Low level mold

[Aleks52]

I recently discovered mold in the house I am renting, and while it does not seem too visually extensive, it has been causing some severe respiratory problems. We have found signs of light mold in the recently flooded bathroom, on the backs of the plastic drapes and in the corners of some of the rooms. Is there anything simple I can do without informing the landlord or will this require a bigger operation? Thank you very much and hope to hear back soon. (All of our walls are drywall)

[HayZee518]

high moisture in the form of humidity helps mold to multiply. mold is-are spores. microscopic animals. they feed on cardboard. they can't live in - on dry objects. water and bleach does nothing to mold. the molded surface needs to be removed and replaced. you got to get the humidity down by some means. what you can't vacuum up you must encapsulate it with a paint or plastic covering.

[Aleks52]

Thank you very much. Interestingly, because it's on/in the walls, does that mean we should just remove the entire section of drywall or can we just encapsulate it like you said?

[manhattan42]

Molds are largely harmless and present in all homes.

Most molds can be cleaned and removed using soap and water or mild solutions of water and bleach.

There is normally no need to remove the surfaces upon which mold grows.

Once cleaned, surfaces including drywall can simply be recoated with paints that contain anti-mold ingredients which you can add for about $1.

The key to keeping mold at bay is to dehumidify the air.

Here is a helpful link from the US Centers for Disease Control that dispels most common myths about mold and its dangers:

CDC - Mold - Home Page

[pushkins]

As a side note, mold today is like the media frenzy with household asbestos 20 years ago, or lead (paint) now in pre 78 homes. Mold is present in almost all homes, albeit in many different forms. Obviously mold should be treated if you find it, but that is an easy thing to do with a little bleach and water and a soft cloth.
Real estate agents like to toss out to buyers Mold, Asbestos and Lead as the worst and most critical elements to home buying, when in fact asbestos and lead (paint) and perfectly safe unless you start to work on those areas with saws and sanders and even then all three can be dealt with reasonably easy with a little preparation and information.
I'd much rather deal with all three of the above than many other serious issues I've seen in homes.
Like a second story deck that was pulling off a house (2" at one end, with only nails holding it up), real estate agent told the buyer, "oh you just need to add some longer nails to that"

[HayZee518]

Does Bleach Really Kill Mold?
Will chlorine bleach kill mold or not—yes or no? The answer is yes, but with a caveat. That answer comes from The Clorox Company, Oakland CA, manufacturer and distributor of Ultra Clorox® Regular Bleach. The company's correspondence to Spore°Tech Mold Investigations, LLC stated that their Tech Center studies supported by independent laboratories show that "…3/4 cup of Clorox liquid bleach per gallon of water will be effective on hard, non-porous surfaces against… Aspergillus niger and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Athlete's Foot Fungus)". Whether or not chlorine bleach kills other molds and fungi, the company did not say. The words "hard, non-porous" surfaces" present the caveat. Mold remediation involves the need to disinfect wood and wood-based building materials, all of which are porous materials. Thus, chlorine bleach should not be used in mold remediation as confirmed by OSHA's Mold Remediation/ Clean Up Methods guidelines. The use of bleach as a mold disinfectant is best left to kitchen and bathroom countertops, tubs and shower glass, etc.

[manhattan42]

Not Exactly What OSHA says...

"Thus, chlorine bleach should not be used in mold remediation as confirmed by OSHA's Mold Remediation/ Clean Up Methods guidelines. The use of bleach as a mold disinfectant is best left to kitchen and bathroom countertops, tubs and shower glass, etc."

Unfortunately, that is not what OSHA says and is either a gross misunderstanding of OSHA's position on bleach and mold remediation at best, or a misrepresentation of OSHA's position and the effectiveness of bleach in killing mold at worst.

What OSHA does say is:

"Use of Biocides

The use of a biocide, such as chlorine bleach, is not recommended as a routine practice during mold remediation, although there may be instances where professional judgment may indicate its use (for example, when immuno-compromised individuals are present). In most cases, it is not possible or desirable to sterilize an area, as a background level of mold spores comparable to the level in outside air will persist. However, the spores in the ambient air will not cause further problems if the moisture level in the building has been corrected. "

A Brief Guide to Mold in the Workplace

What OSHA is saying is that bleach alone cannot be used as the sole means to remediate mold because even though bleach is extremely effective in killing molds even on porpous wood surfaces, it does nothing to treat airborne spores or to remove dead molds in those porous surfaces ...which can still cause reactions in individuals sensitive to mold.

The reality is that multiple means of mold remediation may be necessary to treat molds in the workplace....

OSHA, nor any other agency State or Federal, has ever establish any 'hazardous' level for molds in buildings, nor has any governmental agency established standards for regulating or treating levels of molds in homes.

As Pushkins says and I fully agree: The 'mold' frenzy is largely unfounded hysteria based on no solid science or research at all...and continues to be propagated by those who know little or nothing on the subject..or by those wishing to part the unwitting from their hard earned money by claiming they can 'mitigate' it.

[pushkins]

It's kinda like the media frenzy about Tiger Woods, he was all over the papers and TV, every day ALL damn day........then BP were the topic of mass media frenzy.....all day everyday ....then along comes Mel Gibson....all day everyday. I guess you can toss in Lindsey Lohan in there too for a couple of days. Apparently nothing else was happening in the world.

Bottom line is it sells news papers and TV time slots. A little research yourself goes a looong way.

[manhattan42]

Our discussion about mold "hysteria" should not be taken as a callous disregard for those, like Aleks52, who are genuinely allergic to mold and suffer physical reactions from it.

Since Aleks52 is a tenant, Aleks52 needs to contact the landlord about his concerns and hopefully can pursuade the landlord to take those concerns seriously.

Since Aleks52 doesn't own the building however, there may be precious little he can do short of superfical cleaning and running a dehumidifier to help his own situation if the landlord is unwilling to help.

And if that doesn't work, the only other option is to move....

[HandymanCincy]

I agree that the "mold hysteria" can get overdone, but that does not mean mold can't present some serious health problems to certain individuals. Here in Cincinnati, we have a massive problem with mold growth due to the high spore count in the air and plenty of moisture. While I can't emphasize the important of dehumidifiers, one must realize that dead mold spores can be just as problematic to one's health as live spores. The bottom line is to get the moldy materials out of the home or seal-in surfaces where it can't be removed.

Even if the mold doesn't present a health problem now, that doesn't mean it can't bloom into a greater hazard with the right conditions. Not to mention the perception that is created by guests who might see it or potential buyers of the home. Nothing good can come of not aggressively fighting a mold problem.

I am also speaking from personal, not just professional experience. 4 years ago I had a "little" mold problem that cost 10s of thousands of dollars and 6 weeks of a professional remediation company to resolve in my home. While I agree that some people go overboard on the mold issue in order to scare people (which is how they make their money), it is a serious issue that each homeowner needs to evaluate on a case-by-case basis.