How to Detox from Black Mold - Tips

Black mold (scientific name Stachybotrys Chartarum) isn't a new health issue, but it seems that awareness of the dangers it poses has finally reached the mainstream. Black mold exposure can have serious health effects. Here's a few ways to detox from black mold exposure.

 

Black Mold Detox By Distance

Black mold exposure is a serious health issue that can have lasting effects. The best way to detox from a black mold exposure is to distance yourself from the source immediately and stay away. This may be difficult if the mold is in your home, but it's necessary to minimize further exposure while you address the issue. When you are away from the black mold environment you can plan your next steps.

 

Removing the Mold Source

 

Once you're away from the immediate source of exposure, focus on removing the black mold. This may involve hiring a professional mold remediation company, especially if the infestation is severe. Black mold thrives in damp places with access to paper, wood, or any other sources of cellulose. Anything that has black mold growing on it must be cleaned or thrown away. Personal protection such as an N95 respirator, gloves, and safety goggles should be worn whenever working around black mold. If you suspect there may be mold in an area there are a number of home mold test kits that can help you determine what is in the environment. Even if you think you have removed all the mold from an area, clean a little further just in case.

 

Cleaning the Air

Even after the mold is removed, spores may linger in the air that could trigger an allergic reaction. That's why it is important to clear your home's air as well as the mold sources. Start by opening as many windows and doors as possible to encourage outside ventilation. If possible use fans to circulate and move air through the structure. This should remove a large amount of the leftover black mold spores from the room. Close the windows and doors then use a high-quality air purifier to help remove any lingering mold spores while improving overall indoor air quality. Simply choose an Intellipure portable air purifier to remove black mold spores quietly and efficiently.

 

Black Mold Allergy Treatment

If you're experiencing allergy symptoms from black mold exposure, several treatment options are available:

  • Antihistamines - helps reduce allergy symptoms like sneezing and itching.
  • Decongestants - helps relieve nasal congestion.
  • Nasal flushes - helps clear out mucus and allergens from your nasal passages.
  • Nasal anti-inflammatory spray - helps reduce inflammation in your nasal passages.
  • Inhaler - helps open up your airways when experiencing asthma symptoms
  • Allergy shot - helps desensitize your body to black mold allergens over time.


Remember, it's crucial to consult with a doctor to determine the best course of treatment for your specific situation.

 

How To Prevent Black Mold Growth

Now that your home is free from black mold you don't want it to come back. Here's how to keep black mold from taking hold again:

  • Keep indoor humidity levels below 50% if possible. Your air conditioner works as a dehumidifier as part of its normal operation, but you may need a standalone dehumidifier if the air is especially damp in your area.
  • Use the vent fan in the bathroom while bathing/showering.
  • Use the vent fan in the kitchen when cooking.
  • Keep the roof in good repair to prevent any water leaks.
  • Waterproof and seal the basement or crawl space to prevent water from entering under the home.
  • Regularly clean bathrooms to prevent mold from taking hold in damp areas.
  • Use ceiling fans or other fans to move air around the house for better air circulation.
  • Thoroughly dry any carpet that gets wet, or replace it if it cannot be completely dried.
  • Choose mold-resistant sheetrock for areas likely to get wet (like basements or bathrooms).
  • Use mold resistant paint for water prone or damp areas.

It's too easy to render black mold problems as an "out of sight, out of mind" issue but ignoring it won't make it go away. Detoxing your home from black mold will be harder the longer mold is allowed to run rampant. Address the issue as soon as possible, remove the black mold source, and keep it from coming back.

Explore the Breathe Easy Blog

View all

Fall Leaf Burning and Air Quality

Fall Leaf Burning and Air Quality

Backyard burning is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. On their own properties, people burn vegetative waste or household trash that would typically be recycled or sent to a landfill. Burning can happen in a barrel, homemade burn box, wood stove, outdoor boiler, or an open pit [1][1].

Some people think of backyard burning as a nostalgic autumn tradition and convenient, affordable way to get rid of leaves and waste. Others don't think about it at all … until the smoke from their neighbor's burn pile shows up in the air around and inside their home. 

