Healthy Indoors Magazine
Issue link: https://hi.healthyindoors.com/i/892198
Healthy Indoors 23 genic, even when dead. Check the goods stored within such boxes to see if they need to be cleaned. Empty such boxes outdoors rather than in the basement, and wear gloves and a NIOSH N95, two- strap mask (available in most building-supply stores) when handling moldy goods. Avoid exposed fiberglass insulation in a basement or crawl space. Even if the insulation looks clean and new, mold can still grow on the dust captured in the fibers. If you have exposed fiberglass insulation in your basement, confer with an air quality professional on your options. Don't start pulling the insulation out yourself; this can spread mold spores. Look carefully around the exterior for any gaps or openings that could be rodent pathways. Mice love to nest in fiber- glass, and they contaminate the material with their urine and fecal matter. Seal any gaps or openings you find, including between an attached garage and the house, with masonry, wood, or mesh and foam, as appropriate. Keep your gutters and downspouts clean and in good order. Many, if not most, water-intrusion problems below-grade are caused by poor control of roof water at the exterior. Store possessions properly in an unfinished basement. Don't store a lot of goods in your basement. The more stored goods there are, the more surfaces there are to col- lect biodegradable dust. Goods should be stored at least 18 inches away from foun- dation walls and at least 6 inches off the floor (slab). This will minimize the chances of mold growth, as well as protect your possessions in case there is water intrusion (or even a small flood — say from a leaking hot-water heater or washing ma- chine). Rolling metal shelves are best. Then you can move the shelves around when you clean the basement (always a good idea to minimize the presence of biodegradable dust). Do not place cardboard boxes directly on the floor in an unfinished basement, or mold will take hold. If you are mov- ing into a property and don't have plastic or metal shelves already in the basement, place a 4 foot by 8 foot sheet of one-inch, foil-laminated polyisocyanurate sheet-foam insula- tion on the floor and another against the foundation wall, so that the two sheets form an "L" on and against which you can place your cardboard boxes. This will insulate the cardboard from the cooler slab and foundation wall, and keep the floor and wall dampness away from your possessions. Discard cardboard boxes that are stained from water or blackened with suspected mold growth. There's no sense in keeping such boxes, because mold spores can be aller- I'm not a fan of finished basements, but if you want to finish your basement, or you have a finished basement, refer to our book The Mold Survival Guide: For Your Home and for Your Health, which contains a chapter on basements, as well as guidance (in Part III) on removing mold growth. Available on amazon.com Photomicrograph of mold growing around fiberglass fibers; the circle is an air bubble in the sample May Indoor Air Investigations LLC A recent study drew a correlation between increased levels of mouse allergens indoors and increased asthma symptoms.