Proper Furniture Cleaning Can Prevent Mold and Protect Allergy Sufferers

Nobody likes to clean, but it's a fact of life that things run smoother when given proper maintenance. We take our cars in for checkups, our bodies are given regular physicals, our mouths get routine cleanings, and our computers require defragmenting from time to time. Effort has to be put in before things break to keep them running smoothly. Furniture cleaning, like all other maintenance, is necessary to keep nasty things from happening. The proper cleaning of furniture can prevent mold and allergy attacks.

As anyone who suffers from them can tell you, allergies are no fun. Airborne allergens (such as pet dander or hair, dust, pollen, and other bacteria) can be difficult to avoid, but routine cleaning of your furniture can actually prevent allergy attacks. Your favorite old chair probably accumulates more dust and other airborne particles than you realize, and giving it a good vacuuming, or dusting can cut down your chances of a full blown allergy attack by a tremendous degree.

If your furniture is painted, you can prevent mold from growing by simply cleaning it once a week with a dampened cloth. Most accumulated dust and other airborne particles will be taken care of at the same time, which will help prevent allergy attacks, as well. The effort put into briefly wiping down each piece of furniture will be well rewarded by having less work to do later, should a problem develop, as well as preventing allergies you, a spouse, a child, or other family member may have grow more serious.

Did you know that allergies can actually develop at any point in life, simply by having exposure to certain elements? Preventing mold and other potentially dangerous filth from developing can be a long-term investment in the health and well being of your home.

Wood furniture requires a lint-free cloth to apply polish to it on a weekly basis. This cloth can be used to dust prior to the polish application. Dust is especially attracted to wood surfaces, and dust allergies have been known to worsen later in life. It's best to get yourself into the habit of regularly cleaning now so you don't end up with an unhappy surprise later.

Leather furniture should be cleaned with a damp cloth or sponge, and dusted regularly. Leather is susceptible to mold and should be cleaned on a bi-weekly basis, and kept away from heat. If your leather cracks, lots of nasty mold can grow inside those cracks, so it's double important to keep your leather furniture well taken care of.

If any of your furniture has cushions that are removable, be sure to clean them separately, and routinely flip them so they wear evenly. Failure to remove cushions during furniture cleaning can result in an insufficient cleaning session where dirt, dust, mold, hair, and other nasty things can linger in the places you didn't reach. A little thoroughness goes a long way to prevent mold.

Some people don't believe outdoor furniture requires the same level of cleanliness that their indoor furniture does, but nothing could be further from the truth. Because your outdoor furniture is exposed to the elements (and anything else that wanders into your yard) it's doubly important you clean it as often as you can to prevent allergy attacks. Remember, if you're allergic to cat hair, it's fairly easy to keep cats out of your house, but a stray might enjoy the occasional nap on your comfy patio set.

Most outdoor furniture is designed for wiping clean with a warm sponge or cloth, but in some cases, using your outdoor hose might be appropriate to remove dirt.

The most important thing to remember is that the health and well being of you and your family is worth an extra hour every week spent taking preventative measures on your furniture. Actually de-molding grandma's antique armoire will take a great deal longer.

Asthma Attacks Caused by Allergy - Mold

A common indoor environmental asthma trigger is the mold that could be present in damp places in buildings, such as the basement, bathroom, storeroom, in your office or even in your home. Mold is a frequent cause of asthma attacks which many asthma patients overlook when trying to get rid of possible allergens.

One thing that you may want to look into if you have a problem with asthma is if there is something within your house that is causing the asthma to be worse. When trying to figure out possible allergens, most people look for obvious things, such as synthetic chemicals in airborne fragrances such as air fresheners or perfumes. Pets are another obvious source of allergens, as the pet dander could trigger off an asthma attack in some sensitive individuals. However, many people overlook mold as a possible asthma allergy.

Mold is a microscopic fungi that grows in a dark damp environment, usually affecting indoors. It can grow on any surface area if the indoor environment is conducive for it, for example, in a dark damp corner of your home, in the bathroom or basement, on the walls, ceilings, floors, furniture, even on food and indoor plants. You can see a patch of discoloration on the affected area, perhaps due to a prior water damage, or enclosed rooms with poor ventilation. You can also smell a musty, mold odor, which can trigger off the sneezing, wheezing and coughing symptoms in asthmatic patients.

Asthma medication can only help you to manage the symptoms of the asthma so that it does not become life-threatening, but it does not deal with the root source of it. So dealing with the cause of the asthma attacks is your own responsibility.

