Mold is not only an unsightly blemish in your home, it’s also dangerous to your health. Every type of mold can potentially cause health problems. Mold produces allergens that may trigger allergic reactions. They can even set off an asthma attack in people who are allergic to mold. Certain types of molds can produce strong irritants and toxins. People who are exposed to large amounts of indoor mold can experience a myriad of symptoms. These symptoms include the following:
- Breathing difficulties
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Cancer
- Chronic colds or recurring colds
- Problems with the central nervous system
- Chronic coughing
- Skin rashes
- Coughing up blood
- Chronic dandruff
- Diarrhea
- Skin rashes
- Dermatitis
- Headaches
- Kidney failure
- Loss of memory
There are many more issues that mold can cause. The list of symptoms is ongoing, but you get the idea. Mold is hazardous to your health. When you get mold in your home, you want to get rid of is as soon as possible. When you first notice mold in your home, find out where it’s coming from. Mold can gather if there’s a water leak nearby, or in a damp place such as the shower area. Make sure to always hang towels up after a shower instead of just tossing them on the floor or in the hamper. If you let them hang dry before you put them in the hamper, mold will have a harder time of accumulating. If you have a leak that is causing the mold issue, fix that leak as soon as you can.
How To Kill Mold
There are many products on the market that can kill mold, but they can contain harmful ingredients. Bleach is said to kill mold, but I know for me, bleach irritates my throat and nose quite a bit, especially in copious amounts. There might be a solution to this problem. Tea tree oil is said to be able to kill mold. Tea tree oil is a clear, or almost clear, hydrophobic essential oil. This oil is extracted from the leaves of the Australian native Melaleuca akternifolia plant. The question is though, can tea tree oil help kill mold?
The answer is yes! Tea tree oil
Tea Tree Oil Recipe
To make a tea tree oil mold spray all you need to do is put two cups of water into a spray bottle and add one to two drops of tea tree oil. Close the bottle and give the it a few good shakes so it all mixes together thoroughly. Spray the moldy area completely with the mixture, and let it sit for few hours. If the area is really saturated with mold, let the spray sit over night. Then wipe the solution off with a clean damp rag. If you let the solution sit over night, it will become dry. Once you wipe the area clean with a damp rag, the mold should come off easily. If you have multiple areas with mold, you can always make more of the solution. Just add one drop of the oil for every cup you use.
Many people have had success using this oil on mold. You can avoid the harsh chemicals of traditional mold cleaners by making your own with tea tree oil. Tea tree oil does have a strong odor, but it should not cause side effects like headache or irritation of the nose and throat like bleach can. If the mold issue in your home is severe, don’t hesitate to call in a specialist. Traditional mold cleaners and this tea tree oil is fine for small mold problems, but for larger issues, get help from a professional. Mold is not something to be treated lightly.
Photo by Shaylor
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