Read more

Smoking Is Making a Comeback. What Does That Mean for Your Air?

Smoking Is Making a Comeback. What Does That Mean for Your Air?

Cigarettes are having a cultural moment again. For a while, they seemed destined to become a relic of another era. Then came vaping, sleek electronic devices, flavored nicotine, a way to smoke almost anywhere, and a whole new aesthetic. 

Now, the pendulum appears to be swinging again.

Recent cultural coverage has pointed renewed interest in something trendsetters are calling analog smoking, especially among younger consumers. Cigarettes are showing up in fashion, celebrity imagery, nightlife culture, and social media feeds, alongside terms like cigfluencers, Gen Z smoking, and even vape fatigue.

Read more

Living and Breathing with Lyme Disease

Living and Breathing with Lyme Disease

When you were a kid and had never seen "Lyme disease" spelled out before, you might have assumed it had something to do with little green citrus fruits. (No? Just me?) 

Turns out, the disease is named for Lyme, Connecticut, where the first cluster of cases was documented back in 1977. Unfortunately, Lyme disease has spread far beyond Lyme's town limits: Today, it's been reported in almost every U.S. state, but the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest regions see the most cases. It also exists in Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world [1, 2][1, 2]. 

Read more

Better Together: Why Different Air Filters Do Different Jobs

Better Together: Why Different Air Filters Do Different Jobs

Fall has a way of putting maintenance back on everyone's radar. You're changing routines, getting the house ready for cooler weather, and maybe finally tackling that list of things you meant to check months ago. Changing your air purifier filters deserves a spot on that to-do list.

Read more

What You Should Know About Humidifiers

What You Should Know About Humidifiers

Clean air isn't just about clearing out particles and volatile organic compounds. Humidity is an important component of indoor air quality (IAQ), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists monitoring and adjusting humidity as a way to improve the air in your home [1][1]. 

Plus, research suggests that indoor humidity could play a bigger role in your health than you might think. Experimental studies show that too much or too little humidity can create conditions that make it easier for germs and allergens to stick around [2][2].

Read more

Should You Pair an Air Purifier and a Dehumidifier This Summer?

Should You Pair an Air Purifier and a Dehumidifier This Summer?

Sticky summer air isn't for everyone. Whether you love or hate climates that make you sweat on the way to your mailbox, the objective reality is that humidity creates a few extra challenges for people who care about air quality.

Before we get into those potential clean-air and respiratory health threats, let's take a minute to go over the basics of humidity.

Read more

Hurricane Season Starts Outside. The Air Prep Starts at Home.

Hurricane Season Starts Outside. The Air Prep Starts at Home.

Hurricane prep usually starts with the obvious: batteries, bottled water, flashlights, medications, and a plan for where to go if conditions turn dangerous. But hurricane season home preparation should also include the air inside your home.

I've lived in Florida my whole life, so hurricane prep feels almost like a seasonal ritual. Still, indoor air can be easy to overlook when there are shutters to hang and supplies to track down.

Read more

Clean Air Self-Care: Small Ways to Breathe and Feel Better at Home

Clean Air Self-Care: Small Ways to Breathe and Feel Better at Home

As I live and breathe, National Wellness Month is finally here! And what better time to talk about personal wellness tips and tricks than this? Self-care can take many forms. For some, it's a better bedtime routine. Morning people might tell you it's a few quiet minutes before the day begins.

Read more

Outside In: How Your Yard Affects Your Indoor Air Quality

Outside In: How Your Yard Affects Your Indoor Air Quality

Counterintuitively, a big part of maintaining good indoor air quality (IAQ) is being more mindful of the air outside your home. That's because half of what's in the air outside can make its way inside [1][1].

From pollen and mold spores to pesticides and other lawn treatments, lots of different outdoor contaminants find their way into the air you breathe when you're chilling on the couch, eating lunch at the kitchen table, or even tucked under the covers in bed. 

Read more