How to get rid of white mold in the cellar? Mold: in what form is dangerous and when
You were about to make a sandwich, but you suddenly discover that the cheese blue and white, and the bread is covered in white flakes. Is it possible to carry out a food rescue operation, or should it all be thrown into the trash?
To answer this question, it is necessary to strike a balance between potential health risks and the reluctance to throw away food. Dr. Ailsa Hawking of CSIRO Agriculture and Food believes that it is probably possible to cut off the missing piece from hard cheese, but it is better to throw away the bread.
What do we know about mold?
Scientists claim that mold has been around for about three billion years. The study of mold revealed not only its negative sides, but also led to the appearance of penicillin, medicinal product Penicillium notatum. Penicillin was the first antibiotic used. He is credited with saving countless lives. Other useful forms are those used for growing cheeses and making soy sauce.
If you love fizzy soda water, you have to give credit to the mildew here as well. With its help, lemon acid for flavoring many soft drinks. In addition, some types of mold are used to improve soil in agriculture.
However, we must not forget about the harm that mold can cause. Some forms also cause respiratory problems, while others produce extremely harmful toxins.
- Mycosis or "athlete's foot" develops due to the fault of a mold fungus.
- The mold that appears on bread can be black, green, pink, white and gray - the most dangerous of all. Gray mold is the most resilient, develops on any surface and penetrates deep into it.
- White, affecting bread and cheese, is dangerous to humans. Wash more often wooden surfaces- the most favorable environment for white mold.
- To eat or not to eat a peach with a black mold affected area? In no case! Black mold is dangerous to health!
- If you have ever seen a white fungus appearing on a tropical fish in your aquarium, be careful. It is very harmful and sometimes even fatal to fish.
- Mold loves warm, damp places..
- slime mold most often found in moist forests. It grows on rotting logs and leaves.
- A scary mushroom named Phytophthora infestans, struck and destroyed Ireland's potato crop between 1846-1850, causing over a million starvation deaths and millions of people fleeing the country. This period became known as Irish potato famine.
Get rid of the mold or throw away the product?
When it comes to a moldy product, it's not just about bad taste. Actively growing mold releases toxins into food. Sometimes it's hard to know where fungal spores end. So how do you make a decision if you don't have a security expert on hand? food products?
Dr. Hawking says there are two factors that will help you make your decision: humidity and density of the product.
Many other foods, including moldy bread, are best thrown away right away, as the mold has likely spread beyond what you can't see. In addition, if dairy products, such as yogurt, are moldy, harmful bacteria can form and cause diarrhea.
Why is mold harmful?
There are many different types of mold that can appear on food. The most common are Aspergillus, Penicillium and Botrytis, which is similar to the white fluff that appears on strawberries. How do the toxins released by these species affect the human body?
While rare, mold can cause excessive sweating, tremors, muscle weakness, seizures, headache, fever, and vomiting.
According to hospital patients, after consuming a moldy product, they felt like they were dying. In the truest sense of the word.
Most mold toxins are heat resistant and therefore cannot be destroyed during the cooking process.
Eating moldy foods is known to cause disease in livestock and kill dogs. Dogs are at particular risk when they have access to household waste. But most of the toxins found in mold only pose a risk if consumed over a long period of time.
Many of these compounds are carcinogenic and chronic exposure has been linked to liver cancer.
What moldy foods are safe to eat?
The same rule applies to porous products such as bread and cakes. If you find mold on these products, you can throw them away without hesitation.
Of course, some domesticated molds are deliberately introduced into food as part of the manufacturing process - for example, the use of such products is not dangerous, but if other, "wild" types of mold appear on molded cheese, the product should be discarded. Determining this can be tricky, but it's best to compare the cheese you buy with other cuts that are sold in the store.
Jams and jellies
Another topic of discussion is whether fruit jams and jellies that have mold on their surface can be salvaged.
You can try spooning away the affected areas of the jam, but its crumbly consistency means you run the risk of crowding out the air spores produced by all kinds of molds, which can float, settle, and re-grow mold.
The US Food Safety and Inspection Service says mold on jam produces toxins, so the entire can should be thrown into the trash. However, Dr. Hawking believes that jams of a denser consistency can be tried to save.
To have mold or not to eat, that is the question
Scientists have long confirmed that mold can continue to grow in the refrigerator and even the freezer. In addition, it is able to survive in salty, sweet and acidic environments.
For those who have encountered mold and do not know what to do, The US Food Inspection Service compiled general recommendations problem response:
Moldy foods that need to be disposed of immediately:
- Meat, bacon and sausages
- Yogurt, sour cream and soft cheese
- Soft fruits and vegetables
- Bread and bakery products
- Peanut butter, nuts and legumes
- Jams and jellies (but note Dr. Hawking's remark about the density of jams)
Moldy foods that can be saved by removing the moldy area:
- Hard salami. Clean mold from the surface.
- Hard cheeses. Trim at least 2.5 cm around the infected area. Don't let the knife touch the mold and wrap the cheese in a new package (cling film).
- Hard fruits and vegetables. small plots mold can be cut off.
White, pink, brown, green, gray, blue, yellow, red mold.
White mold is a fungus that most often appears in basements and basements. White mold penicillium candidum spreads throughout the room and enters neighboring rooms through the air in the form of flying spores.
White mold under a microscope looks like white lumps, like cotton wool. When the colony grows, it takes the form of a white fluffy lump.
What is mold
Molds have long and densely settled in human dwellings. It affects streams, walls, floors, internal walls. Also, the fungus grows on food, even if the storage conditions of food are observed, after a while spots of mold damage also appear on them.
