Sorry to say, the mold madness may never end. That’s because mold spores are everywhere. All they need is a nice, moist environment and a food source and you’ve got mold! However, the madness involving endless litigation may eventually wane as more and more cases are failing in court.

Over the past decade, we’ve watched as mold hysteria grew to epic levels. Granted, toxic mold is a serious problem and huge mold infestations are costly to remediate. Many cases of rampant mold problems are legitimate and may be eligible for insurance coverage or negligence claims depending on the circumstances. But, not all mold problems are worthy of a big settlement check.

For example, if your bathroom has a few specks of mold on the ceiling or the carpet below a leaking window is moldy, these aren’t reasons to panic. A qualified mold removal company can take care of small mold problems long before they become mold monsters. Even extensive mold can safely be removed and mitigated.

What should you do when your nose first detects that telltale, musty odor? Take a deep breath and relax. Most mold claims are not multi-million dollar projects requiring a complete overhaul of your house, though the headlines may lead you to believe that. Instead, call a qualified mold remediation specialist.

Mold remediation experts understand the issues surrounding mold removal and remediation including safe removal and disposal of mold-covered materials as well as restoring the home to its previous condition. This could be as simple as removing and replacing a few floorboards or more involved depending on the extent of the growth. The job isn’t over once the mold has been removed. Other tasks include eliminating the moisture source which is what attracted the mold spores in the first place as well as applying treatments such as deodorants and mold growth inhibitors.

Because mold problems can quickly spread from being minor annoyances to major mold problems, it’s important to keep your eyes (and nose) out for signs of mold infestations. The sooner you can spot the problem, the better.

Signs of mold in the home include:

When you think about it, mold is everywhere. The problem occurs when it begins living in your house and destroying it and your health.

What is mold? Mold is a type of fungus, one of over 5,000 different types! It is a microscopic organism that lives by digesting organic matter. It reproduces by releasing millions of tiny spores.
Mold is a necessary and useful part of nature. It helps decompose plant debris, wood and leaves. In nature it is very useful and without it our ecosystem would collapse. Unfortunately, it is not so useful in your home!

When the mold reproduces, it sends out tiny spores that enter your home. Once it finds a suitable environment, it begins digesting your walls, carpets, furniture and anything else that provides a humid and moist environment.

You can minimize the growth of mold in your house by good housekeeping, especially by keeping your house dry. It is the nice dark, moist areas that mold loves.

Very often, people are unaware of the mold growing in their house. Many times they only become aware when the odor becomes musty or family members experience a physical reaction. This reaction can be a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, irritated skin, headaches and other unpleasant symptoms.

When cleaning molds you must take care not to inhale the spores that are released when the mold is disturbed. Also, the spores can enter your body through your skin, which is your largest organ!

Sometimes mold can enter your body through eating moldy food or drink, or incidental hand to mouth contact.

Mold is not generally harmful to healthy people. However, for people suffering from allergies or asthma, mold can pose a real health threat. Mold spores can even trigger an asthma attack.

If you suspect that your symptoms are caused by mold spores, you should see a physician.