The prospect of mold growing in our homes is enough to send many of us on a mission to seek and destroy, often spending a fortune on remediation, not to mention the mental and physical distress it inflicts.

Before we hire the first available mold removal company, it’s important to take stock, calm down and evaluate your situation.

Likely the biggest concern with mold inside your home is how it affects the quality of air. Mold releases chemicals and spores that can be damaging to certain people. Health Canada says mold can cause “allergic reactions such as asthma or allergic rhinitis, non-allergic reactions such as headaches, and other symptoms [including] lung and breathing infections.”

According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), you need to pay attention to the amount of mold your home contains, how long it’s been there and the health of those living in your house. Pregnant women, children, the elderly and those who suffer from respiratory ailments or a weakened immune system are at higher risk.

Moisture and nutrients cause mold growth. It’s fairly clever and can grow on everyday building materials such as wood and drywall. Mold can also grow behind wallpaper; in areas where water may have seeped, like wall cavities, basement subfloors, crawl spaces, and so on; under wall-to-wall carpeting and in areas near to mold that has been discovered before.

Continued mold growth means that there is too much moisture in the home. In Canada, basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms and cold exterior walls are where most mold growth is found.

According to the CMHC, small amounts of mold in your home are relatively easy to treat. Simply use warm water and an unscented dishwashing detergent. And do not use bleach, even though it is commonly believed to help in mold clean-ups. The CMHC says bleach does not prevent mold from coming back and it produces harmful fumes so it’s best to avoid. Be sure to wear protective items such as rubber gloves, goggles and a mask. The CMHC recommends leaving large areas of mold (1 m x 3 m or a standard piece of 4 ft. x 8 ft. plywood) to professionals to cleanup.

Stains and discolouration are often signs of mold. Mold growth usually looks fuzzy or powdery and is very often light green to brown or black in colour. It can also be white, red, orange, yellow, blue or violet. The other way to detect it is through scent. A musty smell often means mold.

How to prevent mold and moisture indoors?

• Keep your house dry
• Prevent and repair leaks
• Control moisture that is produced within your house
• Use bathroom fans
• Use range hood fans
• Store firewood outside
• Regularly check your house for signs of mold
• Act quickly to keep small problems from getting bigger

For more information go to https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/maintaining-and-managing/managing-first-nation-properties/maintenance-solutions/mould-in-housing