If you suffer from mold allergies, you may feel overwhelmed because of the prevalence of mold spores indoors and out. However, there are a few steps you can take to reduce your overall exposure to mold, and consequently, the severity of your symptoms.
Plan Your Shopping Carefully
While there’s always a certain amount of mold spores flowing through the air, there are certain places that are especially dense with that particular allergen. For example, if you’re heading to a greenhouse, farm, flower shop or department store with a large home and garden section, you should take a dose of allergy medication beforehand. The same principle applies if you plan on visiting an antique store. Doing so will offer you a measure of protection against the large quantity of mold spores that are commonly found in such places.
Wear a Dust Mask When Working Outside
Before taking on any yard work, its advisable that you take a dose of allergy medication, it’s also recommended that you work wearing a dust mask, as doing things like cutting your lawn, digging up plants and raking up piles of damp leaves will introduce large quantities of mold spores into the air. Once you’ve finished completing your yard work, you should immediately take a shower to wash off any mold spores that might’ve ended up embedded in your skin and hair while you are gardening.
Buy a Dehumidifier
To reduce your exposure to indoor mold spores, you should consider installing some dehumidifiers or air conditioners in the parts of your home that you spend the most time in. As mold spores thrive in humid environments, a dehumidifier will go a long way toward preventing their growth in your home. Ideally you should keep your home’s relative humidity at around 60 percent or lower.
Keep Your Basement Mold Free
As they are located underground and are the nexus point for your home’s plumbing system, damp and humid basements are a perfect breeding ground for mold spores. To keep your basement free of allergens, make sure you regularly check your pipes for leaks and keep its relative humidity at 60 percent or lower. Also, make it a point to regularly check and see if items are stored in your basement, such as old clothes or papers haven’t become infested with mold.
Keep It Clean
Another part of your home that can act as a breeding ground for mold spores are your bathrooms and kitchen. This is because surfaces in those rooms are damp and because of the heat generated by dishwashers and showers, are very humid as well. As such, these rooms need to be cleaned thoroughly and regularly using a cleanser made up of water, soap and bleach.
If you’re mold allergy is negatively affecting your quality of life, contact us today to set up an appointment with Dr. Shulka. He has the expertise to properly treat your condition.
