Introduction to Molds

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of god was hovering over the water. And god said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good and he made the land and the water to be separate. Then he made the vegetation and trees and fruit and all kinds of growing matter. Then he made the day and the night, and all the living creatures and so on.

Not to be disrespectful or facetious, but it was about this time when mold was created and it too was good. Why? Because there was lots of vegetation growing and probably not enough animals to eat it all, so, much of it just laid on the ground. Mold converted all the left over plant matter into dirt so that the seeds produced by the vegetation had something to grow in. In a perfect world this was very good and things were in balance. Then came man and houses and all the stuff that man makes, uses and discards and there went the balance...not so good.

The bottom line is: If we were able to rid the world of mold, we would very soon be up to our necks in stuff we really don't want and would soon after that be trying to figure out how to replace the mold we got rid of earlier. The key is to learn to live with mold and mold spores around us without it interfering with our lives too much. To that end OdorXit Products offers the following.

Molds produce tiny spores in order to reproduce. Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When a mold spore lands on a damp spot indoors, it may begin growing and digesting whatever it is growing on in order to survive. There are molds that can grow on dirt, wood, paper, carpet, clothing, shoes, leather, foods and almost any other organic fibrous material we have in our house, work place, car, etc. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or un-addressed. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in our indoor environment; but the way to control indoor mold growth is to control the moisture.

Basic Mold Cleanup

The key to mold control is moisture control. It is important to dry water damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth. If mold is a problem in your home, clean up the mold and get rid of the excess water or moisture. Fix leaky plumbing or other sources of water. Wash mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. Absorbent materials (such as ceiling tiles & carpet) that become moldy may have to be replaced.

Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.

Here are the main points of mold control and prevention:

1. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in our indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
2. If mold is a problem in your home or school, you must clean away the mold fungus and eliminate sources of moisture.
3. Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.
4. Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60% ) to decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside (not the attic); using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.
5. Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
6. Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy need to be replaced.
7. Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
8. In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).
9. Molds can be found almost anywhere; it can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods, just about any organic material.

Mold-Related Publications and Resources