You don't even have to see the mold, as shown here, to be affected. Even if you can't see it, it's probably there!
This summer’s crazy weather created the perfect petri dish for mold in the Midwest, and with hot weather following flooding last week in Southern California, it’s likely to happen here too.
The Midwest started out in early summer with a string of days over 100° F, and just when they thought that a record-breaking seven inches of rain was a godsend, they find out it’s caused the highest mold count recorded so far this year.
This is according to the Gottleib Allergy Count, the official allergy count for the Midwest for the National Allergy Bureau. Dr. Joseph Leija, the allergist who performs the Gottleib Allergy Count, points to July’s mold count for the Midwest was 30,000, just 10,000 short of the threshold for an alert warning.
But warning to readers—that count is just for the outdoors. “Many Midwesterners experienced flooding in their homes which can easily cause indoor mold counts to be much higher,” explains Leija in a statement. “Even to dangerous breathing conditions.” Leija is the allergist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, part of the Loyola University Health System, and her statement goes on to point out that many homes are now pure poison for those individuals with respiratory conditions.
What does Leija recommend for sufferers? Cut out all soaked drywall and remove it, as well as carpets, tile, cardboard boxes and other porous materials. She also recommends to wash everything in plain water, including walls, floors and soaked items, then drying everything thoroughly.
Allergy sufferers should use an over-the-counter nasal rinse product, using the instructions on the package, to rinse out trapped mold particles and spores that will cause a reaction. Symptoms of respiratory irritation from mold include nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, headaches and post-nasal drip.
If you’ve had a flood here in Southern California, the recent high temperatures could be causing the same problems in your home. Are you or members of your family having trouble breathing, or experiencing allergic symptoms? Call Paul Davis Restoration of the Inland Empire. We can help remove mold from your home and make it safe for you and your family to live in again. Don’t create a bigger problem by trying to clean it yourself and cause potential hazards to your health. Call us now for an estimate: we’re open 24 hours a day to serve you when disaster strikes: (877) 732-8471 or use our online form.