What Black Mold Likes To Grow On - Your House's Trouble Spots

If you dug out some old boxes full of musty stuff from your attic, you might expect there to be a little mold on things, especially if you live in a humid environment. But, mold is probably growing somewhere in you house right now, and you don't even know it. That's why it's important to know what black mold likes to grow on. It's the first step to getting rid of it.

What mold likes to grow on is determined by what mold needs to thrive. Mold needs food, a good temperature, and water. In general, wherever there's water you can expect to find mold.

Mold isn't picky either. It doesn't just strike old, musty, dirty houses. If it has a chance, it will grow all over your nice, new, clean house. So, don't give it a chance!

Here are things mold commonly likes to grow on.

In The Kitchen

Of course, mold likes to grow on food. It's not always the dreaded black mold; it may be its less toxic cousin, the slimy green one. Either way, it's ugly and disgusting. The mold that grows on food is not so dangerous, but seal it in plastic before you throw it out just in case.

Mold also likes to grow in cabinets. You should check from time to time. Basically, any place that is dark and closed up, and might get a little water in it, is a breeding ground for mold.

Sinks, drying racks and other places that get lots of water are also favorite hang-outs of black mold.

In The Bathroom

The biggie here is shower tiles. You've probably seen black mold growing there before, or its friend orange mold. The wall material behind your tiles is delicious for black mold, so it gets carried away and starts growing around the tiles where human eyes can see it.

Just like in the kitchen, mold likes to be close to the water source in a somewhat hidden place. This means sinks, counters, cabinets and anywhere else that gets a little water.

Anywhere In The House

Mold likes hidden-away places. On the walls, mold likes to grow behind things such as pictures or mirrors. If you haven't moved your pictures for cleaning in a while, check and see if our black moldy friend is hanging out there. Wallpaper, because it is porous, is also a great place for mold to live. Keep tabs on your wallpaper so you don't have to remove it all someday because of an infestation of our little friend.

Carpets are wonderful vacations spots for mold. If you ever have any water damage, you may have to remove the carpet if it gets bad. One good way to tell if you have mold in your carpets is just to sniff.

Mold can live in dust and lint. If you keep your house well dusted, you'll reduce black mold problems.

In The Basement

You may have a tenant you don't know about, living in your basement and not paying rent. Mold loves the dark, humid basement. It especially likes the walls and ceilings, where water is often running amok. You may also have mold growing around the concrete on the floor.

In The Attic

The attic is also ideal. It's a place that doesn't get much ventilation, so it's great for black mold. Houses with wooden beams in the attic are particularly favored.

In The Hidden Places

Mold loves crawlspaces, wall cavities, and any other place it can hide. You may be suffering from black mold-related health symptoms and not even know it, because our little friend is hanging out in your house and you can't find him.

Another fave place is inside your heating and cooling ducts.

Mold can get used to the weather just about anywhere, but it especially loves warm humid environments. Florida, California and the Pacific Northwest have some of the worst mold problems in the US. Desert areas and high altitude areas also get hit hard with mold infestations after a big rain or storm.

The key to keeping mold spores out of your respiratory system is to find it before it finds you. That's why it's important to know what black mold likes to grow on.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/515842

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The Advantages of Professional Carpet Cleaning

Nowadays, many homeowners are overwhelmed by the various types of carpets available on the market. In like manner, many homeowners forget the most important thing involved in having a carpet and that is giving it the proper care. Giving it the appropriate carpet cleaning guarantees it lasts for years and maintains a nice look. Apparently, homeowners cannot do it alone which is why seeking the service of a professional carpet cleaner is the best option.

A carpet cleaning company does not only ensure keeping the carpet looking nice but also performs the proper cleaning necessary to keep the carpet looking its best. Here are some of the advantages that you can enjoy when hiring a professional carpet cleaning company.

1. Keeps the Carpet Looking Great - regular carpet cleaning does not only make the carpet looking great for a longer time. Otherwise, if you do not keep a constant cleaning schedule it will look old and faded. When you allow a professional cleaning company to do the job constantly you can ensure that you will derive pleasure from the service of the carpet for a longer time.

