Dealing with mold...

[Junegoddess]

We rent a moldy house in a very moldy city. I didn't know about the mold problem until recently... we've been in this house for 2 years now and I've been fairly sick the whole time. I discovered several food allergies right when we moved in, after a bout of giardia that started before we got in this house... so I can't blame everything on the mold. But the mold is still definitely a problem.

I kept telling myself that surely, if the mold were a severe health threat, the leasing agency would have done something about it. Right? Right? Yeah... I'm so naive. And I haven't worked up to actually DOING anything about it myself because... the kids aren't sick, my dh isn't sick... maybe it's all in my head. Maybe it's "just" mildew? Maybe the fact that my mother gets headaches every single time she comes over is just a coincidence? My dh is soooooo skeptical about stuff like this, and so tired of hearing my latest theory on what's making me sick. I've currently finally talked him into looking at other houses to rent, but unless we find something really great that doesn't cost any more... he won't want to move.

SO. I've got to at least figure out what to do about the mold here, for now and in case we're stuck here two more years.

There's some visible mold in the bathroom and under the kitchen sink. There's an entire wall in the den that looks like it had water damage... along the bottom, like it flooded or something. The bathroom also looks like it flooded. I'm no expert, but when the bottom 3 inches of wall and cabinet are damaged... the first thing I think of is "flood."

I've read about ozone air cleaners. Some claim to completely eradicate mold problems. Sounds awesome. But then I also read about how dangerous ozone is, even in the amounts put out by the air cleaners. I remember my old chiropractor's office had an ozone machine and I LOVED the air in there... always felt so good in there. So, I'm not sure which side to believe. In lieu of ozone, I've read some older posts on here about the Kenmore HEPA filters... but would I need one in each room? How often do they need new filters? How effective are they?
I've also googled how to clean up moldy areas, and gotten tons of conflicting information. Bleach = good, bleach = bad, 100s of sites selling stuff that "absolutely works." Ack. I need to avoid chemicals... I'm pregnant. But I also need to avoid the stinkin' mold.

I'm guessing that since the area I live in has such a bad reputation for mold problems, this is something I'll have to deal with no matter if we move now or stay here. So, any and all advice is welcome.

Also... should I get the house tested first? I have no idea how much that would cost. But I can see how it might be good to know exactly what we're dealing with. If it is the dangerous black mold (are there any non-dangerous black molds? Is mildew ever black?) then I think I can force the leasing agency to pay for cleaning it up.

[ASusan]

I don't know that I can answer all of your questions (esp re air filters - I'm curious about those, too). But I've dealt some with water and possible mold in a floody basement.

First, document everything in its current condition with pictures and written description. That way, you have evidence for the leasing company if it is ever necessary.

There is a device that tests for water in the walls. I've had a contractor and the rug cleaner guy use them in my basement. If there is water, you might be able to get the leasing company to act. Or, you can act.

Carpet that is made of synthetic fibers can be professionally cleaned with VERY hot water (no chemicals) and allowed to dry. This should kill a lot of the buggers. Using a rental unit will not help - you cannot get the water hot enough, and the suction is not strong enough. (It leaves the carpet too damp and then it takes too long to dry out and the mildew/mold gets a chance to get hold again.)

I would wipe down the walls, cabinets and any other hard surfaces with a solution of bleach and water. In this case, bleach is your friend. It kills the bad stuff. If you can get someone else to do it, great. If not, use gloves, a mask if you have one, and make sure the place is very well aired out during and after the process. I would do this more than once, and even on a regular basis (weekly?) until you no longer see mold or nothing new is growing.

Can you repaint with a product like Kilz?

Can you use a dehumidifier in the room(s) that are damp? If you're operating it in a basement, make sure you do not have it set TOO high, or you can pull moisture THROUGH the walls from the outside. It's a delicate balance to operate a dehumidifier in a basement.

[LauraLoo]

Hugs! You have my sympathy! I posted something similar not too long ago. We are out of our rental now -- so it's someone else's problem. If we had intended to be their long term, I might have taken up the issue with the leasing company. Maybe there's something that will help you from this thread:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...highlight=mold

[Junegoddess]

Thanks for the link, LauraLoo.

I'm thinking my first step is to call a mold inspection place and find out how much it would cost to have them come out. If it's not too much... that'd be a good start. I want to know the scope of the problem.

My mom really, really, really thinks this house is the cause of some of my health problems, and possibly a cause of my miscarriage and stillbirth.

ASusan, I've read that bleach can actually worsen mold when used on porous surfaces, like walls. Bleach is mostly water, and the water part seeps in while the chemical, mold-killing part stays on the surface. The water part then feeds more mold. I don't think repainting would help, as the biggest damaged wall is wood paneling and the worse part of the bathroom is the floor. The tiles (linoleum or something like that) are peeling up due to the moisture trapped underneath. And it's not like we're overflowing the bathtub a lot (ever). I don't know where that moisture is coming from.

We've currently been waiting almost 3 weeks for the leasing agency to contact the actual owner of the house to get permission to install a water softener (we have VERY hard water which really feeds mildews and molds). I can only imagine the delay if I request they do something expensive, like fix the mold. I will NEVER rent through an agency again.

[SunshineJ]

Mold can do a nasty number on someone! I'm generally not allergic to it, or at least I wasn't until our basement flooded and it exploded down there. I had pneumonia within 2 weeks! The thing that raised the most alarms for me was that it sounds like there's been water behind the walls. If that's the case there may very well be mold back there too, so all the scrubbing in the world won't help it. The notorious "black mold" really isn't that common, and is very misleading. Many types of regular mold and mildew can be black as well, without the side effect of being inherently toxic to non-allergic people. Don't kid yourself that the rental agency would care about the mold or let you know. Our DD has severe mold allergies, and while looking for a new place to rent (we're relocating in a few weeks), I'd specifically ask about mold and make it a point to mention our concerns - we're not just being picky but that it's a legitimate health concern. You'd be amazed at the people who swore up and down there was no mold, etc. and as soon as you walked into the basement you could smell it AND see it!

