Mold in your house

Mold in your house at best is really gross. At worst it can cause allergies for your baby or even make him sick. Here's how to beat household mold. If your home floods at all, even just your basement, or if you live in a continually wet area, think near a beach, then your house is more prone to mold. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), "People sensitive to mold may experience a stuffy nose, irritated eyes, skin irritation, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. People with asthma, pregnant women, infants, the elderly and individuals with compromised immune systems are at higher risk for health problems from mold. If you or your family members have health problems after exposure to mold, contact your doctor or other health care provider."

Your best course of action is to prevent mold before it starts. This means staying on top of cleaning. Make sure to wipe down walls once a week, including hidden areas, such as under cupboards. If mold growth starts before you prevent it, you need to take more serious action. Discard any moldy carpet (it can't be saved) - you should also toss books, clothing, and other fabrics affected by mold; even washing can't kill all the mold spores, which will make you sick. To clean mold on hard surfaces, use hot water and soap. If you must use bleach, only use about 1 1/2 cups worth in one gallon of water. Use a stiff brush to really clean away mold. Never mix bleach with other cleaners and leave a window open so that you and your baby aren't exposed to bleach fumes. For serious mold issues a contractor needs to be called in because your drywall may have been infected. If you have a serious problem, you'll smell mold, but not see it. Learn more about mold and mold cleanup.