2. Reduction of Allergies - another benefit that you can enjoy by hiring a professional carpet cleaner is the reduction of allergies. When doing the carpet cleaning the dust and other allergens that can trigger health issues are eliminated. Many homeowners are not conscious of the dirt and dust buried deep into the carpet. That is why the professional cleaning company ensures that thorough cleaning of the carpet is performed in order to reduce the allergens inside your home.

3. Removal of Bacteria - carpet is a perfect breeding place of different bacteria that can make the environment unhealthy. Without your knowing, carpet can get damp and wet due to spills or walking on it from outside. In this way, bacteria thrive and make it a breeding place. Keep in mind that bacteria affect the health of everyone in the household and that is why you should consider consistent carpet cleaning.

The good thing about hiring a professional carpet cleaning company is that you will not have to bother with the materials to be used in the cleaning. They will be the ones to provide the cleaning materials and equipment. Most cleaning companies are using carpet cleaning technology in such a way that they use greatly improved materials as well as cleaning chemicals. During the past years many cleaning companies have focused on extraction equipment. However, due to the advancement of technology it makes the job easier.

Recently, carpet manufacturers have come up with the encapsulation technology. This cleaning process makes the job lighter because the cleaning chemicals attract the dirt and soil from the carpet and is then removed by cleaning equipment. This technology of carpet cleaning is ideal for bonnet cleaning as well as hot water extraction. In like manner, the carpet cleaning materials used in encapsulation technology are formulated with the proper balance of detergents. In this way, you can ensure that it will not damage the carpet fibers. Therefore, the encapsulation process is the most effective approach that is widely used nowadays.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4630584

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Seven Places Fires Lurk During the Holiday Season

Every year, hundreds of families start into the holiday season looking forward to good food and happy times with family only to experience the loss of a fire. Many families affected by holiday fires are not aware that fire statistics increase over the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. The US Fire Administration reports that "each year fires occurring during the holiday season claim the lives of over 400 Americans, injure 1,650 more, and cause over $990 million in damage."

With the increase of fire incidents over the holidays, these seven reasons are the most common culprits for fire

1. Candles. Many people enjoy the atmosphere and scent of candles around the holiday seasons. While the beauty provides a good ambiance and decoration during Thanksgiving and Christmas, flameless candles can give you safety and decoration without the hazards of open flames around children and surrounding materials.
2. Lights. Holiday lights can easily overheat and become a fire hazard during the holiday season. From Christmas trees to outside decorations, lights are popular with everyone; however, danger starts when lights are left unattended, displayed in large quantities, or attached to flammable materials.
3. Christmas Tree. Every year, people decorate Christmas trees and leave them surrounded with hot lights and paper wrapped presents on a carpeted surface. Combined with ill watering practices, Christmas trees become brittle and resemble match sticks waiting for the right spark.
4. Fireplaces. Although fireplaces provide warmth and the perfect backdrop for holiday activities, fireplaces left unattended can spew hot coals onto nearby rugs and packages. Carefully tending and extinguishing fireplaces will decrease the possibility of related fires.
5. Wall Plugs and Sockets. While connecting lights and displays, it is easy to overload wall plugs and sockets with currents struggling to support the flow of electricity. By distributing plugs and installing surge protector, home and residential fires are less likely due to electrical reasons.
6. Cooking and Baking. Conservative estimates note that cooking is the number one reason for fires during the holiday season. Without doubt, it is easy to get caught up entertaining while food is cooking. Cooking ahead of time frees everyone to socialize and slowly warm food to reduce fire hazards.
7. Fire Alarms. Managing these common pressure points for fire during the holidays are important, but even the best plans need a good backup. Nothing replaces a good fire safety system that has been properly installed and consistently tested are the key to saving lives. "After all, it is estimated that 23% of home fire deaths occurred in residences with fire alarms that did not sound," notes fire alarm and safety expert Larry Dolin, President of American Security Systems.

Some easy fire prevention precautions coupled with good sense during the holiday season, the memories will be filled with food, family, and friends.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5473497

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Libreng Sabaw Resident Blogger's Comfort Food

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This is as close I can go to "connecting with the earth". For now, I guess. I really want to go mountaineering soon or something similar like camping or going to the beach (not the typical beach plan most of you would think of) and just allow myself to connect with the earth. Also, you just can't see in the photo (because it is black and white), but I'm also absorbing sunlight (again, makes a lot of sense because the sun is the giver of energy and life). I remember this concept of sungazing and its alleged benefits. On a good day, fair weather and all, maybe in the afternoon or early morning (this would be better), it would be very advisable to eat outdoors.