Fluffy white mold is also called mukor mushroom. This type begins its development in the form of a thin, almost transparent cobweb. Further, the fungal colony acquires a denser structure and its color may change - white, pinkish, gray. Color change occurs at the stage of spore formation.
Mycology has about 60 types of white mold. In addition to the fact that white mold, like cotton wool, is a pest, medical preparations are made from its cultivated species, namely antibiotics, as well as food.
Harm and benefit
Why is white mold dangerous? This type of fungus can damage the walls so much that cosmetic repairs will eventually be spoiled by new germination of colonies. Only capital impregnation of walls can save the room from reappearance fungus through the wallpaper.
Like other molds, white mold spores can spread through the air. At the same time, disputes adversely affect the health of the inhabitants of the premises.
Many families with children living in apartments with a fungus notice frequent colds in babies, which over time are complicated by bronchial asthma. Earlier, we talked about the effects of mold on the child's body in the article - Mucor fungus is the causative agent of the disease mucormycosis, which affects almost all organs of a person or animal.
Only five types of mucor are considered harmful to human health, but excessive consumption of foods with noble white mold can be harmful in the form of intestinal upset, dysbacteriosis, and flatulence.
White mold is also beneficial. So, in pharmacological laboratories around the world, antibiotics against various infections are successfully produced from mucor. But it is strictly forbidden to use white mold for treatment on your own. As well as eating foods affected by the fungus (the recommended serving is no more than 50 g per day).
Food edible white mold allows you to produce food:
In the manufacture of cheeses and sausages with mukor, at the last stage of preparation of the product, it is placed in a room with special atmospheric conditions - humidity level, constant temperature, air saturated with spores. White mold does not penetrate deep into the product, but covers it with a fluffy film over the entire surface. Sausages and cheeses acquire a certain aroma, juiciness and tenderness.
It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of food products with mucor, since the noble fungus promotes the rapid absorption of calcium. And the percentage of protein is superior to eggs and fish.
People who suffer from chronic gastrointestinal diseases should eat moldy foods with caution. And in the acute period, it is better to abandon this category of food altogether.
"Favorite" places of growth
White mold in the house appears in places with favorable conditions. Moisture, favorable temperature (about 20 degrees), insufficient sunlight (UV), hard-to-reach places. The combination of these circumstances occurs in such premises as:
- basement, cellar;
- bathroom;
- sauna, bath;
- attic;
- wooden floors and underground.
White mold in the basement, why is it dangerous? Since mucor most often appears on food, if a large amount of supplies is stored in the basement, over time, they can all be infected. Even one slightly damaged apple can destroy all the apples stored for the winter.
How to get rid of white mold in the cellar? With a slight infection, measures to combat the fungus are limited to prophylactic treatment with formalin solution. After the treated areas have dried, they need to be re-plastered and whitewashed.
The cellar room should be well ventilated, and it is recommended to periodically clean, sort and sort out stocks stored on shelves and on the floor. Once a year, and preferably twice, you should ventilate and dry the cellar. To do this, absolutely everything that can be taken out of the room must be taken out, including shelves and poured sand. If the shelves are wooden, then they are additionally treated with a soap and soda solution.
It will take about two weeks to completely dry the cellar in cloudless weather. Boards and all surfaces after drying should be treated with an antifungal agent. Lime or sand should be completely replaced. If the floor in the cellar is not concrete or wooden, but the earthen floor, experts recommend thoroughly spilling a solution of copper sulphate.
Before you put vegetables and fruits to store raw in the cellar, you need to prepare a place for them. For the purpose of long-term storage, sand or lime should be poured onto the floor, which allows you to limit the access of the fungus from the ground to the products. Before placing the fruits in storage, they must be carefully sorted out and fruits and vegetables with signs of rot must be removed. It is they who can cause the death of the entire party.
Preservation should also be sorted out annually. In the event that canned stocks have not been eaten during the winter, then their quality should be checked. Over time, tin lids can rust, and the contents of cans can deteriorate. Such canned food should not be eaten and should be thrown away.
On the ground, white mold appears due to excess moisture. Mature plants are able to endure the neighborhood with the fungus, but young seedlings can die. On the ground, white mold does not look like patina, but like salt deposits. First of all, in order to reduce the manifestations of the fungus, you should change the irrigation schedule, for example, increase the number of days between waterings, but at the same time the volume of water can be increased.
There are plenty of ways to fight the fungus, there are folk methods, as well as in hardware stores, anti-mold products are presented. The most popular methods:
- white();
- sulfur checker;
- copper sulfate;
- boric acid with salt;
- bleach in combination with formalin;
- tea tree oil;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- ammonia;
- vinegar;
- borax.
From chemicals On the shelves of stores you can find such tools:
fungicide "Titan";
- Boramon;
- Astonish;
- PS 50;
- Boramon C30;
- impregnation "Snowball";
- SZAVO;
- Belinka;
- Atlas Mycos and others.
If white mold is found on the wallpaper, clean it with a sponge and treat the affected area with an antiseptic. If the fungus reappears, change the wallpaper, and before sticking new ones, pre-treat the walls with an anti-mold compound.
Mukor (white mold) likes to grow on boards, which means that all wooden surfaces are at risk:
- parquet floors;
- log cabins;
- elements of wooden decor ().
White mold on the log house appears as a result of poor-quality preparation of the material for operation. For example, the tree was not pre-treated with an anti-mold compound, the joints between the logs were poorly sealed. These shortcomings lead to the penetration of moisture into the thickness of the tree during rains and snow.
