2) To remove deodorant stains on shirts: Sponge the area with white vinegar. If stain remains, soak with denatured alcohol. Wash with a natural detergent in hottest water safe for fabric.

3) To remove grease, oil or tar stains: Use baking powder or chalk absorbents to remove as much grease as possible. Pre-treat with a natural detergent or liquid shampoo. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric, using plenty of detergent.

4) To remove tea stains: Sponge or soak with cold water as soon as possible. Wash using a natural detergent and color-safe (non-toxic) bleach.

5) To remove grass stains: Presoak in cold water for at least 30 minutes. Rinse. Pre-treat with a natural detergent. Wash using hot water, and a natural detergent and color-safe (non-toxic) bleach. On acetate and colored fabrics, use 1 part alcohol to 2 parts water.

6) To remove stains from meat juices: Scrape with dull blade. Presoak in cold water for 30 minutes. Wash with a natural detergent and color-safe bleach.

7) To remove mildew stains, moisten stained spots with a mixture of lemon juice and salt, then spread the item in the sun for bleaching; finally, rinse and dry. Follow up by laundering as usual.

To remove bloodstains: Soak stained clothing or cloth in cold saltwater, than launder in warm, soapy water.

9) To remove the sticky substances left by cellophane tape, price tags or labels. Rub the spots with pure lemon or orange extract. This also works well for stuck-on chewing gum.

10) To remove water mineral stains from around faucets: Place cotton balls soaked in white vinegar on the areas. In no time, the mineral deposits wil disappear.

Milk Paint:

The oldest painted surfaces on earth were colored with a form of milk paint. From cave drawings to King Tutankhamen’s tomb, painted surfaces as old as 20,000 years, have survived. These ancient paints were made with a simple composition of milk (casein), lime, and earth pigments. This long lasting, petroleum-free formula is available today in a variety of colors. This type of paint does not emit the same harmful VOCs found in oil-based and latex paints, which may also contain metals.

Recycled Carpet:

Carpeting is now available in 100% post-consumer PET resin. This is the same plastic that the USDA mandates for food and drink containers, creating less off-gassing and greater safety. Recycled carpet manufactures estimate that each square yard of recycled carpet saves 40 plastic containers from the landfill.

Sustainable Hardwood:

Hardwood is tricky. This is another industry that has fallen prey to the ‘greenwashing’ that has infected advertising. Many hardwood manufacturers call their products sustainable or claim they’re from managed forests; however, these terms are relative and self-applied, even by companies that engage in clear cutting or destruction of indigenous lands.

A more secure hardwood option is reclaimed wood, salvaged from older buildings as they’re deconstructed. Many of these woods are of a higher quality because they were made from old-growth trees, use less energy for processing, and have a much shorter distance to travel than hardwoods, which are often exotic.

Fixtures & Faucets:

Updating your lighting and faucets can add new life to your bathrooms, kitchen, and living areas. When choosing new faucets, opt for low-flow and adjustable flow models. The water savings will astound you. Special “frugal” flappers for your toilet tank can often be picked up at your municipal water department for free.

Compact fluorescent lighting can make a huge difference in your electricity usage. Avoid fixtures with many tiny bulbs that suck up energy and dimmer switches that are incompatible with compact fluorescents. Have a chandelier you can’t part with? Unscrew some of those little bulbs when you do use it, and use it only for guests or special occasions. Add a couple of floor lamps with compact fluorescents to light up the room otherwise.

Recycled Furniture:

Top end designers are taking eco to the fashion extreme. Ultra trendy earth-friendly furniture is available at numerous boutiques and e-stores. These pieces employ organic and recycled fabrics and fillings and are framed with recycled metal, reclaimed wood, and sustainable bamboo. If boutique prices aren’t in your budget, vintage and antique furniture stores have high-end taste at second hand prices. Artfully refinished pieces made from quality materials compliment any décor. Restoring your own garage sale finds with low VOC stains can add a more personal flare.

