I like to think I’m a pretty fastidious housekeeper, but apparently the Mold Monster made his way into my home anyway.
After seeing a big ol’ MUSHROOM suddenly growing out of the corner of a shower wall, through a crack in the grout (yes, you read that correctly), we learned the unpleasant truth that an undetected leak BEHIND the shower wall had caused irreparable damage . . . and further became food for the infamous “toxic black mold.” It was kind of scary to find out, actually.
Apparently we now shared our bathroom with Stachybotrys chartarum—our new unwelcome guest, who was both an extremely health-threatening and costly, squatter in our home.
Giving it the boot meant having professional mold remediation specialists setting up plastic walls/tents, special fans, etc., completely tearing out our bathroom (even part of the nearby wood floor), wearing respirators and hazmat suits. It was incredibly expensive, disruptive, and not pretty.
Fast-forwarding beyond all the work and the expenditure of several thousands of dollars (most homeowner’s insurance will not cover that damage, so beware), we finally have a lovely, safe bathroom.
Obviously, this blog post is not a do-it-yourself article about growing mushrooms in your shower for use in healthy recipes! I am only reporting this sad little tale to make sure folks understand the need to find and take care of leaks. AND, I can share one other important and useful discovery.
Having gotten bids from several remediation companies, I learned that some companies—including the one I chose to work here—use a non-toxic product/biocide that safely kills mold. Other companies use toxic products that, while effective, are simply dangerous in and of themselves. In fact, one company wanted us to leave our home for two days during the process, in part because they did not want the liability of potentially having someone react adversely to the chemicals. Thanks anyway.
Being the obsessive researcher that I am, I called the company that manufactures the all-natural biocide to be sure it was going to be effective enough for black mold. Apparently it was, and the EPA has approved it. Better yet, another company makes and sells a residential version of that formulation. YES! I WAS ABLE TO BUY THAT PRODUCT ON AMAZON, and I now use it around the house as a serious but completely safe DISINFECTANT . . . and mold murdering substance.
Although the scent of the plants it is made from (the active ingredient is made in a proprietary way from thyme) is a little off-putting at first, it dissipates quickly and is well worth a couple of seconds of nose wrinkling. The great thing about this stuff is you can use it in your kitchen, your bathroom, and everywhere; it’s safe near food! (Try to say THAT about stinky and caustic beach!)
Note: Did you know that bleach does not kill mold? Here’s what the EPA website states about bleach and mold remediation:
Should I use bleach? Biocides are substances that can destroy living organisms. The use of a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup. There may be instances, however, when professional judgment may indicate its use (for example, when immune-compromised individuals are present). In most cases, it is not possible or desirable to sterilize an area; a background level of mold spores will remain – these spores will not grow if the moisture problem has been resolved. If you choose to use disinfectants or biocides, always ventilate the area and exhaust the air to the outdoors.
Learn more about mold remediation on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website.
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