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Start the new year off on a great foot? Use these tips to help improve the air you and your family are breathing every day.

Start the new year off on a great foot? Use these tips to help improve the air you and your family are breathing every day.

Start the new year off on a great foot? Use these tips to help improve the air you and your family are breathing every day.

Air Quality Assessors /  844-CALL-AQA

 

Unlike our skin or liver, which developed mechanisms to eliminate unwanted pollutants, the lungs didn’t develop an efficient mechanism to remove fine dust particles or block harmful gases from entering the bloodstream. I heard an explanation once that argued that because air pollution wasn’t abundant in the atmosphere until the past few hundred years, evolution didn’t have to “deal” with it (unlike UV or toxins like Benzo(a)pyrene).

 

  • There are dozens of pollutants and sources of pollution in residential (indoor) spaces, and their concentrations can be tens of times greater than in the ambient (outdoor) air. The composition of pollutants in the home space is varied, from pollutants that are typical of combustion processes such as nitrogen dioxide, pollutants emitted from electronic products such as flame retardants, to radioactive pollutants emitted from the earth (radon). Each of the pollutants has health impacts on humans, anchored in a large scientific base. But the combinations of those pollutants raises the question of whether there are synergistic effects, especially with long term exposure.

 

  • Many people are not aware of the true quality of the materials and products used in new furniture or carpets they are purchasing. The materials used in these common household goods may emit toxic chemicals into the home environment, increasing indoor air pollution dramatically over a short and long period of time. Even an action that seems trivial, such as cooking or printing, exposes us to dozens of toxic organic compounds and respirable particles. Today there is broad scientific agreement on the connection between the exposure to residential air pollutants and to the appearance of respiratory diseases in children and adults. Therefore, there is a real need to raise awareness of indoor air quality and the technologies to improve it.

 

  • There are three major strategies for enhancing air quality in the home space.
    1. The first strategy is to prevent or control the formation of contaminants – for example, by reducing processed wood products and carpets in the home.
    2. The second strategy is to ventilate (actively or passively) the home space. However, there are cases where the outdoor air quality is worse than that indoors, or the weather conditions does not permit.
    3. The use of technological products to improve air quality is needed when the first two strategies are not enough. Air-conditioning and systems have great potential for improving air quality at home if we know how to plan and adapt it to existing air purification technologies. In my view, advanced air purification technologies need to be integrated as standard in residential air-conditioning systems.

 

Indoor air pollution is a concrete problem in both new and old buildings throughout the world. Rachel Carson, in her book, Silent Spring, says, “For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of conception until death.” This statement summarizes the situation for residential indoor air quality.

We all take risks in everyday life: driving in cars, travelling by airplane, biking to work, crossing a busy street, playing extreme sports, to name a few. However, perhaps more risky to our health is a risk we aren’t even knowingly taking, an that is our exposure to environmental pollutants, which carry various degrees of risk. Among these, there are some risks that cannot be avoided, some which are hard to avoid because they are so ingrained in our daily routines, and there are those that we could avoid, if we only had the knowledge.

In-home air pollution is exactly the kind of health risk that we can avoid and minimize our exposure to, if we have the knowledge and information available. The combination of the three strategies above appears to be the most effective solution for reducing the exposure to these pollutants and the harmful health effects of their exposure.

 

 

Air Quality Assessors Video Promotion from Air Quality Assessors on Vimeo.

Find out more about Air Quality Assessors and contact Steve Berman / steve@airqualityassessors.com

 

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With many of us at home due to the Pandemic Air Quality is a concern for all. by Air Quality Assessors

With many of us at home due to the Pandemic Air Quality is a concern for all. by Air Quality Assessors

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With many of us at home due to the Pandemic Air Quality is a concern for all.

“When it comes to small amounts of mold found in the home, it is possible for homeowners to fix the problem themselves. Check out this article that gives advice on the best products to use! 

Promoted by Air Quality Assessors

 

Mold and mildew love humid, dark and warm places to grow. Unfortunately, the perfect environment is normally in the last place you want it to be – your home. Bathroom’s, kitchens, laundries, bathrooms and even bedrooms can create conditions mould and mildew thrive in. Humidity levels in the home increase whenever we cook, wash, clean and breathe, making good ventilation a must.

But what can you do when you discover mould or mildew taking up residence in your home? Is it really possible to clean mould properly with household cleaning products? Do DIY mold treatments actually work? And what can be done to prevent it from occurring in the first place? Fear not as we’re here to answer all of these questions and more.

 

Best Ways to Clean Mold in Your Home

When it comes to the best cleaning solutions to remove mold and mildew, the internet is filled with DIY remedies and methods – which aren’t always as safe as what they seem. For small areas of isolated growth, they may provide temporary relief. But in the long-term, professional treatment is the fail-safe way to get rid of it.

