Black Mold:

Tips to Getting Rid of Black

Mold in Your Home

EnviroKlenz
Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of
Black Mold in Your Home
Lots of things can happen to your home, and that means a lot of upkeep
to maintain your home in pristine condition. You may need to make small
repairs in your home throughout time but it’s the big repairs that people
fear.

One of these big repairs that most homeowners fear is the growth of mold
in their home. Mold can become a costly repair because of the potential of
growth of the mold if it is not caught early.

Did you know that mold spores can germinate after only 12 hours in some
conditions and some grow in 24 to 48 hours? Gross, right?

Mold in your home, especially black mold (also called Stachybotrys) is

something to take very seriously. Having knowledge of the e ects of
black mold and the health e ects it can have on you, can help you
become better prepared in defense against black mold in your home.

Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of Black Mold in Your Home

 Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of
Black Mold in Your Home

Mold vs Mildew
Mold and mildew, have many similarities
that it can make it hard to distinguish the
two from each other. They both thrive in
moist, warm areas where they can sprout
their homes, as well as both grown on a
multitude of surfaces, anywhere from food
to your shower. Most importantly, these
two things are both fungi culprits in your
home that makes your life a little harder.

Mildew is considered a surface fungi that can be easily recognized as a piece of

gray or white fungus that is lying on the area of a moist environment.
Essentially, mildew can be described as a speci c type of mold, that over time
can turn black or brown. This type of fungi usually a ects plants and crops, but
nonetheless, it can a ect your indoor area as well. When it develops indoors it
can pose a health risk when inhaled, such as causing coughing, headaches,
sore throat, and respiratory problems.

Mold is a very di erent creature than mildew, especially due to its complexity.
Mold contains multiple identical nuclei and grows in the form of green or black
patches which penetrates beneath the surface of the area it has contaminated.
The key characteristics of mold can be it’s fuzzy or slimy appearance and its
irregular shaped spots that can vary in color from blue, green, yellow, brown,
black and even white. The e ect of mold on your home can be quite extreme
creating structural damage to the a ected area, especially if it has been
untreated for a considerable amount of time. As well as create harmful health
effects on those exposed to the toxic mold, like homeowners living in the home.

Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of Black Mold in Your Home

Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of
Black Mold in Your Home

How Dangerous is
Black Mold?
A common misconception about black mold
is not all black mold is toxic. But that doesn’t
mean black mold still isn’t toxic for our
environment and ourselves. There are many
thousands of di erent species of this fungi
worldwide and at least a thousand di erent
species found in the United States alone.

Black mold or Stachybotrys Astra (also known as Stachybotrys Chartarum)

is a species of toxic mold that is one of the most feared types of mold.
Black mold can be quite dangerous, especially to those in the same
environment like homeowners and pets. A good indicator of black mold is
its appearance, which will appear slimy and features a dark greenish-black
color.

The truly dangerous aspect to black mold is the mycotoxins that are
released from this particular mold. Mycotoxins are carried on the spores of
the toxic black mold and found throughout the whole mold colony present.
People with black mold in their homes are mostly exposed to mycotoxins
through breathing them in. This can lead to toxic symptoms and health
problems for those exposed to this form of mold.

Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of Black Mold in Your Home

Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of
Black Mold in Your Home

Black Mold Health Effects

“It is estimated that indoor air
pollutants, including mold and
mycotoxins, may be contributing to
more than 50% of patients illnesses,”
says Dr. Jill, a functional medicine
expert. However, according to the
Centers for Disease Control &
Prevention (CDC), they state that, “Mold
exposure does not always present a
health problem indoors, and that some
are just sensitive to mold”.

Molds can create a number of harmful

substances into our air that can be
harmful. Some of these harmful
substances include allergens, irritants,
and mycotoxins. The EPA has even
stated that exposures to molds can irritate the eyes, lungs, nose, skin, and
throats of those in the same environment as the mold.

Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of Black Mold in Your Home

Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of
Black Mold in Your Home

Black Mold Exposure Symptoms

Symptoms from black mold exposure include;

1. Fatigue and weakness

2. Headache, light sensitivity
3. Poor memory, difficult word finding
4. Difficulty concentration
5. Morning stiffness, joint pain
6. Unusual skin sensations, tingling, and numbness
7. Shortness of breath, sinus congestion, or chronic cough
8. Appetite swings, body temperature regulation
9. Increased urinary frequency or increased thirst
10. Red eyes, blurred vision, sweats, mood swings, sharp pains
11. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating
12. Tearing, disorientation, metallic taste in mouth
13. Static shocks
14. Vertigo, feeling lightheaded

Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of Black Mold in Your Home

 Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of
Black Mold in Your Home

Effective Ways to Mitigate Mold in Your Home

The rst steps to take when trying to mitigate mold in your home is to
identify the source of moisture that’s feeding it, this could be anything
from a pipe, your roof, a foundation leak, or even condensation from an
appliance. It is critical to stop any leaks and try to remove the moisture
from the area to prevent further growth.

Next, protect the possible culprits of potential airway ow. Try to seal o
the room of the contamination by closing doors, cover air vents, doorways,
and any area where our air can escape. Lightly spray the mold with water
to limit the spores that can become airborne when you spray it and you
use a scrubber with soapy water to scrub off the mold.

Don’t think that you, yourself can

mitigate your mold issue. This is
where the professionals come in. It is
important to have the job completed
properly by mold mitigation
specialists. However, after this
process is completed there are
lingering toxins that can get left
behind that harbor in your air. For
these residual toxins in your home’s
air, you need to have an air ltration
system to remove and destroy the
toxins.

Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of Black Mold in Your Home

Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of
Black Mold in Your Home
EnviroKlenz recommends...
The EnviroKlenz Mobile UV Model is a mobile air ltration system that
combines our advanced EnviroKlenz technology for toxic chemicals and
odor removal with a certi ed HEPA ltration that removes harmful dust,
particulate, allergens, pet dander, and mold at a 99.99 percent e ciency.
We use this technology combined with a high dose UV lamps that work to
attack airborne viruses and smaller bacteria, such as mold. The placement
of the lamps keep the lter free from the growth of bacteria, and as the
bacteria are collected on the HEPA it gets destroyed over time.

Removing the toxins lingering in your air from mold can be very di cult
but it is a necessary step to prevent health e ects related to mold
exposure. Taking the necessary steps to protect yourself and your home
from mold will bene t you in the long run and help you to maintain good
health.

Black Mold: Tips to Getting Rid of Black Mold in Your Home