Do you have problems with mold as the weather becomes wetter in the fall and winter months? When I lived in the Pacific Northwest, I had more than one occasion where I had to control this unhealthy issue.
Exposure to mold can cause health effects in some people. The most common effects are allergic responses from breathing mold spores. These allergic responses include hay fever or asthma and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat or lungs. Allergic responses can come from exposure to dead, as well as to living mold spores, therefore, killing mold with the following mixture, bleach or other disinfectants may not prevent allergic responses.
Any extensive indoor mold growth should be treated as a potential health concern and removed as soon as possible no matter what species of mold is present. Identify and correct the source of moisture so that mold will not grow back.
Borax is a natural mold retardant. If you live in an area where the humidity levels are high, give this mixture a try to keep unhealthy conditions at bay.
Combine:
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup water into a spray bottle
Mix the ingredients and spray generously on moldy surfaces. Wipe clean with a damp sponge. Sterilize or discard the sponge when you are finished and PLEASE do not use your dish sponge for this chore.
You can usually find borax on the top shelves of the laundry detergent aisle at the market.
You can help to reduce the amount of mold in your home by frequently cleaning shower curtains, bathroom windows, damp walls, areas with dry rot and indoor trash cans with the above mixture or bleach and water. Open doors and windows if warm enough outside and use fans to increase air movement and help prevent mold.
Don't carpet bathrooms or other damp rooms and use mold-proof paint instead of wallpaper. Reducing the humidity in your home to 50% or less can also help. You can control your home air quality by using a dehumidifier and keeping the temperature set at 70 degrees.
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