Under the floor, white mold develops as a result of possible basement flooding or in poorly heated rooms. Moreover, such a fungus quickly spreads from the floor to the walls. It is difficult to get rid of white mold in this case, since the work to eliminate it will be quite large-scale - you need to isolate the walls and floor of the basement from further moisture penetration, wooden floors may need to be changed, and before you stick new wallpaper, you should process the walls primer and plaster.
What to do if white mold appears in the aquarium? The fungus in the aquarium appears due to its untimely processing and cleaning. Residues of food, feces of the inhabitants of the aquarium, flowering of water - all these are factors that provoke the growth and spread of mold colonies.
You need to get rid of it as soon as possible, as spores can infect the fish. Removal of the fungus is carried out by disinfecting the aquarium, sterilizing the soil, disposing of all diseased plants and inhabitants of the aquarium. For the purpose of prevention, it is recommended to periodically add to the water special formulations against mold.
For more information on how to get rid of mold in an aquarium, read the article "Mold in Water".
White mold on the walls can cause significant harm to the health of households. A person is infected with a fungus in several ways:
- Through the respiratory system by inhalation of spores;
- Through the skin when touching the lesion;
- Through the circulatory system with wounds and scratches on the skin;
- Accidental consumption of mold-infected foods.
If the fungus enters the body, it can cause minor or rather serious health problems.
Good day, dear visitors of the project “Good IS! ", section" "!
In today's article, we will talk about such unpleasant "roommates" as mold and other types of fungus. We will also look at why mold is dangerous, what types of it spoil the lives of many people, and also consider how to get rid of mold. But first, let's define what a fungus or mold is.
Mushrooms ( lat. Fungi or Mycota) - the kingdom of wildlife, uniting eukaryotic organisms, combining some features of both plants and animals. Mushrooms are studied by science mycology, which is considered a branch of botany, since mushrooms were previously assigned to the plant kingdom.
What we see on the affected walls, concrete, wallpaper, wooden floors, on tiles in the bathroom and other places that has green, black, brown and gray tones, and also emits a specific smell - different kinds mushrooms or as many people say - fungus.
Now let's look at some types of fungus that harm our homes.
Species of fungus and other related pests
mold fungus- various fungi (mainly zygo- and ascomycetes) forming branching mycelia without large, easily visible to the naked eye, fruiting bodies.
Mold- This is a colony of a unicellular fungus that develops from spores, which in a "conserved" state are constantly present in the air in large quantities. Spores “wake up” for intensive reproduction as soon as favorable conditions appear for this: high humidity and heat.
Molds (mold) grow on concrete, paint or stone. You can observe them in the form of spots or dots of black, brown, blue or green colors. There are also luminous, phosphorescent colonies of mushrooms, but they are not terrible for the facade. Mold destroys building and finishing material almost to the ground, forcing more and more repairs, and sometimes restructuring of buildings.
The color of this type of mold depends not only on its type, but also on the stage of development, as well as the material on which it grows. As a rule, the following strains have black color:
Ulocladium- the fourth group of pathogenicity, affects not only materials, but also products. Very picky about the presence of moisture.
Cladosporium- on initial stage colorless, except black, can take on a wide range of colors. The most dangerous for seeds and plants, not picky about moisture, can develop when low temperatures. The most common fungus in outdoors in summer time. Some species feed on diesel fuel and fuels and lubricants, which is why they got the name kerosene mushroom. Also affects other types of materials. When conducting mycological examinations, we have it in third place in terms of frequency of detection, following Penicillium and Aspergillus.
Penicillium- mushrooms of this family play a huge role in the environment, are actively used in pharmaceuticals for the preparation of medicines, Food Industry for the preparation of gourmet cheese with white mold. But some strains such as Penicillum marneffei and Penicillium spp. belong to the 3rd and 4th groups of pathogenicity and pose a significant danger to human health, in addition, they are very often found in apartments.
Alternaria- a very common fungus of the fourth pathogenicity group. It most commonly affects fruits and vegetables, but can also grow on the skin and in the respiratory tract in humans. Sometimes it has a gray color, has about 300 strains.
Aspergillus- belongs to the higher mold fungi, and, depending on the type, belongs to the 4th and 3rd groups of pathogenicity. This type of mold causes aspergillosis in humans and animals. The mycelium itself is initially white, but its spores are black. Most often found indoors.
Chaetomium- typically painted black. Often causes allergies in people. The main danger is when it enters the digestive tract. There are known deaths caused by this fungus.
Phoma- the fourth group of pathogenicity. Almost always, the mycelium is black, and the spores are colorless.
Wallemia- painted black, does not pose a serious danger to humans, but belongs to the Xerophil type, that is, it can grow in conditions of low humidity and high temperatures, which causes some problems in the fight against it.
White mold vs. black mold causes much less anxiety in people. Most often it can be found on the ground, wood, plants, bread and cheese. In apartments, it is found, as a rule, in flower pots and quite rarely on the walls. Often efflorescence on the wall is mistaken for white mold. Distinguishing efflorescence from a fungus is quite simple and without a microscope. The efflorescence has a crystalline structure and crumbles in the hands, and the fungus warms up. Naturally, gloves must be worn before checking, because. mold cannot be handled. If white mold has grown on the ground in a flower pot, some strains will die if watered regularly with dilute citric acid.
In the cheese industry, various types of mold, which is commonly called noble, are actively used to make gourmet cheeses. Such mushrooms have nothing to do with house mold.
Blue fungi infect wood fiber, and the surface wooden house painted not at all in a noble gray-blue color. Blue damage is not only aesthetic. It easily penetrates the paint film and thus creates a kind of "water pipelines". It paves the way for water to penetrate, which in turn increases the moisture content of the wood. Then nothing prevents the penetration and fixing in the neighborhood and mold. Pine is especially susceptible to blue.
