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After an incredibly rainy March, problems with mold are bound to crop up. They can take the form of more allergies, headaches, dizziness, decreased attention span, difficulty in, uh, concentration… Um, where was I?

Oh, yeah ? mold. Not only is it bad for you (and worse if you?re immuno-compromised), but it?s terrible for your house. Mold causes decay. Decay = good for compost and trees in the forest – but not so great for a home. You should prevent it, and then fix it if it?s already there.

One way to prevent mold is to avoid creating the conditions for it. Basements are prime areas for mold ? so think twice before turning your basement into a rec room. Moisture (from, for example, the breath of the people using the room) cannot easily leave when the walls are surrounded by earth. Another Mold Classic is the bathroom: don?t ventilate it and you?re just asking for trouble.

For effective prevention you also need to know where to look, and that?s anywhere that gets moist. Windows that cause condensation, shower stalls, wood under leaky pipes, basements, attics, drip pans, condensation coils ? anything that gets wet. If you don?t, won?t, or can?t invest in a good dehumidifier, cross-ventilate your place as much as possible by opening doors or windows on opposite sides. Use indoor fans. If you?re installing a new air conditioning system, consider an in-duct UV air purifier.

Remember that a temperature differential causes condensation on the warmer side ? meaning, when it?s cold outside, the warm inside of the window will get wet ? this even happens with the warm side of walls, although to a lesser extent. (To remember which side gets wet, think of a nice cold drink on a hot summer day.) Insulation keeps condensation down, so be sure to include adequate insulation on any building or rebuilding projects. When condensation happens, either mop up the water or evaporate it with anything that makes air move.

It?s tempting to take bleach to that ugly black mold, but can you remove mold with bleach and water? Kinda, but the EPA recommends using mild detergent and water ? partially because they avoid recommending bleach. (Bleach and ammonia can create chlorine gas when mixed, and which causes massive cellular damage and painful death when inhaled ? something to be avoided. Alternatively, it can create hydrazine and cause an explosion ? also something to be avoided. Never mix cleaners with bleach, as they can contain ammonia. Don?t you just miss chemistry class?) Does detergent work in cleaning mold? Yes, and in reality even better than bleach: dead mold spores can still cause health problems, and a cleaning with detergent will help you physically remove the mold. Don?t forget eye protection, breathing protection, and skin protection. (I told you mold was bad stuff.)

A few last tips: replace your shower curtains as soon as mold crops up; keep firewood outdoors; consider double- or triple-glazed windows to reduce condensation; finally, remember: removing mold is of virtually no use unless you also tackle the moisture problem.

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