Monday, January 2, 2012

The Uses of Mold Testing

Whether we like it or not, mold is everywhere. You can clean your house from top to bottom every day, and the mold would remain. The only effective way to tell if mold is a problem in your home is to have it thoroughly tested.

The main reason to get rid of mold is the fact that these tiny particles can cause allergy and illness. Mold becomes harmful when all of the separate microscopic fungi team up and work as a colony. In fact, mold is the reason why food rots over time.

Some mold types play an important role in biodegradation, which is the process of chemically dissolving organic materials back into natural elements that are helpful to the environment. In fact, some mold is used in producing food, drinks, and some medicines. Even though mold does have some useful applications, the fact is that some kinds of mold can be extremely harmful.

Molds mostly thrive on dead organic matter in nature. At home, you are most likely to “see” them on decaying fruits, vegetables, food or milk inside your refrigerator. Mold likes spaces that are damp, dark and warm, so you can expect to find it in your bathroom, kitchen, storage areas, plumbing spaces, basement, and poorly ventilated, humid areas.

Black molds, bathroom molds, ceiling molds, wall molds, HVAC vent molds and molds in dust can be found in homes throughout the world. Thankfully, not all varieties of mold are toxic. A leaky tap can be the catalyst for mold infestations, so stop possible growth by reducing moisture as much as possible.

Dust is molds transportation of choice within your home. If you sneeze a lot and have dry, itchy eyes, you are in the presence of mold. Chronic coughing, headaches, rashes, difficulty in breathing, sinus problems, and nasal blockage are also common indicators of mold.

Unfortunately, fungal molds affect children quite severely, and Penicillium is particularly harmful. One of the side effects of exposure in children is the onset of asthma and other respiratory problems. Look put if your child is sneezing more than normal without a cause - this may be an early sign of Penicillium exposure.

When in large quantities (that are still virtually invisible to an average person), mold can cause allergic reactions and a number of respiratory problems even to healthy adults. Mold can produce harmful mycotoxins. Some studies reveal that prolonged exposure to toxic mold can be so harmful that, in fact, there are recorded cases of neurological damages and deaths caused by over exposure to too much mycotoxin.

Not all people are sensitive to mold. Just because you feel fine, it doesn’t mean that the mold is not going to harm someone close to you. Take care to protect people in your family who already have lung complaints, as they are more susceptible to illness.

Do a mold test on your home if you think that you may have an infestation. Start by fixing leaks, then check for damp, steamy areas, and finally clean your house thoroughly. In the advent that you do find mold, purchase a mold testing kit and hire house cleaners immediately.


Get to know the reasons why mold testing in your home is very essential. Hit this link and you'll be enlightened.