Rotting fungi also attack exclusively wood. There are several types of rot - bacterial, brown and white.
Bacterial rot eats away wood from the inside. The affected material noticeably grays or darkens, and its strength deteriorates markedly - a bacterium that causes local decomposition of cellulose.
White rot destroys not only cellulose, but also lignin, therefore, the color of the wood does not change much.
Brown rot causes wood to split.
When wet rot appears, stripes from yellowish to dark brown and even black will appear on the material, and after them - cracks. If dry, then the affected tree will turn brown, shrink and soon begin to split along and across the fibers.
actinomycetes
Actinomycetes are a cross between fungi and algae. They not only spoil the appearance, but also destroy the fibers, and also cause softening of the wood, causing irreparable harm. wooden structures. Why do you need to know all this? To effectively control the pest. After all, if you use chemicals designed to combat wet rot, for example, for dry rot, then this will lead to the exact opposite result: the fungus will begin to develop faster.
Efflorescence is a white, less often colored, salt or alkaline coating that occurs on the walls, which is based on insoluble sulfates, carbonates and silicates. It is formed due to the movement of water along with salts inside the material. In dry weather, the salty non-freezing solution rushes to the surface of the rock. Water evaporates, and salts crystallize, remaining on the wall in the form white plaque. Facades made of concrete and brick, as well as those finished with plaster or lined with marble, are usually affected. The same crystallization occurs inside the material. Crystals growing in the pores of the material begin to wedged the walls of the pores. As a result, cracks appear, and the material is destroyed.
The most terrible enemy wooden houses considered a white house mushroom. In one month, he is able to "eat" a four-centimeter oak floor, so earlier in the villages the hut that this fungus hit was immediately burned to save other buildings from infection.
What is dangerous mold and other types of fungus
You can often see questions on the net: “How dangerous is mold?”, “Is mold harmful?”. The answer to them is "Yes". Mold is quite dangerous, and both for building materials as well as for human health.
Building materials deform over time, and can become one of the factors in the destruction of a building. For example, for a short time, mold turns a tree into dust, and if the house is built of wood? May the Lord keep!
Mold affects human health through:
- direct contact with the skin;
- through the use of moldy food;
through the respiratory and circulatory systems.
So, getting into the body, mold spores can cause a number of diseases, sometimes even severe ones. This is due to the fact that the spores of certain types of mold are toxic, and multiply at an extraordinary rate: 1m 2 of mold releases billions of spores into the air per day!
The consequences due to contact with mold are primarily:
- allergic skin diseases (dermatoses, mycoses, fungi);
- diseases of the upper respiratory tract (colds, cough, asthma, pneumonia, sinusitis, sinusitis, nosebleeds, etc.);
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system or articular-rheumatic;
- headaches, dizziness;
- nausea, indigestion;
- general depletion of the body;
Prolonged exposure may result in internal bleeding, kidney and liver damage, and emphysema.
Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems due to illness, chemotherapy, antibiotics, etc., are especially susceptible to severe illness after exposure to fungal contamination.
It is possible to diagnose mycosis or the presence of an allergy to mold in most allergy centers and in a number of laboratories.
So how does mold grow in our homes?
Conditions for the appearance of mold
This requires the following 3 conditions:
1. The presence of mold spores in the air. As a rule, they are transported by air and get into an apartment or house on people, on animals, on food and things.
2. Nutrient medium in the form of organics: paper, wood, concrete, stone, mud, flowers and peat pots, potted plant soil, etc.
3. Favorable microclimate of the room: temperature about +20°С; high humidity (above 70-95%); uneven heating around the perimeter of the room and not working properly or not working ventilation system.
Some types of fungus can appear and multiply rapidly even at 0 ° C.
I want to dwell a little on ventilation issues.
The fact is that if the ventilation system in the room is installed correctly and works correctly, then the movement of air prevents the appearance of mold on the walls, because. the air blows off the spore, and it cannot cling to the surface. In the corners and nooks and crannies, there is no or limited air movement, which is why you can most often see mold in them. In addition, ventilation is necessary to remove excess moisture from the premises, which can be caused by pets, houseplants, frequent washing, coolness in rooms with high humidity outside, uneven heating of rooms, etc. Bathroom, shower room, toilet, sauna, washbasin in the kitchen and other places also emit a certain amount of moisture, which must go somewhere. Especially exacerbate the situation metal-plastic windows, which prevent any draft (if they are of course installed correctly).
If mold spores are present on the walls, waiting for favorable conditions for growth, but there is not enough moisture, they will not germinate.
So, we can conclude that since we cannot influence the first two reasons, in order to prevent the appearance of mold, the third reason should be dealt with.
Causes of mold
— Bad ventilation system. We have already talked about this. It would be nice to install air conditioning at home, or other systems that are responsible for ventilation in the room. If this is not possible, then you need to ventilate the premises more often.
— Ventilation systems for kitchen, bathroom, toilet. These are rooms in which there is relatively high humidity, and, as a rule, it is very high there, which contributes to the lightning-fast development of mold and other types of fungus. IN this case you need to pay attention to frequent ventilation of the rooms or install a special air conditioning system. For example, some people put fans in the chimneys in these rooms, which increase the extraction of excess moisture, odors, etc.
— The condition of the plumbing. The first symptom is the presence of moisture that occurs along the passage of pipes. Another clue could be footprints on the wall next to the bathroom, about the height of the edge of the tub. As a general rule, accurate drying should help, but if you detect symptoms too late, then the fungus has time to spread too quickly, and then we can not avoid repairs.