Bamboo:

Because it is a natural, renewable resource, bamboo is an eco-choice for wood in many facets of home improvement. It is an idea material for cutting boards, butcher-block countertop inserts, and kitchen ware like bowls and utensils. It also makes a fantastic floor.

Bamboo is a grass, not a tree. It can reach maturity in as few as three or four years and does not need to be replanted (as those of you with bamboo in your yards know all too well). We can count on a reliable supply of bamboo products in the future without resorting to deforestation or drastic landscape change. When making flooring choices, seek out low-VOC finishes and formaldehyde-free adhesives, and consider a glueless floating floor.

]]> http://www.farmersalmanac.com/green/2008/08/21/does-that-come-in-green-greener-home-improvement-tips/feed/ http://www.farmersalmanac.com/green/2008/08/21/the-importance-of-indoor-air-quality/ http://www.farmersalmanac.com/green/2008/08/21/the-importance-of-indoor-air-quality/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:47:23 +0000 ddowns http://www.farmersalmanac.com/green/?p=29 If the Green movement has taught us anything, it has taught us that chemicals make us sick. It’s very obvious that the billowing clouds of smoke from the coal burning plant are bad for your lungs. The pollutants in your home may not be so obvious. There are many chemical toxins lurking in our homes that are impacting the air we breathe. It is important to understand where those chemical pollutants come from and how to heal the damage.

According to the EPA, indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality (IAQ) problems in homes. This could be anything from hair spray to air freshener, even the propellant disinfectant sprays that are supposed to kill the odor causing germs in our homes. These products may seem safe or seem to provide a solution when they actually release propane, butane, or other combustible propellants into the air. These small particulates can stay suspended for hours, days, or weeks depending on the air flow.

Building materials and furnishings are a significant source of indoor air problems as well. These products may have been soaked in repellants, pesticides, or other chemicals during the manufacturing process. Carpets, cabinetry, wood, and upholstery can all contribute to indoor air quality problems by off-gassing, or releasing fumes, into your home. The result is more harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in your air.

When we breathe contaminated air, effects may show up immediately. In other people it may require repeated exposures for symptoms to develop. The symptoms of exposure to harmful VOCs include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. For most people, symptoms subside once the causative agent (the source of the pollution) is removed. Long term effects like asthma, respiratory infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, sleep apnea, and multiple chemical sensitivity are all possible. Age and other health factors contribute to your risk of developing a long term illness due to exposure to poor indoor air quality. If you are concerned about exposure to VOCs, consult your health care provider.

Fortunately, it is easy to reduce the number of new chemical pollutants you bring into your home, and there are even a few ways to remove what’s currently there.

Top 10 Home Detox Tips for Cleaner Indoor Air

10. Take off your shoes. Ask your guests to remove their shoes as well. We can track in things a lot more dangerous than mud. This is especially important if you have children or pets that play or crawl on your floors.

9. Grow some fresh air. Keep leafy house plants. Plants naturally absorb carbon dioxide and provide fresh oxygen. Growing healthy, organic plants is like growing fresh air.

8. Ditch the Dry-cleaner. If you must dry clean, air out dry cleaned clothing before you put it in your home. The chemicals used in the dry clean process are very toxic. If you must have an item dry cleaned, remove the plastic and hang it outside to let the residues dissipate.

7. Avoid Ammonia. Commonly found in conventional window cleaners, this chemical can irritate the lungs, eyes, and mucus membranes. Ammonia adds nitrogen to the environment often resulting in disruptions to the ecosystem. Check out alternative Green products at the Farmer’s Almanac store.

6. Eliminate soft surfaces. Soft surfaces such as curtains, carpets, rugs, artifical flowers, and throw pillows can hold harmful chemicals or residues in their fibers. A hard surface replacement is easy to clean. Drapes and curtains can hold in or emit dust and toxins. Replace them with blinds that can be wiped down. Replace carpets with sustainable bamboo flooring or a high quality linoleum that does not leach petroleum compounds.

