The material and ideas given below are drawn from many sources, including our own experience. However, this is an area with few guidelines and even fewer hard facts. So, you must always apply common sense in choosing how to adapt the ideas presented here to your own situation. When in doubt, please consult with a professional. You can find experts in this field by searching on the term "mould remediation" or "Indoor Air Quality" in your favorite search engine. At times, there is simply no substitute for experience and personal knowledge.

What are moulds?
Moulds are one of the major forms of fungi. They are found simply everywhere in the environment, both indoors and outdoors. The vast majority of the time, they are found in association with decaying organic materials such as leaves and foods. Moulds "make their living" by helping break down these organic materials so that they can be recycled and reused by other living things in the great circle of life. Thus, moulds are very important to the world's ecology.

How do they get into my house?
Moulds travel about as microscopic spores. You may think of the spores as seeds, but much smaller. They are so small that they are easily blown great distances through the air. Because of this, mould spores are found literally everywhere. For example, it is not unusual for outside air to contain 500-1,000 mould spores in every cubic meter of air.

That sounds awful! Should I be concerned?
Yes and no. For the most part, moulds don't find us, our pets, or our house to be very inviting places to live. And, our nasal passages and lungs are designed to handle those spores that we do inhale--the lung linings have very clever ways of moving the spores back out of the lungs. Thus, mould spores may be present in the air but they can only cause us trouble if we permit them to grow. On the other hand, if significant mould overgrowth occurs in the home, this can lead to damage to the structure of the home and allergies in its occupants.

Is mildew the same as mould?
Yes. This is a common term for mould overgrowth. What do moulds need for growth? Two major things: food and moisture. As just discussed, there are moulds that specialize in eating just about every possible type of organic material. The most commonly found moulds indoors are Aspergillus, Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Penicillium. When provided with suitable food (e.g., a ceiling tile or some drywall) and moisture (in the form of very high humidity, condensation, or water from a leaking pipe), these genera of fungi will gladly setup housekeeping and begin to grow.

What about Stachybotrys?
I've heard that it is a special problem. The Stachybotrys story is wildly overblown. Stachybotrys is one of many moulds found in mould-infested environments, but it is not the most common mould. However, a great fuss was made over it during the period 1993-96 when it was briefly but mistakenly linked to a series of cases of pulmonary hemorrhage in infants. In short, Stachybotrys can make toxins that could make one ill. However, this is also true of many other moulds and it is not clear that any one mould is worse than another in this regard. Thus, all should be treated with equal respect--your goal is a clean environment that is both free of visible mould growth and free of mould-related odors.

How do I look for moulds in my home?
The keys are your eyes and your nose. If you can smell a mouldy, musty, or earthy odor, a fungus may be present. Likewise, you may be able to see the dark discoloration produced by mould growth. Look especially closely at areas that have been damaged by water. While not all stains are mould-related, those that are fuzzy or expanding are often due to moulds. Moulds can be many different colors, but most are green-to-black. Once you have found a spot of mould on the floor, wall, or ceiling, you must also keep in mind that there may well be mould growth that you can't see. Moulds often grow behind walls, under floor tiles, or on the top (back) of the ceiling tiles.

Should I have my home tested for moulds?
There are professional companies that can come and culture your air and walls for fungi, look for Indoor Air Specialists. However, this is really not necessary for two reasons. First, these cultures will always be positive. Moulds are simply everywhere and (short of very specialized and highly filtered clean room environments), it is not possible to eliminate them. Second, moulds are only a problem if you can see or smell them.

How do I control Mould in my home?
Simple answer: remove the moisture/humidity from the area and remove the food source ie dust, dirt, perspiration on clothing, clean shoes, belts and leather goods regularly and store in a dry ventilated area. More tips will be in our new book.. "7 Solutions to a Mould Free Home"..

Whats the best way to remove the Moisture & Humidity?
Install a dehumidifier, available in many shapes and sizes. A fan can also help in air movement used in conjunction with a dehumidifier. Take a look at:"Dehumidifiers" For smaller areas such as drawers , cupboards, robes, tool kits etc. Use re-useable UltraZorb™ Desiccant Dry packs . More tips will be in our new book.."7 Solutions to a Mould Free Home"..