Spring Mold Report

As spring approaches, so too does ‘Allergy Season’. While this should be a time to reconnect with the great outdoors, frolic in the fields and sing along with the songbirds, many of us find ourselves hidden away indoors, plagued with the sneezes and sniffles spring brings.

Many of us find that as winter gives way to summer, we are hit with an assortment of unpleasant symptoms, from a slightly tickly nose, all the way to sinus infections and dizziness. We stock up with all the very best treatments from the local drug store. Tissues in hand, we do our best to avoid exposure from the causes of our symptoms, often with little success.

So how to truly prevent these unpleasant spring-time complaints? Lock ourselves away from the open fields, blossoming plants and trees? Exercise on the treadmill, rather than the open road? So we avoid the fresh air and sunshine and we’re still plagued by the same symptoms—what gives? The true cause of our irritations may be closer to home; it may be mold in our home.

It is quite possible that our symptoms are caused by exposure to household mold. Mold spores can linger in the air and affect our respiratory systems both while we are awake, and while we are asleep. Mold allergies often lie undetected, and are frequently misdiagnosed as a common cold or seasonal allergies. This affects everyone–adults as well as small children. Also, many of us suffering from mold allergies tend to already suffer from other allergies and chemical sensitivities. Sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the trees.

So why don’t we realize that mold is causing our issues? One of the reasons could be that mold comes in all shapes and sizes. There’s much more to it than traditional black spot mold, or the green fuzzy stuff we’ve seen in the fridge. It grows in a spectrum of colors too. Black, green, gray, white, pink and yellow molds are the most common. Mold transfers easily from surface to surface and can destroy furniture and upholstery, often from within. While some mold can be wiped clean, others take a stronger hold on our beloved possessions, and our health. Even the very cleanest homes can be plagued by returning mold.

When mold grows in dark and damp locations, such as under the sink or under the stairs, it can often go undetected until our homes are riddled with spores. By this time you may think it’s too late, but your mold problem can be fixed.  Sometimes, no matter how thorough our cleaning, we don’t realize there is a mold issue in our home. And sometimes our homes need a little more TLC than a spring cleaning to rid us of our new-found foe.

If you think mold is affecting your health, or are worried about your symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor. Equally important, if you suspect a mold issue, don’t risk your health; schedule an inspection with the Moldguy at Break the Mold.