5. Beware of aerosol sprays. Each pump can fill your home with propellants made of volatile hydrocarbons, typically propane, n-butane and isobutane, all flammable petrochemicals. There are plenty of natural alternatives to freshen your home

4. Don’t dry dust. Use a damp cloth to lock in the dust. Dust particles can bind to toxins and sit in your home. A cloth sprayed with an enzyme-based cleaner works great to deodorize and decontaminate.

3. Do away with air fresheners. These petroleum based fragrances continuously release chemicals into your home. Open a window or try an enzyme-based deodorizer to safely remove pet, smoke, and kitchen odors.

2. Get rid of toxic chemicals. Pesticides, solvents, chlorines, and petrochemicals have dangerous consequences. Chlorine is number one cause of chemical poisonings. Check with your local waste management to dispose of these properly.

1. Use only the highest quality green cleaning products. Read the labels carefully to make sure the product is actually green and safe. Fragrances and dyes are often made from petroleum, so “free and clear” products are best. Some products contain essential oils to add a pleasant scent and power. Since these oils are minimally processed, people with plant or pollen allergies should be careful. Used properly, green cleaners can help rid your home of dangerous residues and everyday soils.

• Keep your thermostat between 65 and 70 degrees when you’re home and awake, and 58 degrees when away for more than two hours. Use more blankets at night to keep your body warm enough without warming your whole home. (Households with elderly residents or very young children should be kept a bit warmer at night, though).

• Lower the thermostats on your water heater to the lowest comfortable level. (A setting of 120 degrees is about right for most people). Each 10-degree decrease saves five percent on water heating costs!

• Seal up any visible cracks and gaps in your house, install adequate insulation, check that ducts are sealed, and choose energy efficient windows when replacing old ones. A home energy auditor can help to identify poorly insulated areas and evaluate the energy efficiency of your home.

• Be sure your attic is properly ventilated, and insulated. A warm attic steals heat from the rest of the house, and does no one any good.

• Keeping your registers or radiators clean can make your home warmer with less energy, and save you money. Dust acts like an insulating blanket, trapping the heat.

• Your radiators will also heat more efficiently if you place a piece of aluminum foil behind each one. The foil reflects heat back into the room, instead of allowing it to be absorbed into the wall.

• To promote cleaner air when burning wood in your fireplace or woodstove, be sure that the wood you use is 100% untreated, has been seasoned for at least nine months, and is not painted.

• On the coldest nights, pull down window shades to keep heat from escaping. During the day, keep blinds and drapes open to let in the sunshine. Keep shrubs around your home trimmed back, so they don’t block the sun from entering your windows.

• Shut off the heat in unused rooms. It’s simple, just shut off the radiator valve or close the vent. Closing off a spare room in winter will be more effective if you stuff a plastic dry cleaner bag under the door to keep the cold air from escaping into the house.

• If you have a fireplace, close the dampers when it’s not in use.

• Insulate your electrical outlets. One of the most overlooked ways cold air can get into your house is through the outlets. Remove the outlet covers and insert insulation pads underneath. Cap off any outlets that are not being used.

Be sure to check for more helpful earth-friendly tips on our Home & Garden page!

Tags: energy, winter, heating, conservation, green, Farmers’ Almanac

When shopping for a new home appliance it’s a good idea to consider the energy efficiency aspects. Did you know that a front load washing machine is cheaper to run than a top loader? Did you know that laser printers cost more to run than the computer does? An electric hot water heater is the most costly to run, with the laser printer coming in second place. An electric hair dryer costs more to run than the refrigerator and is almost as expensive to run as the oven!

These are the typical annual energy costs of appliances, based on a rate of 6 cents per kilowatt-hour for a family of four living in an 1,800-square-foot home in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s service area. Actual costs may be more or less in your area.

