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Hong
Kong
http://www.thestandard.com.hk
Breaking the mold
The black spots on your walls are more than just unsightly. Because
any type of mold growth in elevated levels indoors can harm the
occupants' health, prevention can significantly improve the well-
being of residents. Here are the top 12 tips to prevent indoor mold:
by Phillip Fry and Divine Montero
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The black spots on your walls are more than just unsightly. Because
any type of mold growth in elevated levels indoors can harm the
occupants' health, prevention can significantly improve the well-
being of residents. Here are the top 12 tips to prevent indoor mold:
Keep year-round indoor humidity to less than 60 percent. Adequate
ventilation, air-conditioning and dehumidifiers can help. Indoor mold
grows very well when the indoor humidity is above 70 percent. Minimize
the use of live indoor plants, which facilitate mold growth and
increase humidity due to frequent watering. High humidity in southern
and eastern Hong Kong, leaks, internal air-conditioner moisture and
dirt accumulation and ground water wicking up through concrete floors
are the major causes of growth.
Don't make humidity levels worse. Never use a humidifier to increase
humidity, hang wet clothes to dry indoors or shower without turning on
the exhaust fan or opening a bathroom window.
Use a digital hygrometer. This can check humidity levels in all rooms
and areas of your house or flat. Record the humidity percentage and
the measurement dates for each room in a journal.
Clean air-conditioners, air purifiers and dehumidifiers at least every
three months. This gets rid of accumulated dust and dirt.
Air-conditioners enable mold to grow through the internal condensation
of water and blow airborne spores into the living area.
Install high-efficiency particulate air filters. Important areas are
inside the heating/cooling air supply duct registers, return air
register and the fresh air supply. Use portable HEPA filter air
cleaners to remove airborne mold spores.
Clean well. Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner to clean carpeting and rugs and
mop tile floors daily. Use borax laundry detergent or boric acid
powder in warm water to wash down all walls, floors surfaces, and
furniture and appliances at least monthly for the same reason.
Test for mold. Use test kits, which you can buy online to check the
outward air flow from window air-conditioners, heating, ventilation,
and air- conditioning duct registers and the air of each room at least
annually.
Use your nose. If you smell mold, there is mold growing, whether
visible or hidden.
Use your eyes. Inspect the roof, attic, exterior siding, ceilings,
walls, floors, rugs, wood furniture, and behind and beneath furniture
on a regular basis. Mold discolors wood and other materials. It can be
many colors including black, white, blue, green, white, yellow and
pink.
Look for leaks. Inspect bathroom, kitchen and laundry room plumbing
areas (such as inside and beneath sinks and sink cabinets) regularly
for water leaks, water damage and mold growth.
Inspect dark nonliving areas. Danger zones include the attic, crawl
space under a building, basement, garage and exterior siding regularly
for leaks, stains, water damage and mold growth. Such areas often have
high humidity and water intrusion problems that drive growth. Mold can
then grow into the adjoining floors, ceilings and walls.
Monitor residents' health. Are family members or pets suffering from
health problems that may be mold- related? These problems include
chronic coughs or sneezing, sinus problems, chronic tiredness,
headaches, difficulty in remembering and thinking, skin rashes, open
skin sores, abnormal hair loss, chronic dandruff or breathing
disorders?
Phillip Fry and Divine Montero are certified environmental hygienists,
mold inspectors and remediators. E-mail them at
envirodangers@yahoo.com
or go to
www.envirohongkong.com
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