— Capillary suction of moisture along the walls of moistened foundations. This is especially common in old buildings due to the lack of waterproofing in them.
— Increased thermal conductivity of corners and heat loss in the end rooms due to the increased area of the outer walls facing the street.
— Freezing of outer walls. If we see a dark coating in the corners and along the edges of the walls, then we can be sure that the wall has been frozen. In this case, they must be thoroughly dried, and then the adhesion of the plaster must be checked.
— Leaking gutters and drains. As a rule, this problem is only visible from the outside, in the form of streaks on the plaster. However, if the humidity is high (for example, during heavy rains), streaks can also occur from the center. Often this problem is taken for granted until the situation becomes serious. Leaks left unchecked will only create a real problem in winter when the water freezes in the plaster.
— Moisture coming from the ground. Its presence can be seen in the form of streaks at the junction of the walls with the floor of the first floor or basement. In this case, an examination of the state of the horizontal insulation of the foundation walls can help. If it is damaged, then you should repair it, it is desirable that specialized company. Before repairs can be carried out, the main walls must be thoroughly dried. An additional problem arises if the floor also turns out to be wet, in which case the problem is difficult to avoid unless the fragment is removed.
Normal for a comfortable existence of a person, this humidity is in the range of 70% - 80%.
To be able to effectively deal with mold and other types of fungus, you should accurately determine the cause of their occurrence. And only in this case it is possible to choose the most effective methods eliminate them and prevent their recurrence.
How to deal with mold
1. After detecting mold-infected areas, they must be moistened with plenty of water. This is done in order to next steps, we did not "launch" additional disputes into the air.
2. Apply special preparations to the affected areas that neutralize the mold and prevent its further spread. It is necessary to apply funds with a margin of 1 m outside the affected area, because. they may have microfungi that are invisible to the eye. I also want to note that it is necessary to treat the affected area 2-3 times, and apply the next layer only after the previous one has dried.
Be sure to follow the instructions on the anti-mold packaging.
3. arm yourself wire brush, or other improvised tool (scraper, drill with a metal brush) and carefully remove the fungus. When stripping, not only paint and wallpaper are removed, but also plaster, and concrete and wood can even be milled.
In severely neglected cases, the fungus has time to develop so much that it penetrates into the deeper layers, especially in porous materials, here the main mycelium is formed in the fungus, and if it is not completely removed, then external processing will not eliminate the problem, but will only hide the external traces of manifestation for a while. Therefore, if it is possible to completely replace the fragment, then this should be done. Otherwise, you will need to reach the deepest layers for complete removal fungus, which can cause the site to become unusable.
After processing, the removed infected fragments must be burned.
4. After work on the destruction of the fungus, a protective coating is applied for a long period of time.
Additional measures and rules in the fight against mold
- When working with drugs, under no circumstances should you work without special protective equipment. To avoid even accidental contact with harmful substances, the work should be done in a mask and protective gloves. protective equipment are necessary not only from the “chemistry” against mold, but also against the spores of the mold itself, which will become even more in the air during the fight, so it is necessary to prevent it from settling in the lungs and the appearance of the disease.
- Be sure to ensure that the area being treated is well ventilated so that the spores do not settle in other areas, and also to provide additional protection from flying mold spores.
- After the end, in order to start using the premises, it is necessary that 48-72 hours pass. Moreover, at this time, the room must be provided with good ventilation.
The best means for removing the fungus are fungicides that have boron compounds in their composition. By the way, boron is also actively used in the fight against ants.
Exist universal means to remove all types of fungus, but there are also those that are designed only for a certain type. In the latter case, a mandatory consultation with a specialist is necessary, which will help us accurately determine the type of fungus with which we are dealing. It is best, of course, to choose a product of a well-known company. Here are some effective solutions available on the market:
— "Atlas Mykos". Means for removing not only mold, but also other types of fungus, as well as algae, lichen and moss. Available as a concentrate. It can be used wherever there is high humidity, both indoors and outdoors. It must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:2. It is also suitable for protecting mineral surfaces, then it should be diluted in a ratio of 1:5.
— "Teflex Antimold Express". With this tool, you can treat surfaces made of wood, brick, plastic, concrete and other materials from mold.
— "Izohan Grzybostop". Designed for processing building materials such as concrete and mortar. It fights not only mold, but also other types of fungus.
— "SZAVO"(Savo anti-mold). One of the most popular mold killers. The agent is especially effective in places of high humidity, such as bathrooms, toilets, kitchens, showers, swimming pools, baths and saunas, basements, food warehouses, etc.
The effect is 100% destruction of all vegetative forms of mold, yeast, algae, as well as general disinfection. The drug is extremely easy to use and does not require preliminary surface preparation and subsequent rinsing. Drying, the product does not leave marks on the treated areas.
— Belinka. A broad spectrum anti-mold agent designed to kill mold and mildew. Easy to use and safe for humans, the drug is fast acting and effective. The tool is suitable for processing both internal and external surfaces.
— "Spectrum Fungicide". It fights fungus on walls, plaster, wood and paintwork. It is intended for use in places particularly exposed to the appearance of moisture, both inside and outside the building.
— Antialga B25. Aqueous dispersion of algicine and fungicide, effective against various types molds and fungi. It has low toxicity. Added to paint. Leaves no unpleasant odor.
— "PS 50". Great tool for removing algae from concrete surfaces, also good for removing mold and mildew from drywall, plaster and wood.
— Well Done. State-of-the-art anti-mold, algae and fungus. It works simply, effectively and with instant visible results. Antibacterial. Cleans, disinfects and prevents the appearance of mold and mildew on windows, ventilation systems and bathrooms. It is used for the rehabilitation of moldy wood, plaster and paint in the interior and exterior.