Kitchen
· Blender: 18 kilowatt-hours annual use — $1.10 a year
· Coffee maker: 328 kilowatt-hours annual use — $19.78 a year
· Dishwasher: 195 kilowatt-hours annual use — $11.77 a year
· Electric frying pan: 125 kilowatt-hours annual use — $7.53 a year
· Microwave: 312 kilowatt-hours annual use — $18.84 a year
· Mixer: 7 kilowatt-hours annual use — 40 cents a year
· Cook-top range: 325 kilowatt-hours annual use — $19.62 a year
· Oven: 910 kilowatt-hours annual use — $54.94 a year
· Refrigerator and freezer: 420 kilowatt-hours annual use — $25.36 a year
· Toaster: 57 kilowatt-hours annual use — $3.45 a year
· Toaster oven: 312 kilowatt-hours annual use — $18.84 a year
· Trash compactor: 21 kilowatt-hours annual use — $1.26 a year
· Waffle iron: 312 kilowatt-hours annual use — $18.84 a year

Water heater
· Less than 30 gallons: 3,744 kilowatt-hours annual use — $226.03 a year
· 30-49 gallons: 3,826 kilowatt-hours annual use — $230.98 a year

General appliances
· Clock radio: 2 kilowatt-hours annual use — 10 cents a year
· Large television: 364 kilowatt-hours annual use — $21.97 a year
· Small television: 182 kilowatt-hours annual use — $10.99 a year
· CD, DVD, VCR players: 22 kilowatt-hours annual use — $1.33 a year
· Vacuum cleaner: 218 kilowatt-hours annual use — $13.18 a year
· Hair dryer: 686 kilowatt-hours annual use — $41.44 a year
· Electric shaver: 4 kilowatt-hours annual use — 24 cents a year
· Stereo: 42 kilowatt-hours annual use — $2.51 a year
· Iron: 312 kilowatt-hours annual use — $18.84 a year
· Electric blanket: 117 kilowatt-hours annual use — $7.06 a year
· Curling iron: 18 kilowatt-hours annual use — $1.11 a year

Home office
· Computer: 961 kilowatt-hours annual use — $58.01 a year
· Small-sized printer: 156 kilowatt-hours annual use — $9.44 a year
· Printer, medium: 184 kilowatt-hours annual use — $11.10 a year
· Laser printer, small: 1,173 kilowatt-hours annual use — $70.82 a year
· Laser printer, medium: 1,568 kilowatt-hours annual use — $94.68 a year
· Small multi-function (print, scan, copy, fax): 119 kilowatt-hours annual use — $7.18 a year
· Medium multi-function (print, scan, copy, fax): 171 kilowatt-hours annual use — $10.30 a year

Lighting
· Incandescent bulb (75 watts): 273 kilowatt-hours annual use — $16.48 a year
· Compact fluorescent bulb (20 watts): 73 kilowatt-hours annual use — $4.39 a year

Laundry
· Washer: 118 kilowatt-hours annual use — $7.12 a year
· Dryer: 324 kilowatt-hours annual use — $19.59 a year

Source: TVA energy cost calculator, as published in Times Daily Newspaper.

Technorati Tags: electricity costs, saving energy

Put a towel in the dryer for 5 to 10 minutes or until nice and warm to the touch.
You’ll need a shower cap for the following.

Hot Oil Hair Treatment
½ c. olive oil (May reduce to ¼ c. for short hair.)
¼ t. peppermint oil
¼ t. vegetable glycerin

Heat combined ingredients briefly in a pot on the stove or in a bowl in the microwave until warm, but not hot. Standing with your head and hair hanging over the sink or tub pour the warm oil onto your hair and gently massage into scalp and all of hair. Put hair on top of head and into a shower cap. Top with the dry, hot towel. Leave on head for 30 minutes while you relax. Draw a warm bath and wash hair while in the tub. The oil treatment from your hair will moisturize your dry skin while you bathe.

Such an easy and enjoyable way to pamper yourself. Be careful when stepping out of the tub, it may be slippery. The oil will need to be cleaned from the tub afterwards too, to avoid slipping.

©Deborah S. Tukua, www.hollycreekbooks.com. Country author of Pearls of Country Wisdom and Pearls of Garden Wisdom both are filled with hundreds of tips, recipes and home remedies.