I've always assumed that L-Tryosine is found mostly in meats but eHow.com says that crabs and shrimps are also very high in this amino acid. This is good for increasing dopamine in your brain. This is why, I always use the example of the lion in Madagascar who wanted to eat his zebra friend. We get happy when we are satisfied with what we eat.

So what better way than to go for Japanese cuisine, something I consider to be one of the most pleasurable and artistic kind of comfort food. I will need 5-HTP, of course (for the serotonin). I will as soon as AdSense pays me (30th it is, yeah?). There are supplements being sold in those "Healthy Options" type of stores.

Then there's dim sum, like hakaw specifically one of my ultimate favorites, another culinary concept I consider to be comforting (and romantic and sensual much like the experience of eating sushi or raw salmon or sea urchin). Plus, the chili oil that comes with it supposedly releases endorphins (yes, spicy food does that, some say). The wrapping and the perfect texture of the steamed shrimp is just indescribable.

Then freshly squeezed orange juice (no photo though). Vitamin C is just so helpful. Pirates got scurvy before because they didn't have citrus fruits or something like that. I don't even know what scurvy is and I'm lazy to Google.

Maybe the other aspects of it can be tackled in my other blogs. What matters is that I write and people read. A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Are you interested in what I think about food? Is that why you are here?

#NowPlaying: Lojik - Get Up

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Water Damage Restoration 101 - Why Use a Water Damage Restoration Company?

While in the midst of a recent job, the insurance adjuster came out and asked why we are continuing to dry when the floor looked dry upon the adjuster's visual inspection. An insurance adjuster, presumedly, is better qualified and has more experience in water damage restoration than a homeowner who is dealing with an emergency remediation service for the first, and hopefully final, time. The sincere question of said adjuster prompted this article as if someone who is supposed to be professionally educated and experienced in this arena does not understand what dry means, then it stands to reason that the in duress homeowner does not know and can reasonably question the time and effort we expend in doing a professional water damage remediation.

Let's face it, money is always a consideration. Any person, in a purely fiduciary and cost accounting point of view, could make the reasonable determination that removing water from a structure can be accomplished by simply using a store rented machine, a shop wet vacuum, or by any carpet cleaning service found in the phone book. This reasonable and cost controlling assumption that any of the water removal methodologies just outlined is correct as any of the aforementioned water removal methods should be able to remove the top layer of water but NONE of those water removal methods can remove the water that has penetrated the flooring, base boards, or drywall. Unfortunately, the moisture not removed by these methods is, often times, the underlying catalyst for costly structural damage and can create the optimal conditions for mold growth. While this approach to save money is understood and appreciated, this approach is unnecessary as, in many cases, a professional water damage remediation company can handle such work for little to no out-of-pocket cost to the homeowner.

In addition to the cost savings the professional water damage remediation company may afford the homeowner, a professionally trained and intra-industry certified company will know the industry established dry standard for the region they serve and will ensure that the moisture content of the affected area will be dried to the established drying standard and not to a level that looks, feels, and otherwise appears dry upon a casual inspection. The benefit of this is simple... the potential for structural damage is abated and the potential for mold growth is minimized thus saving the homeowner untold expenses in home repair and medical costs.

So what does dry mean? When is something dry? Dry does not mean a moisture content of zero as even in the desert there is moisture - if you know where to look and how to extract it. Dry, in the context of water damage remediation, refers to a point in the intra-industry drying standard at which the moisture content is stated to be dry. Each region, by virtue of its unique ecology, has its own established drying standard. The outline of each region is beyond the scope of this article but any interested party can easily find the established drying standard for their region online. It is to this point that a professional water damage remediation company will dry to, or beyond, to ensure your home indemnified to its preloss condition. Then, and only then, is your affected home / structure able to be deemed as dry.