If you are asthmatic and live in such a house, it is high time that you gave the house a through spring cleaning and ventilation that it deserves. However, you may need to hire a professional to do this for you, otherwise, your asthma condition may be worsened by the mold spores that are released into the air during the cleaning activities. You might also want to install a good air purifier in your house to clear the air of mold or any other airborne allergens. This should help improve your asthma condition.

Living With Mold Allergies

Mold allergies are a major health problem that affects many different people. These individuals come from all types of age and race groups. Mold does not differentiate between age or race but some individuals are stronger and able to tolerate mold better. During the last 15 years, we have clients from all age groups and races. We find that the elderly seem to suffer more than someone younger. I would suspect lack of education concerning mold and not the age factor. Once individuals become educated, the understanding of the environment is more important than before. It could also be a monetary factor also, due to a fixed income.

Mold grows in all regions of the world. There are molds that can thrive in cold and dry regions. There are more than a dozen species of mold that thrives under snow. They live in the dark, humid conditions found under a layer of snow when it is melting. This is the type that attacks grasses in golf courses and is why it is more prevalent in colder climates. Mold is common all over the world not just in hot and humid climates.

Snow mold is caused by the following and steps must be taken to prevent this.

1. Rake up all the leaves in the fall prior to the first snow.
2. Be careful with using fertilizer prior the first snow.
3. Keep the grass short to prevent matting and rake it up.
4. Mold needs dead materials and wet conditions from melting snow.
5. Try to spread out the snow to encourage rapid melting to dry quickly.

Individuals living in these areas are more susceptible after the snow is finally melted and winds start to blow the materials on the ground or when someone is raking it. This is a good time to have a HEPA rated filter like the Austin Air in your home. It is also important to keep your home as clean as possible to prevent mold in dust from accumulating. That is why they used to call it "Spring Cleaning".

I have read many different articles concerning mold where a well meaning individual writes that there are only certain molds that are toxic and to be concerned about. I read one the other day where this person says there are only 12 molds to be concerned with. Be aware that some individuals are not properly educated like a Microbiologist and only express their opinion especially on Internet Blogs. If they were properly educated, they would not express things like this.

There are molds that are more toxic like Stachybotys, Chaetomium, Fusarium and Aspergillis due to the toxins that are released in the air when there are wet conditions. But always remember that the dose is the poison. Example: If you eat a teaspoon of sugar, it does not affect you unless you are diabetic. If you eat a cup of sugar, you will get sick from overload. Mold is the same way and it does not matter what species it is.

I have several clients who are "Universal Reactors" to mold. I will tell you the story about one of them: She left South Florida on the advise of her Doctor and went to Arizona. She was fine for about a year, then she started reacting to mold again. Remember, mold is universal.

If you want to educate yourself, go to an Allergists office who specializes in mold allergies. You will be shocked at what you will learn and how serious the problem really is. My personal opinion, I believe it has something to do with the food we eat. Try to eat as much organic food as possible.

In conclusion, mold is everywhere in the world. Education is important when dealing with it. Always consult with your Doctor prior to taking any kind of advice. Having a HEPA Rated Vacuum and a HEPA Rated Air Cleaner like the Austin Air is important. These items are essential when you live in a closed box like an Air Conditioned House. Some individuals have to when they are allergic to pollens or grasses but not all of us. Fresh Air is good when it is not polluted with chemicals or ozone. Try the beach sometime, you'll like it.

A Deadly Allergy - Mold And Mold Spores

Think disasters like fire or flood are the only things that can destroy your home? Think again. There may be an enemy growing in the dark, damp places in your house. This enemy may not only be harmful to your family, but may also threaten the life of your home. What is this enemy? mold.

While some species of mold are not harmful, there are some that can be poisonous to your family and close to impossible to eradicate from your home. For those who suffer any type of allergy, mold can compound their allergy symptoms and make them especially miserable.

While most people are sensitive to mold, there are some people who are especially susceptible to the dangers of mold. These groups include the elderly as well as babies and small children. If you find mold growing in your home, you should evacuate these people immediately so they will not suffer any ill effects from the mold.

You may wonder how mold can get into your home. There are actually a variety of reasons mold may begin to grow in your home. These reasons can include water or pipe leaks, floods, or any other circumstances that may cause surfaces in your home to be wet for an extended period of time.

High humidity levels can also promote mold growth. If you notice a musty odor in your home or if you begin to notice either you or any of your family members start to have an increased incidence of sinus or allergy symptoms you might want to have your home checked for mold.

mold is actually a living fungus that consumes the products, such as drywall, in your home for nutrients in order to live. During this process, molds produce organic compounds that are released into the air.