Technorati tags: hot oil hair treatment, home-made spa, natural skin softener

• The color of nature, a healing color.
• Youthful; not yet ripe.
• A term that means “go,” as in “All systems are green.”
• A symbol of victory, (at least it was in ancient Greece).
• The national color of Ireland, and all things related to St. Patrick’s Day.
• And today it also means acting responsible when it comes to the environment (keep it green!).

With St. Patrick’s Day here - Let’s wear our Green, Act Green, and Celebrate all that is Green!

Here’s a fun drink for the holiday:

Shamrock Shake
1 cup milk
1⁄2 pt. vanilla ice cream
1 – 2 drops green food color
1⁄4 tsp. peppermint flavor

Place all ingredients in a blender, cover and run on high about 30 seconds,
or until smooth and fluffy.
Makes 2 cups.

Thought Of the Week:
May your home be too
small to hold all of your
friends.
— Irish Blessing

Technorati Tags:
green, st patricks day, shamrock shake, irish blessing

Project Materials:
Green gingham fabric or thin muslin
Thread, needle, scissors, sewing machine
Rickrack or grosgrain ribbon, optional
Cedar shavings (Buy in quantity inexpensively in the pets supply dept.)
Dark brown felt, 1 piece

Directions:
1. Taking the shape for our design from the cedar tree, which is the basis for our sachet project, cut 2 triangles ? from your choice of thin fabric. The size of the triangles should be cut small enough to fit nicely in your linen or lingerie drawers or suited to where it will be used.
2. This optional step is to sew rickrack or decorative ribbon on the front of each triangle to resemble garland on your miniature cedar tree.
3. Lay two pieces of cut fabric on top of each other, right sides together and pin.
4. Sew two ?triangle pieces together, leaving at least a 1” opening at the bottom center, opposite the point at the top.
5. Fill the sachet with cedar shavings.
6. Cut a small rectangle from brown felt and insert part way into the bottom center of the triangle that you left open. This will resemble a tree trunk.
7. Hand sew the opening closed.

Note: The fabric chosen for a sachet must be thin enough to release the fragrance of the cedar, which is a natural moth retardant. Yet, the fabric must be thick enough to keep the cedar from escaping.

©Deborah Tukua, country author of Pearls of Country Wisdom.

Technorati Tags: cedar, sachet

Top 5 Green Savings Tips

Buying wholesale.
Finding green products whole sale is now easier than ever with I-tryit.com. You can purchase the latest and greatest green and organic products at about half the cost. They have everything from all-purpose cleaner to zebra-stripped organic cotton ones-ies. You join the site for free, promise to come back and write a review of the things you purchased, and shop, shop, shop. www.i-tryit.com Eco-fabulous.

Create your own Co-op.
I’ve “co-op-ed” sacks of flour, rice, dry beans, herbs, and other long lasting staples with my friends or co-workers. It’s really simple. Buy a few 25lb sacks and split them 5 ways. Contact an organic foods distributor, ask at your local health market, or even your favorite café manager. You can save dollars per pound, even when compared to traditionally grown food. Image, whole wheat organic pastry flour at less than 70 cents a pound… yum!

Web Coupons.
Organic food company websites are full of deals. Click around before you go shopping. Some companies have products or deals only available on the website. If you can wait 3 days for those almonds, you could save a bundle.

Bulk Up.
Honey, liquid soap, peanut butter, dog biscuits, and more are available in bulk bins at many co-ops and natural markets. Sometimes you even get a discount for bringing your own container. Bulk bins save money and packaging. Good for your pocket and your planet.

Re-Use It.
We throw a lot of cash in the trash. Coffee filters, paper towels, razors, picnic ware, and more all get trashed when we’re through. Stop buying the disposables and buy one or two of the nice reusable version. It may not seem like a lot, but in the long run, the savings add up. When I stopped buying paper towels, it didn’t seem like much of a difference. Sure, the first three days I grabbed at the empty holder out of habit. Now, I use a cloth and keep a rag-bag. I’m saving about $20/month on paper towels alone. I also spill less, wipe dog paws off on the porch more, and have a pretty striped set of cloth napkins.