Think of DIY treatments as a band-aid placed over a leaking water pipe. They will hold back the flow for a short while, but sooner or later it’s going to drop off, and the problem is going to rear its ugly head yet again.

Some of the more popular household cleaners used to clean mold and mildew include:

  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Bleach
  • Dettol
  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Microfibre cloths

Once the physical mould growth has been removed, things get a little bit easier to control. While mold itself is actually quite fragile, easily killed by most abrasive and acidic chemicals, these often don’t get to the root of the problem – and it only takes a small area left untreated,  to kickstart another infestation.

If you can stomach the smell of vinegar, it’s probably the safest route to take on your own. Combined with a good quality microfiber cloth, you can agitate the bulk of the problem away. If you don’t have vinegar, a product stocked at your local supermarket  is a good second choice as a mould remover. Avoid dry agitation. Vigorous rubbing can send spores airborne and make it easier for mould to migrate around the home.

 

Cleaning Mould on Walls

To clean mold on walls, a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in a spray bottle will provide a quick fix. While available in higher concentrations, 3% is usually enough to take care of most types of mold. However, you must be careful when using hydrogen peroxide as the fumes released have no odour, and can be hard to tell if you are breathing in a considerable amount of fumes. Hydrogen can be toxic if ingested, inhaled or contacted with the skin, therefore using this as an option should be carefully considered and completed in a well ventilated space.

If you have a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, begin by vacuuming down the walls to remove any loose spores. Then take a spray bottle with the hydrogen peroxide solution and completely saturate the moldy area. Leave it to work for a good 15 minutes and then scrub at it with a Scotch-Brite sponge.

Next, take a damp cloth and wipe down the surface to remove any excess liquid. Finish off with drying the surface with a microfiber cloth. If you have a dehumidifier at home, put it in the room you just cleaned and close the door. This will help to remove any additional moisture.

Cleaning Mould on Soft Furnishings

The treatment you will use for cleaning mold on soft furnishings all depends on where you find it. If you find mold on a floor rug or carpet, baking soda can help. You can sprinkle it over the affected area, work it in with a hard-bristled brush and then vacuum it up after 2 or 3 hours.

For curtains, sofas and cushions, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with 500ml of water in a spray bottle and give the affected furnishings a generous spraying down. When dry, vacuum down and repeat two more times. If the sofa and cushion covers are removable, put them through the laundry at a high temperature and hang out to air dry.

Mold and mildew can both leave stains behind. Especially on light coloured fabrics. If this is the case, soak them in a one-part household bleach 10 parts cool water bath for 50 minutes. Then run them through the laundry machine on a cool wash and allow to air-dry outdoors. White vinegar can be effective at combating mold and mildew, but its strong odour makes it less than ideal on soft furnishings.

Cleaning Mould on Wooden Surfaces

Wood can be a tricky surface to take care of – especially if it is porous or untreated. Sometimes, if the item is heavily water damaged, the only real solution is to throw the moldy or mildew ridden wood away. However, this is one area that white vinegar can actually help with. The acidic nature of vinegar makes it effective at combating up to mould growth; but this acid could damage varnished surfaces – so be cautious.

Fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar and liberally spray down the moldy or mildew covered surface. Leave it to sit for a good hour or two so that it can soak in a little and kill any spores in the lower layers. For varnished or treated wood, dilute the vinegar to a 1:3 ratio.

Vigorously brush down the surface with a soft hand brush and then apply one more coating. Open the windows and allow it to dry. You’ll have to put up with the smell of vinegar for a couple of days, after which it will start to fade. If vinegar is too overpowering for you; a cap of bleach or Dettol mixed with a litre of water in a spray bottle will help reduce spores and growth. Avoid mixing chemicals as the reactions can sometimes be worse than the problem itself.

When treating moldy or mildewy areas yourself, select a product that is proven to treat mold effectively. There are plenty of chemical solutions available in supermarkets and stores; but remember, these are quick fixes and not a genuine solution to the problem.

 

When to Call in the Experts?

If mould or mildew keeps reappearing weeks after cleaning it away, it’s time to discover the root of the problem and have it taken care of properly. Finding the moisture source should be the first priority, and then followed on with a treatment using specialist equipment and solutions.

 

Florida Air Quality Evaluation Services

With offices in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Naples, and Ft. Lauderdale, and Panama City Beach! We guarantee mold testing results within 3 business days on standard pricing testing services.

Air Quality Assessors of Florida (AQA), is a statewide indoor air quality testing and consultation service provider. Founded in 2010, with over 18 years’ experience in the field of mold and moisture assessing as well as pest control, lawn care, termite, and WDO (wood destroying organism) inspections through working in a successful family business. AQA continuously grows with a developing industry and strives to influence other professionals to follow industry guidelines and regulations.

(407) 233-0493
Steve Berman

 

 

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