As outlined in this article, there really is a lot that goes into a water damage remediation service... far more then is apparent at first glance. Now that you have a reasonable understanding of the time, money, and risk you can offset via the contracting a professional water damage restoration company, you now know that your fiduciary responsibility and cost saving intent is BEST served by using a professional water damage remediation company whenever water damage occurs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6495402

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Cleaning Up After A Fire Should Be Left For Professionals

Fires can be very devastating. If you're unlucky enough to be a victim of a fire, you're faced with the reality that your home is damaged. You feel as if you're down and you can't wait to go back up. Because of this, you can't wait to clean up the damage and try to restore things back to normal. You just want to go on with your life.

So what do some people do? They try to clean up after the fire themselves. They enter their house and try to restore it. But some people don't realize that this can be very dangerous. Why should cleaning up a fire should be left for professionals? Here are some reasons:

1. Cleaning up a fire is very dangerous

This should be pretty obvious. Fires damage your house. There are damages that you can and cannot see. Sure, you can probably see the burnt wall and you can avoid it. But there are damages that you can't see. There are damages to the foundation of the house itself. One wrong step can lead to part of the house falling down. After property damage, the least thing that you need is loss of life or limb. There's also the issue of fumes and smoke that are unsafe to you and your family.

2. Risk of doing more damage

If you don't know what you're doing, you can actually do more harm than good. Cleaning up a fire should be left for professionals because they have the expertise in dealing with it. They know what they can and cannot do. If you try to do it yourself, you can damage things that could have been restored in the first place.

3. Emotional and physical instability

The devastation that fire brings can make anyone emotionally and physically unstable. This can slow you down or even put you in danger. You're emotionally and physically tired and there's a very big chance that you're not up to the job. By hiring a professional, you're assured that it will be handled accordingly. They have the training needed to restore your things to its original state.

They have the equipment that can help you restore your properties instead of throwing it away. There can also remove any smoke residue that is harmful to you and your properties. They can also help you clean and sanitize your home so that you don't have to suffer anymore with the after-effects of a fire. If you can't wait to go on with your life, hiring a professional company is the way to go. They'll do it right and that's the most important thing aside from your safety.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3597084

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Mold Growth in Your Home: Why It Happens and What to Do for Mold Removal

Mold growth is quite common and can occur almost anywhere in a home or other building. Mold spores, which are tiny and invisible to the naked eye, can end up inside if they become airborne and then land on a wet surface. Water or moisture is essential for sustaining mold growth, so this is the first issue that must be addressed if you notice a mold problem. Once you notice mold growth in your home, it is important to act quickly to avoid any possible health problems associated with mold. However, it is equally important to understand how to prevent this issue in the future.

Moisture is the main cause of sustained mold growth, so always be sure to dry water leaks or spills immediately, as in most cases this will thwart the start of mold growth altogether. There are several common problem areas in your home that you should monitor to keep water--and mold--issues at bay. These include clogged roof gutters, the area around your foundation, air conditioner drip pans, and walls, pipes, or windows if humidity is high. The appearance of condensation on walls, etc., can be a sign of high humidity, which is a major factor for mold starting to grow on a surface in your home or business.

Since molds produce allergens, irritants, and sometimes even highly toxic substances, they do have the potential to cause health problems, such as allergic reactions, asthma attacks, or eye and skin irritation. Therefore, if you notice mold growing on a surface in your home or office, it is very important to take immediate action, such as hiring a mold removal company.

According to most experts, if the size of the mold problem is less than about ten square feet, you can likely take care of the mold cleanup on your own. However, if you notice mold growing in a very large area, or you are simply unsure about the severity of the contamination, you'll definitely want to hire a professional service to do the cleanup. This is where a mold remediation company comes in.

A remediation company can send a mold specialist to identify and assess the problem and suggest a course of action for the removal of mold, complete the mold cleanup, and implement corrective action to prevent the problem from recurring in the future. Since mold growth does imply potential health hazards, be sure that the mold cleanup company is fully professional and very experienced in this field. An expert should be able to advise you on how serious or widespread the problem is, assess which affected items can be salvaged, use the appropriate tools and agents to fully remove the mold, and suggest and implement a plan to prevent future outbreaks. Preventing future mold growth can be achieved by eliminating the source of the water leak or excess moisture in the contaminated area. Your mold remediation company should be able to assist you in remedying this.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6422105 

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