What is Mold?
Molds are tiny microscopic organisms that digest organic matter and reproduce by releasing spores. They are most often associated with damp, musty locations such as bathrooms, basements and attics. There are over 100,000 species of mold. Mold travels through the air as tiny spores which like to make their home in wet areas, where they will breed. Molds are fungi. Fungi are coenocytic organisms composed of masses of tubes or filaments, called hyphae. Fungi are heterotrophic, they do not produce their own food like plants do. They must get their food from their environment. They get their food by secreting digestive enzymes to dissolve organic and inorganic food materials. They then absorb the soluble products from digestion. In nature, mold helps decompose or break-down leaves, wood and other plant debris. Molds become a problem when they go where they are not wanted and digest materials such as our homes.

Why is Mold Growing There?
There is a moisture problem. Mold can’t grow without water. That’s why it often finds its way into your tub or your bath tiles. It’s wet. The first step to controlling mold is always to control the moisture problem. Moisture can come from condensation, leaks, drainage back ups, improper water flow, storms, burst pipes, improper construction, etc. If you have a ‘mystery’ mold spring up, there is probably a new moisture problem you weren’t aware of.

Mold must have something to grow and feed on. Surfaces like cloth, carpet, drywall, or wood are susceptible. Mold thrives on organic surfaces in stale environments. Poor air circulation traps the spores in one area and prevents moisture from drying. Damp stale areas such as attics and crawl spaces often have wooden beams or insulation that can feed the mold.

Before you go to battle, consider the Four Factors of Mold:

The Fungal Biomass
This is the mold you see. Mold comes in every color, texture, and style imaginable. A Mold Test Kit is the only sure way to know what kind of mold is growing. The color and appearance can be difficult to differentiate because of the variety of molds. When the media use the terms “Black Mold” or “Toxic Mold,” they are usually referring to Stachbotrys. Both media terms are misleading, because many molds are black and many molds produce toxins. Further, Stachbotrys is not always black, but is sometime green, gray, or brown, depending upon its food source.

Stachybotrys has the ability to produce mycotoxins that are extremely toxic, suspected carcinogens, and immunosuppressive. Exposure to these mycotoxins can occur through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure. . Long term exposure has shown that Stachybotrys and Chaetomium can destroy the myelin sheath, leading to autoimmune disease.  These are the only two fungi that can also be linked to MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity).

Penicillium fungi are commonly found in soil, food, cellulose, grains, paint, carpet, wallpaper, interior fiberglass duct insulation, and decaying vegetation. This fungi has been linked to common illnesses such as ear infections, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections. Penicillium infections are most commonly exhibited in immunosuppressed individuals. An indication of infection is the appearance of papules that resemble acne on the face, trunk, and extremities.

Fusarium is a common soil fungus and inhabitant on a wide array of plants. This fungi is often found in humidifiers and has been isolated from water-damaged carpets and a variety of other building materials. Human exposure may occur through ingestion of contaminated grains and possibly through the inhalation of spores. Fusarium are frequently involved with eye, skin, and nail infections.

Cladosporium is pigmented dark green to black in the front and black on the reverse with a velvety to powdery texture. One of the most commonly isolated from indoor and outdoor air, Cladosporium are found on decaying plants, woody plants, food, straw, soil, paint, textiles, and the surface of fiberglass duct liner in the interior of supply ducts. These fungi are the causative agents of skin lesions, keratitis, nail fungus, sinusitis, asthma, and pulmonary infections. More commonly, it is a more causative factor for intrinsic asthma.

The Odor / VOCs
Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs are are organic chemical compounds that have high enough vapor pressures enter the atmosphere. This means they are in the air we breathe. VOCs are a by product of mold growth. When mold digests organic matter, such as drywall, it releases VOCs into your home. When the mold blooms and releases spores into the air, those particles can also contribute to the moldy smell. In short, if you can smell a mildewy or moldy odor, there is mold contaminating your air.