— "Snowball Impregnation". Wall antifungal agent that fights fungus, mold, algae, moss and lichen from masonry, plaster and coatings. Suitable for use on interior and exterior walls.
— "Boramon S30". Antiseptic agent for the protection of walls, plaster, paint coatings and wood against fungi. Impregnate for wood: protects against house and mold fungi, algae, bacteria and insect larvae - technical pests of wood: etc. Significantly increases the biological resistance of wooden elements building structures. Included in a permanent connection with wood, does not increase the degree of its flammability.
— "Titan" Fungicide. Thanks to it, we can remove fungus and mold from walls painted with paints (both internal and external) without the need to remove the layer. This mold remedy can also be used to prevent mold.
— "Mellerud". Destroys all types of a mold in the house, a sauna and the pool. Just spray! Works instantly. Eliminates mold, fungi, bacteria and algae. Suitable for processing, tile joints, walls, ceilings, masonry, wood, artificial materials.
Disinfects, prevents the appearance of mold. Also ideal for wallpaper and painted walls. 500 ml is enough for 5-8 m2.
— "Boramon". Mold and fungus control agent. For use both indoors and outdoors, both on plaster, masonry and wood.
— "Schimmelentferner Dufa". Aerosol on water based for quick removal of mold, algae, moss. It is applied to internal and external works. Contains chlorine. Easy to use. Disinfectant.
— Astonish. Very effective remedy for removing black spots from surfaces without scraping. Ideal for window frames, plastic shower curtains, tiles and concrete.
In addition, there are many paints on the market with the addition of agents that destroy the fungus. It is possible to distinguish fungicidal dispersion paints, silicate paints and silicone resin paints. They are used both inside and outside, just remember to pre-prime the surface.
Before buying any of the above anti-mold and fungus, look for annotations to them, and determine if the product you have chosen is right for your situation, because. each of them may have a different purpose.
— Bleach. Using ordinary bleach, you can get rid of almost all types of mold in the house. The active substance in it is sodium hypochlorite. It kills both mold and its spores. Bleach can clean bathroom tiles, glass, floors, but many things become discolored and deteriorated under the influence of bleach. In addition, bleach gives off harsh and toxic fumes and corrodes the skin of the hands, so be sure to make sure that the room is well ventilated before proceeding with the removal of mold with bleach. You should also wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. The surface is treated with a mixture of 1 part bleach with 10 parts water.
— Tea tree oil. Mix 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of tea tree oil with 2 cups (500 ml) of water in a spray bottle, shake vigorously to combine the substances. Apply the solution to the affected area. Do not rinse off the solution, allowing it to soak into the mold. Repeat if necessary. Tea tree oil can be expensive and has a strong smell, but the smell dissipates within a few days.
— Baking soda It also helps to get rid of mold. It kills fungus and is known as a natural and safe household cleaner. Unlike other cleaners that contain harsh chemicals, baking soda won't harm your family or pets. A teaspoon of soda is dissolved in a glass of water and sprayed on the surface affected by mold. You can simply rinse the surface and things with a sponge in a soda solution. It is better not to completely wash off the soda from the surface, it effectively protects it from the reappearance of dangerous contaminants.
— grapefruit seed extract. Mix 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract and 2 cups (500 ml) of water in a spray bottle. Shake to mix the ingredients and apply to the affected area. Apply the solution to the affected area, and do not wash it off the surface. You can pat the area dry paper towel but do not wash it with water.
— Hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is also suitable for mold control. it is an antibacterial and antifungal agent. A 3% peroxide solution can be bought at any pharmacy, it is non-toxic and does not emit a pungent odor. Hydrogen peroxide is effective in removing mildew on many materials, but it also has a bleaching effect, so use with caution on fabrics and painted surfaces.
— Vinegar. Table vinegar is a weak acid and can kill many common types of mold. It has an odor but does not give off dangerous fumes like bleach. To get rid of mold, vinegar is applied to moldy surfaces with a spray bottle or wiped with a damp cloth. Usually, after an hour, they rinse with water and ventilate the room. To prevent the appearance of mold, vinegar is sprayed every week on the problem area.
— Ammonia also used to kill mold. Like bleach, it easily kills fungus on hard, non-porous surfaces such as tile or glass, but it is not effective in removing mold from porous materials. To get rid of mold with ammonia, mix it in half with water and spray the resulting mixture on the infected area. Leave for a few hours, then rinse. The pungent smell of ammonia can cause headaches and sore throats. It is dangerous to mix bleach with ammonia, as this releases toxic gas.
— Bura. Cover the affected area with borax. To prepare the mixture, you need to mix 1 cup (250 ml) of borax and 4 liters of hot water. After the substance is completely dissolved, pour the solution into a spray bottle and apply to the area with mold. Clean with a brush after a few minutes. Do not rinse off the solution. If you use less water, you can make a paste. This paste can be applied to the moldy area for a few minutes. Scrape off the paste and clean the area with a brush. Borax is a natural, white mineral powder. It is used as a fungicide, pesticide, herbicide, disinfectant and deodorant.
Prevention of mold and other types of fungus
To prevent the appearance of a fungus in the future, first of all, it is necessary to establish the cause of its appearance, and in the future to use those materials and means that helped you get rid of it. But the main measure is the elimination of high humidity.
Measures to prevent the appearance of mold and other types of fungus are as follows:
- Ventilate the room more often;
- Do not close the doors tightly in rooms with high humidity (bathroom, etc.). This is necessary to equalize the temperature and humidity in these rooms.
