March of the Mould - Presented by My Habitat Toxin Free Cleaning Products
There’s no doubt that most houses will contain
mould in one way or another, especially on the
Tablelands. You may have noticed an increase
though, since the wet season has decided to hang
around a little longer than usual. So what is it and
what can we do about it?
Moulds are among the earliest known life-forms
and are found in all parts of the world, including
Antarctica. Contrary to common belief, moulds
do not magically appear in buildings. They enter
spaces via the air or hitching a ride on clothes/food
and water (recent fl oods in Townsville).
Moulds do not have mouths or digestive tracts.
Instead, they release digestive enzymes that break
down paper, fruits, plants, materials like leather,
food or anything else they have landed on and can
use as food. The moulds then absorb the liquefi ed
food and continue to germinate in the ideal
conditions.
Despite their minute size, mould spores have the
potential to cause serious health problems. The
most common symptom of mould in a home is
fatigue not relieved by rest. Spores can increase
development of asthma, pneumonia, breathing
diffi culty, recurrent chest infections, chronic cough,
especially in children. Symptoms can also include
headaches and/or migraines, rashes, watery, itchy
eyes, nasal blockages and sinusitis.
More seriously, some moulds produce mycotoxins
which in signifi cant levels, can severely aff ect the
eyes, skin, nervous system and digestive tract
and in some cases, even lead to death. Signifi cant
health issues for humans and animals can arise
from prolonged exposure.
How do we combat it to ensure maximum health
and wellness in our homes? It’s simple - eliminate
mould before it can reproduce. Like a lot of people,
you may think bleach and chemical sprays kill the
mould. Right? Wrong! They just bleach the colour
out of it, much like a stain on your white towels.
The mould will still live and will still feed and
reproduce.
A natural and age-old remedy for eliminating
mould spores is clove oil. However, in parts of the
world where there are many varieties of mould,
like in rainforests or agricultural areas (Atherton
Tablelands), clove oil just doesn’t have the
longevity to keep the mould at bay.
My Habitat products have researched the timber
industry in pre-petrochemical times and have
discovered that a blend of essential oils was used
to kill the mould before it created damage to the
grains of the timber after they laid the timber in
stacks and that’s what we have based our Mould
Master blend on.
We may not be able to completely rid mould in our
homes, but we can take some steps to prevent it
from growing when it enters. Here are a few tips:
• Use dehumidifi ers
• Completely dry clothes in the sun or dryer
before putting them away
• Clean-up water around the home. By
eliminating the excess moisture, we can
prevent the growth and spread of mould
• Use a non-toxic, chemical-free mould killer like
My Habitat Mould Master or clove oil to kill,
clean and prevent mould from returning. Spray
and leave as a preventative, so that when the
mould fl oats in your house and lands, it will die
on contact
• Whilst it is humid or raining, leave fans on low
in the house to help ventilate
• Regularly clean air conditioners to stop its
spread
Mould controlled!
My Habitat toxin free
0438 000 741
e: [email protected]
www.myhabitat.net.au
6 What’s On & Where To Go May 2019