Mycotoxins
The dangerous by-product of mold, the thing that makes you sick, is called a mycotoxin. A Mycotoxin is a toxin produced by mushrooms, molds, and yeasts. Where there is more fungal growth, there are higher mycotoxin levels. Toxins vary greatly in their severity. Some fungi produce severe toxins only under specific conditions, while some are lethal, some weaken the immune system without producing symptoms specific to that toxin, some act as allergens or irritants, and some have no known effect on humans.

Mycotoxins may cause a variety of short-term as well as long-term adverse health effects. These range from an immediate toxic response and immune-suppression to potential long-term carcinogenic effects. Symptoms include dermatitis, recurring cold and flu-like symptoms, burning sore throat, headaches and excessive fatigue, diarrhea, and impaired or altered immune function. The ability of the body to fight off infectious diseases may be weakened resulting in opportunistic infections. Because these symptoms may also be caused by many other diseases, misdiagnoses of mycotoxin exposures are common. Occupational or building-related exposures to mycotoxins through inhalation are slowly being recognized as a major indoor air quality problem. Generally, removal of causative agents, the mold and mildew, is necessary.

Spores
Mold spreads by creating reproductive cells called spores and sending them into the environment. Mold spores are too small to detect with the naked eye. They are everywhere around us and you cannot avoid being exposed to them.

Mold spores travel in the air and attach to people’s skin, clothing, shoes, shopping bags and belongings. Other ways spores can enter your home invisibly are: through open doors and windows, through your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, or on the anything that comes from outside.

Once spores enter, they can settle onto carpeting or other surfaces inside your home. You cannot keep spores out of your home, but regular home cleaning and maintenance often can prevent mold problems before they arise.

When mold spores enter your home, they need moisture to begin growing, digesting and destroying. Mold can grow on almost any surface, including; wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paints, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. Mold grows best when there is a lot of moisture from a leaky, humidity, or flood. There is no way to rid your home of all molds and mold spores. You can control mold growth by keeping your home dry.

How do you clean up mold?
To eliminate mold, you’ll first need to eliminate the source. Find out how and where moisture is seeping into your home and deal with it accordingly. Once the moisture problem is solved, you can begin removing the mold.

The mold must be removed completely. Simply spraying chlorine bleach will not make the mold go away. It will not address the spread of mold spores, VOCs, or mycotoxins. The best way to remove mold is with a non-chlorine mold cleaning product. Enzyme-based products have proven both safe and effective at removing mold because of their power to break apart the fungal biomass. Research all products carefully to ensure they are safe for your family, the eco-system, and the surface you are cleaning.

It is in your best interest to invest in a face mask and other protective gear. The last thing you want to do is breathe in mold. A surgical mask, or the type used by carpenters to keep from inhaling saw dust, works well for this task. A long sleeved shirt and long pants should complete the protective outfit. Even the best protective gear is no guarantee that you are safe from the toxins associated with traditional mold removal. A lot of people are hesitant to spray chlorine bleach on their home exteriors, as they should be.

There are a variety of mold cleaners, killers, and inhibitors on the market that employ chemicals. Chlorine is commonly and dangerously used for mold clean-up. We do not recommend it. Chlorine bleaches away the mold stain, but the mold always comes back. It wasn’t fully removed from the surface. Conventional mold clean up methods require protective gear to protect you from both the mold and the chlorine bleaching products. Even a small mold clean up can expose you to hazardous products and by-products. Mold and chlorine have both been linked to poor indoor air quality, allergies, and even childhood asthma. Chlorine bleach is just as toxic as the mold in many cases. New research has linked the residue compounds left by chlorine cleaners, called organochlorides, to a variety of illnesses from respiratory disorders to cancer.

If you are unable to find a non-toxic chlorine-free alternative or the clean up project is large, it is recommended that you contact a mold remediation specialist. Again, it is important to consider the clean-up method as a potential health risk.