The Science Of Mold Spores
The only mold you really want to have in your house is the stuff that is supposed to add flavor to gourmet cheeses. But the scary truth is that there is mold all around you. The spores are floating around on the air in your home, in your office building, in your child’s school and outside. On top of that, mold attaches to your clothing, to pet’s hair, to your children’s skin and to anything else it can touch. The spores are invisible, abundant and persistent. That means the world will never truly be rid of mold.
These floating mold spores spiral through the air and then touch down on the ground. If the spore just so happens to touch down in a warm, moist spot, it will multiply rapidly. You may be able to smell the forming of mold if you find that a portion of your carpet or room smells musty, like old moisture.
Mold spores especially like porous and fibrous surfaces like wood and carpet, both of which can absorb moisture and expand. When this expansion takes place, mold spores get sucked in. You may notice a smell along with dark spots along the grain of the wood. Once mold gets into the wood in your home it becomes very difficult to remove without the help of a professional.
Most of us live with a certain level of acceptable mold. Our bodies can handle this threshold of mold without getting sick or infected. But people with leaky, moist houses can have an abundance of mold, some of which are incredibly dangerous. Anyone with allergies or suppressed immune functions can also feel ill with just a little bit of mold in the home.
Even though the vast majority of molds are not harmful, there are a few strains that are considered toxic. If your home is the unlucky landing spot for one of these molds, then removal is imperative. Otherwise, anyone that comes into the home will feel like they are having an allergic reaction in their upper respiratory tract. Removal of mold that has infiltrated deep into the home must be done by professionals. It is a process called mold remediation. These professionals can also perform follow-up tests to see if the mold has returned, even before you feel its negative effects.