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About This Project
What’s wrong with a little mold and mildew?
As long as they stay put behind the laundry tub, out of sight under the basement
carpet, or only peek around the edge of the bathroom wallpaper, who cares? Well, You should, because they’re not only eating away at your house, they could be eating away at your health, too.
Here we’ll take a look at what mold and mildew are, how they affect the health of you and your house and, finally, how you can prevent their growth and get rid of the stuff.
Mold and Mildew: Big-Time Consumers
Though there are thousands of different types of mold and mildew, they all have two things in common: The first is that their mission on Earth is to digest the organic world around them. The second is that they all need moisture so their little digestive enzymes can go to work.
Mold and mildew need only a damp, moist environment and organic material to establish themselves and thrive. Roof and foundation leaks, high interior humidity, overflowing washing machines and more severe forms of flooding are common sources of moisture. Drywall backing, wallpaper, carpet backing, household dust and wood products are commonly attacked organic materials.
There are differences between mold and mildew, but for our purposes, we can call the entire gang mold. Molds are neither plants nor animals. They’re microscopic organisms containing enzymes (responsible for digesting and decomposing) and spores (in charge of reproduction). Mold dwells within the fungi kingdom: a realm that includes mushrooms, yeast and other seemingly unsavory characters. But the truth is, these decay organisms aren’t unsavory at all. Without them, toppled trees, dead animals and fallen vegetables wouldn’t decompose. Our land would get piled higher and higher with dead stuff. We wouldn’t have foods and medicines like cheese and penicillin. The problems arise when mold starts chomping away at things we don’t want them to—affecting the look, smell and structural integrity of your house.
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