leaks


• Repairing or replacing damaged bathroom tile


• Using wall and carpet mold cleaners to physically remove mold

You need to use extreme caution in choosing drywall, wood, tile and carpet mold removal products. A simple solution of bleach and water will appear to remove molds, especially from hard surfaces, but the molds will often grow back quickly. Bleach can be dangerous to use and will also remove the color from carpets. It is much better to find high quality EPA compliant natural and organic products for indoor mold removal.