- Put things in order with the ventilation system. This issue can be attributed, for example, the installation of air conditioning. In addition, because mold appears primarily from its spores that have appeared in the room through the air, you can install an air purifier that will filter the air in the room, and give additional protection.
- In the toilet, bathroom and other rooms with high humidity you can install fans in the chimneys. In some cases, hoods can also be installed.
— Heating and ventilation must function at the level of design standards. The walls of the premises must have heat resistance strictly in accordance with the project, and heating appliances correctly placed in the end rooms.
- When fighting mold, clean and finish, if necessary, to the level of a concrete or brick surface to completely remove a possible breeding ground for fungus in the future.
- After the destruction of mold and other fungi, during repair work, use special means, which, in addition to their basic properties and purpose, also have the ability to prevent the appearance of fungi in the future. As it was already written in the previous chapter, there are even paints, primers, etc. with the addition of special components that keep the treated surfaces from fungus.
- Carry out a set of works to drain and waterproof the basement in order to protect against melt and groundwater. This is also true in apartments, in particular on balconies, with insulation.
- On the same balconies, if they have high humidity, and if possible, it is advisable to install a heating system.
- If you feel the taste of mold in your mouth after brushing your teeth, then your toothbrush is a breeding ground for fungus, do not delay replacing it.
- Be sure to wash your hands after placing the street to reduce the spread of fungal spores.
- Throw away food that is moldy by taking it outside.
Mold video (documentary)
Discuss mold and other types of fungus on the forum
Tags: mold, fungus, mold mushrooms, black mold, white mold, efflorescence, mold on the walls, how to get rid of mold, mold removal products, how to remove mold, mold video, remove mold, against mold, mold smell, how to remove mold, mold film , mold photo, home mold, mold causes, why mold is dangerous, folk remedies, mold prevention, ventilation, ventilation, humidity, mold control, mold types, mold spots, mold on wallpaper, against fungus, fungus on walls, home fungus, fungus in the apartment
Have you noticed black, yellow, white or brown spots on the ceiling, in the bathroom or on food, more often on bread? Meet this mold. It is a type of fungus that develops in the form of multicellular filaments. Mold does not know how to get food, so the fungus relies on organic matter on which it grows.
In the air of the apartment, mold is present in the form of spores, and it grows only in wet conditions. There are over 100,000 types of mold, some of which are extremely harmful, while others play an important role in biodegradation. In this review, we will discuss some of the most common types of mold and their health effects.
Common mold types
There are many types of mold, but they can be classified broadly into three main groups based on human response: allergic, pathogenic, and toxic.
Allergic mold
This form of mold contains allergens that can be extremely harmful to our health, especially for people with weak immune systems or asthma. The fungus remains dormant and grows when it is in favorable conditions, allergic mold in the apartment can be present in the form of microscopic spores that are inhaled through the nose and penetrate into the upper Airways and lungs. This is one of the main causes of allergic rhinitis. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria and Cladosporiu are some of the most common mold allergens.
pathogenic mold
Pathogenic species are species that can cause disease. Therefore, it can be said that this is a category of mold that can cause disease. Healthy people with normal immunity generally resist infection by pathogenic spores, but children, infants, the elderly, and people with weak immunity, especially those suffering from pneumonia, bronchitis and after chemotherapy, may be affected by these types of mold. This form of mold includes Bipolaris, which forms gray and black-brown colonies and is also characterized by rapid development. 
Toxic mold
Toxic molds remain the most dangerous. They can lead to serious complications, the consequence of which can be death. Mold in the bathroom produces mycotoxins, which are fungal metabolites that are extremely toxic in nature. Black mold is included in this category and is therefore considered highly dangerous to humans and animals. These types of mold can cause a variety of health problems, ranging from mild irritation to cancer.
Below are some of the most common types of mold that can harm your home, food, and even health. Look.
Stachybotrys
This mold on the walls looks slippery and black. It is also known as black mold. You can meet her on the walls of the apartment, bathroom, trees, paper and cardboard in conditions of high humidity. It produces mycotoxin, which is very dangerous for humans as well as animals. Chest tightness, cough, nosebleeds, fever, headache, flu and so on, are all the most common symptoms of mold toxin poisoning.
Aspergillus
There are over 185 Aspergillus species. This mold on the walls has most widespread, it is also considered the most common cause of fungal diseases in Russia. Mold can be found in homes and offices and produces a mycotoxin that can lead to a number of complications including respiratory problems, allergies, and so on. Aspergillus can cause death in some cases. Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger are the most common species.
Disinfection, mold removal on walls
Fusarium
This mold is found in the ground and is well known as earth fungus. It grows on plants, wet ground, wetlands, etc. It produces a mycotoxin that is either inhaled by humans or infects through contaminated grains and plants. Mycotoxin can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis, and internal bleeding. It may even affect nervous system, reproductive system and circulatory system.
Penicillin
This mold is harmful and in some cases beneficial. You can find it on paint, wallpaper, carpets, groceries, rotten vegetables, and more. It is often found on forgotten sandwiches and slices of bread. This mold can cause lung problems associated with asthma and allergies. It is also used in the food industry and is used to create Camembert, Roquefort and other cheeses. Penicillin is used as an antibiotic to help fight other types of harmful fungi. P. chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P. janthinellum are some of the more common species.
Cladosporium
Cladosporium includes over 30 species which can be green, black, gray or brown. This mold has a velvety texture and a smooth appearance. It can be found in poorly ventilated areas, on the foundation of walls, decaying food, clothing, etc. These species have been blamed for nail fungus, asthma, skin lesions, lung infections, and more.
