Home allergen hot-spots
In your home, be wary of common allergen hot-spots. Art outlines the top four:
1 Condos: "Any room that has a small fan coil unit. These units are notorious for mould in the insulation," he says.
How to fix it: Clean the unit referring to manufacturer's instructions, watching for dust, dirt and water build-up—or call a professional for help.
2 Basement: "This is the worst room due to poor air exchange and water ingress. Each room gets better going up floor by floor," says Art.
How to fix it: Control the moisture. Purchase a hygrometer at the hardware store to measure the humidity levels. If needed, invest in a good dehumidifier and fix any leaks right away. Check cement walls for mould, especially near the floor, ceiling and windows. Art recommends using Moldex, a dye- and fragrance-free spray solution to clean any signs of mould.
3 Bedrooms: "Bedrooms are often a problem [for allergens] as many people sleep with the door closed and no window open," says Art.
How to fix it: Encourage air flow and control the dust. Clean or change the filter in your air-conditioner regularly. Wash pillows and flip and vacuum your mattresses every so often.
4 Bathrooms: "Bathrooms can be fine as many have fans connected to lights [to encourage air flow], but they often have mould due to the high moisture levels from showers," says Art.
How to fix it: Art encourages fans be left on for 20 minutes after a shower, with the door closed, if no window is opened. Ventilation is key to keeping this room dry and toxin-free. Scrub any signs of mould around grout or tiles.
When it's time to call in the pros
Some older or poorly-maintained homes are beyond a little bleach and elbow grease. Art recommends calling in professional services as soon as allergic symptoms do not seem to improve after improving ventilation and a good cleaning, or if extensive mould growth is found.
Sick Building Solutions is located in Toronto, Ontario. They provide mould inspections and cleaning, growhouse inspections, remediation and indoor air quality control. For more information on Forsite-Pro or to book a building inspection, contact Sick Building Solutions: sickbuildingsolutions.com
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