MOULD WARS
Beat back the spores
Most Canadians have just enough knowledge about mould to foster a nagging sense that it’s dangerous, yet not enough knowledge to understand that there’s no need to fear it if you’re prepared.
WHY MOULD GROWS
Mould thrives whenever warmth, moisture and a food source come together. That’s because mould spores are everywhere, even on surfaces that appear synthetic and food-free. Bathrooms are always a perennial source of mould because of the ample water, warmth and soap residue there, and windows are a particularly common Canadian mould breeding ground, too.
If your windows formed running condensation this past winter — and many did for the first time because of lower-than-usual temperatures — you probably have mould on the edges of your windows right now.
Walls can also form patches of mould during winter in areas where couches and drapes are pushed against exterior walls. Take a look at your place and see if mould grew this past winter.
Wherever mould grows indoors, it can make you sick. Don’t aim for coexistence with mould because it never sleeps. If it has started to grow a little, it will continue to grow a lot unless you dry the area and kill the spores. Outdoor mould is something of a different story. It’s ugly and signals structural rot just setting in, but it won’t make you sick because there’s plenty of ventilation outside.
KILL MOULD DEEPLY
Of the factors needed for mould growth — temperature, food source and moisture — the last is the only one you have much control over. That’s why lowering moisture levels is always the first step when killing mould, but that’s not enough on its own.
Living mould spores lie dormant after reduced moisture levels have shut down growth, but they’re ready to spring into action at levels of moisture that would be too low to start new growth on clean surfaces. That’s why you need to apply a deep mould killer.
The best I’ve found so far in my tests is a Canadian product called Concrobium Mold Control. It’s an odourless liquid that’s non-toxic. So how can something non-toxic kill anything?
It works by mechanically crushing mould and mould spores as it dries, and that’s why it offers residual killing action that goes beyond the old standby, bleach.
Besides being irritating to people, bleach smells strong enough that most registered bleach-based mould control products recommend you wear a respirator when using them.
Lab studies also show that bleach offers no residual mould control and isn’t always able to reliably penetrate porous surfaces like wood, concrete and drywall to kill mould roots. That’s the dynamic behind older mould infestations flaring up again, even on surfaces that don’t get sopping wet. The ability to effect a complete mould kill is the main reason more advanced mouldcontrol options were developed.
REMOVE MOULD STAINS
Mould that’s fully killed often still leaves behind stains that don’t come out, even with scrubbing. That’s why oxygen-based mould removal products were invented. They break down to oxygen and water, but not before removing stains, indoors and outside. The best stain-removal product I’ve seen so far is another Canadian invention called Mold Stain Eraser. Mix this powder with warm water, let it sit for 10 minutes, then slosh it on. In some cases you can actually see the mould stains disappear as you watch. It even removes grey weathering on outdoor wood.
Dry things out, kill mould and spores, then remove the stains. Keep these simple ideas in mind and you’ve got no reason to fear mould anymore, no matter where it shows up at your place. Watch my video at stevemaxwell.ca/ how-to-kill-mold to learn more.