It is these compounds that are responsible for the musty smell associated with mold as well as the allergy type reactions experienced when they are breathed in by humans. symptoms of an allergy to mold can include things such as dizziness, fever and headaches.

Removing mold from your home can be tricky since improper procedure can release mold spores into the air and make your problem worse. It is best to contact professionals to take care of your mold problem. They have the proper equipment and knowledge to clean up the problem without making matters worse. In some cases, parts of your home may have to be gutted and the drywall replaced to get rid of the mold.

In rare cases, homes have had to be burned because the mold problem was so severe it could not be remedied. It is usually best to find alternate lodging while mold is being removed from your home. This can save you the sickness associated with mold spore inhalation.

If you have ever suffered with an allergy, mold may have been responsible for your symptoms. Over a long period of time, exposure to mold can cause life threatening illnesses. People may actually have to abandon their homes while the mold is cleaned out, or the home may have to be gutted and rebuilt in order to get rid of the dangerous substance.

Mold Allergy Shots Effects to the Candida Symptoms

A friend has started mold allergy shots for a couple weeks and realizes that after receiving the shots for the first couple of hours, her candida symptoms get a lot worse. But, now after taking 2 shots a week, she kind of feels better. Sweets and yeasts still bother her, but not that much anymore. She was allergic to Alternaria, Phoma, Epicoccum and a couple of other molds that she can't remember. She is starting to believe that the whole candida syndrome is actually the side effect of a mold allergy, from her improvements.

Another friend just had her first set of shots last week, which are 3 on Wednesday and one on Friday. The ones on Wednesday were for molds and candida and she didn't feel too bad after them. The one on Friday is for a certain type of fungus that is related to the candida. She doesn't know what it is but it has been on both of her big toes for years. That one made her feels really sick and she is hoping it will get better as time goes by.

They didn't give her a personal copy of what she was allergic to, though I know those were tested on her. They tested 13 single molds and fungi (including candida), plus one mix of 12 molds combined. She didn't react to several of them, but she had been treated for molds before by another doctor, so she is sure that is why. I think her worst reaction was to the candida, it was definitely the most painful over the 48 hour delayed reaction time period.

She has discovered each allergist does things a little different. The one she goes to tests 5 different strengths of each allergen on one day, with 10 minutes between strength. They measure the size of the reaction at the end of the 10 minutes, then move on to the next strength. After that, they have you wait 48 hours and then return to the office to check for delayed reactions as many allergens will cause a secondary reaction hours or days later. Then, they do one more to check for a final, immediate reaction on anything you didn't have a delayed reaction to over the 48 hours.

Mold Allergy - How to Relieve Your Symptoms

Mold is an organism that is found in most every place both outdoors and inside. It is a type of fungus that works to break down materials that are dead and return the nutrients back into the environment. It can grow by digesting plant or animal matter, leaves, wood, dirt, paper and food that release tiny spores in the air, and grows very quickly in places that are moist and dark. When mold is found on food, it is usually seen as the fuzzy spots that are green.

Mold actually has roots and branches and as it grows, the roots can penetrate themselves deep inside of the food where it is not seen. Everyone is exposed to mold every day, and generally, most people do not experience any negative effects. But people who suffer from mold allergies can have a reaction to being around too much mold. Some of the most common symptoms of having a this type of allergy include a stuffy or runny nose, wheezing, itchy eyes, watery eyes, and signs of having a type of rash or hives that develop.

It can be difficult to completely try to avoid mold if you have are susceptible to mold allergy, but you can help reduce the risk of reacting to it by the foods that you choose to eat. Be sure to check all food before you eat and be sure they are fresh. Don't rely on smelling the food, because the mold spores can be inhaled, which in turn may very well cause an allergic reaction.

Some of the most common foods that contain mold are cheese, mushrooms, vinegar, sour cream, buttermilk, meat or fish that is more than a day old, breads, yeast products, sauerkraut, pickled or smoked fish and meats, dried fruits, soy sauce, hot dogs, sausages and canned juices. Try to limit your amounts of these foods that are known to be likely to have mold spores. Also, make sure that you check these foods carefully before you eat them to try and detect any signs of mold.

Because mold likes to dwell in damp and dark places, you should try to limit the amount of time that you spend in your basement, or other areas of your home and outside where you are most likely going to be exposed to mold. It is difficult to try to avoid mold because it is found in all kinds of places both outdoors and inside. You can however, try to stay clear of places that are most likely to be full of mold spores, and not eat a lot of the foods that are likely to develop mold.