These were the types of the most common mold. Care should be taken to avoid the spread of mold, which can be hazardous to health, and to apply the anti-mold agent in a timely manner. If your home suffers from mold, get rid of it with the help of professionals. If you want to get rid of mold yourself, take the appropriate precautions to avoid complications. There is a huge list of harmful and harmless mold that is around us all the time in the form of spores.
Are there lucky women among your acquaintances who can afford to go to the market and the supermarket every day for groceries in order to buy exactly as much as they need before the next visit? Hardly. Usually there is no time for such luxury, and we buy products in best case once a week. While they wait for their turn at the plate, some have time to become a haven for mold.
Types of mold or are all molds equally dangerous?
What we collectively call "mold" are actually microscopic fungi. They reproduce by spores, which are easily carried by air currents and settle on the surfaces of products. Getting into favorable conditions (temperature, humidity), spores germinate, and, depending on the type of mold, we observe the “blooming” of bread, cheese, fruits, etc. However, sometimes mold is planted in food absolutely consciously - some of its types are necessary for the maturation of special wines, expensive cheeses with noble blue mold are super popular.
We usually distinguish between types of mold by color. In fact, several different types of fungus can look exactly the same to the naked eye. So, black mold at different stages of its development can be aspergillus, penicil, and alternaria. At the same time, until the heads with spores ripen, they can have a completely different color, which is completely independent of the product on which they settled. And before the start of sporulation, the same aspergillus looks like a white mold, which is often not given any importance. Therefore, if you do not plan to receive degree According to mycology (the study of fungi), treat all mold with the same suspicion, no matter what color it is.
By the way, it was from mold fungi, namely from green mold, that the first antibiotic, penicillin, was isolated. And yet it is better not to inhale her spores once again - they can cause dryness of the nasopharynx, an unpleasant burning sensation.
What happens if you eat mold or how dangerous is mold for humans?
We all have relatives from a "scarce" past, when getting rid of moldy cheese was unthinkable sacrilege. The crust with mold was thinly cut off, and the cheese was used further as if nothing had happened. Is it so harmless? Why is mold dangerous for humans and is it possible to eat mold on cheese?
Mold fungi, settling on a substrate (in this case, on a piece of cheese), not only settle on it, but also produce substances in the course of their vital activity, which we call mycotoxins (“fungal poisons”). They all have varying toxicities, ranging from almost harmless to lethal (the infamous aflatoxin). What happens if you eat mold? In the simplest case, the ingestion of a relatively large amount of such poisons into the stomach will very soon cause vomiting - certainly unpleasant, but the defense mechanism will work and prevent really serious consequences. But not all mycotoxins will be so "short talk" - some (including aflatoxin) are dangerous even in small doses. Fatal, for example, can be an amount equal in weight to 2-3 rice grains - the amount of poison that may well be in a handful of spoiled peanuts. But even if you have not eaten a dangerous dose of poison at a time, it will still cause damage to the body, primarily to the liver. Small hemorrhages will appear there, cirrhosis may even begin. Aflatoxins are recognized as carcinogens leading to liver tumors. Most of them are in products that are imported from a humid and warm climate. Peanuts, coffee, cocoa, spices - roasting allows you to get rid of no more than half of the poison.
All fungal toxins penetrate deep into the product on which the mold has settled. Even if the taste of the product has not changed, the possibility of poisoning is still high. Therefore, if the mold on the cheese was not inhabited under your personal control, it is better to throw it away - it is possible that the entire piece is poisoned by poisons released by the fungus. Heat treatment is also not an option - mycotoxins are relatively stable and almost do not break down at high temperatures.
Another “ritual” around mold, which we inherited from the Soviet past, is the rescue of jam with a blue bloom. The most common reason for the appearance of fungi in a jar of jam is a lack of sugar. Mold needs not only heat, but also moisture to grow. If the jam is cooked according to all the rules and the saturated sugar syrup has absorbed all the water to the last drop, the spores will simply have nowhere to germinate. And yet, is it possible to eat jam if there is mold on top? The answer is the same - it's not worth it. A variety of gingerbread is also not a solution to the problem - if poisons have had time to form, no one will guarantee their complete destruction in the oven.
Some molds(for example, Fusarium) cause fungal diseases plants (fusarium). These diseases are fought with help. During its life, the fungus also secretes into environment mycotoxin. Of course, most mycotoxins are not deadly poisonous, but the poison secreted by fusarians can cause poisoning in humans. When the wheat harvest falls during a warm and humid season, Fusarium is especially common.
Mold on bread is the most common - spores are just waiting for the moment to germinate, especially if you store bread in plastic bags. Bakery products on which mold has appeared should be thrown out immediately. Savings from such a dinner will be extremely doubtful - you risk being poisoned by toxins that some types of molds emit. If you are not a mycologist who can accurately determine the type of microorganism that has settled, do not try to experimentally find out what will happen if you eat moldy bread. If you see that your family won’t be able to handle the amount of bread you bought in the next day or two, freeze the rest - at low temperatures, mold spores will not germinate, and if necessary, you can always defrost a piece in a toaster.
What is dangerous mold in the apartment
In addition to an unpleasant musty smell and frankly unpleasant appearance, mold fungi that have settled in an apartment can harm health. What is dangerous about mold in an apartment is the inhalation of a large number of its spores. Whether it is penicillium, aspergillus, mucor - their spores can cause allergic reactions, lead to sneezing and coughing, pain in the eyes.
Therefore, when eliminating pockets of mold in an apartment, it is always better to play it safe and use not only rubber gloves, but also, if possible, a respirator.