What DH did that helped a lot was to wash down the walls with bleach and water, and run lysol through the vent system. He wore a mask and everyone else was out of the house for the day. That may help some, but if it's taken up residence behind the walls the only thing that will really fix it that I know of is to replace the sheet rock and clean up back there. Not something a tenant wants to deal with or a landlord wants a tenant doing!

I'd definitely make finding a new place to live a priority. Good luck!

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by Junegoddess

We've currently been waiting almost 3 weeks for the leasing agency to contact the actual owner of the house to get permission to install a water softener (we have VERY hard water which really feeds mildews and molds). I can only imagine the delay if I request they do something expensive, like fix the mold. I will NEVER rent through an agency again.

I would definitely find out what your legal rights are as a renter. If you know what they are, you can definitely make a case. I'm sure that there's something that you can google for your state. Before you pay for an inspection, find out what you need to get.

And I do agree that mold is a big potential health issue. Long before our home leasing problem, I worked in a renovated warehouse made into offices after it had been abandoned for many years. I started work in April. From Aug through Dec. I had a horrible sinus infection, bronchitis, a UTI, and then hives. I hadn't been to a doctor in YEARS and then I was seeing one every 4 weeks. I quit my job after I found something else and no more chronic health issues. I know it was from all the mold and crud that you just can't get out of buildings once they are exposed to the elements. I found out later that I wasn't the only one with chronic ailments that worked there.

[californiajenn]

Bumping this to find our how you are doing now.

I'm dealing with issues that I think stem from mold in our previous rental and am at a loss on how to deal with them. Since moving a few month ago, I seem to be doing better BUT I am left dealing with tons of food allergies than began when living in the moldy house.

[nicolelynn]

I have been sick for 1.5 years (fingers crossed I am starting to feel better!) and only recently thought about mold in my house. With all my digestive problems (parasite, candida, food sensitivities, colon constantly inflamed) one thing I do NOT have is seasonal allergies or any type of sinus problems, whereas DH does. I always thought mold only produced sinus problems, but I learned it suppresses the immune system in general so anything can spring from that. I also didn't think of it until now because i live in a dry climate, but the house is a bit older I finally realized.

I got some of those home mold testing kits from Home Depot and did air cultures in the bathroom and AC duct. I did a swab of some mold growing under the kitchen sink. The lab tested them all positive for various types of mold, but none that matched the name of that really toxic black mold I can't remember the name of now. So I didn't quite know where to go from there.

Then our house foreclosed and we just moved out this week, so I count that a blessing. I don't want to speak too soon but I already feel better this week.

I plan to email the mortgage company the test results and my experience and hopefully they do something about it so no one else gets sick.

Time will tell though if the mold was the culprit in my case if I continue to get better.

Is it feasible for you to consult with a Naturopath about the environmental testing? If I had stayed in my house I would have done that, had a professional mold inspector double check my home testing and had the professional repairs done.

Best of luck.

[californiajenn]

I'm working with an ND now, plus a chiro, massage therapist; and have seen an acupuncturist and holistic MD. They've all called me a "special case" b/c I'm not presenting in typical manners. lol

[meg-momto2]

i've already crossed paths with californiajenn but i post here too. i'm currently dealing with something similar. our rental has mold issues. we paid out of pocket for an inspection which confirmed it. not that you couldn't deny the black stuff growing across our ceilings. the landlord is slacking on taking care of it and i'm working on breaking our lease.

my husband seems to think i'm crazy and over reacting even though he's been coughing for more then 6 months. i can't get through the day without a 2 hour nap. my face is very puffy and my eyes look like i have black eyes. daily headaches, swollen sinuses which make the roof of my mouth swell, fluid in my ears and now i'm having digestive issues. i lost my sense of smell after a horrible sinus infection 6 weeks after moving in. my recent allergy testing shows i'm allergic to 3 molds, two of which are in the house according to air samples(171x and 50x more then outside). i'm also highly allergic to every tree, pollen and grass outside. our beds grew mildew from being on the wood floor.

i have a ENT appt next week and a follow up with my allergist on the 9th. i'll be getting doctors notes from them and contact a lawyer. i'm also going to look into our renters insurance to see if they can replace any of our furniture. i think we need new beds, linens and sofa. i've taken pictures of everything for documentation. once we get out of here i'll really concentrate on getting healthy again.

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

i am really beginning to think this is the cause of my fatigue. I posted in H&H about my drained tired feeling and the fact i am dieting and excersizing, but now that i am back home from a 3 day vacation i am really beginning to think it is the mold in the home causing my ailments. I know we have mold, i've seen it in the basement. I had dh take out a lot of the damaged dry wall last year and he did clean with bleach downstairs, but i am not certain how well of a job he did. Many things that have been left down there have had mold growing on them, shoes, high chair and carseat straps (i threw that out). I am finding my symptoms are increasing with the warmer weather, i do find relief from being outdoors.

We don't have much extra money to address the situation this month, but i am putting this at a top priority, i just can't live like this anymore.

[LauraLoo]

I didn't see this thread when it was bumped in March.

But since we've been out of our moldy rental for a little over a year, we've been amazingly healthy. We were all so sick the year and a half that we lived in the rental, and other than a stomach bug that the kids caught this past winter *none* of us have been sick.