Ever noticed black spots on the surface of your bathroom? Or maybe white patches on the floor of your basement? Or an orange slick film on your sink? All of these are concrete molds, and if they are not treated in time, they can grow and expand through your home, causing asthma and allergies to the people living there.
And even if you and your family members are not allergic to mold, it can also cause respiratory issues such as the irritation of the throat, eyes, nose, and lungs. So when cleaning your home, it is essential to protect yourself against these harmful molds.
Why Concrete Molds Are Harmful?
In the short term, some people can have a mild allergic reaction, no reaction at all or a really severe reaction that could lead to an asthma attack. And in the long term everyone can experience respiratory issues and more. This is because of the toxic substance called mycotoxin found in molds.
How To Protect Yourself Against Concrete Mold
High levels of mycotoxin can have negative effects on someone’s health, and that’s why it is important to stay protected when dealing with concrete molds. Here are some safety measures that you can take when cleaning the deep and unexplored areas of your home, places where mold can be hiding:
1. Be Careful with Unexplored Places
The main thing that causes health issues and allergies are the spores of molds. They can especially be released when the mold is stirred or cleaned, so that’s why it is important to watch out in those unexplored places. But you eventually do have to clean it, so when you do, make sure you follow the next precaution tips.
2. Wear Rubber Gloves
It is highly important to wear gloves so that the mold does not get in contact with your skin. Preferably, you would need long gloves and long clothes, so no skin area is exposed.
3. Use Goggles
It is also important to protect your eyes and avoid any irritation, so using a pair of goggles can be very helpful. Make sure they don’t have any ventilation holes where air can enter. They don’t need to let air come through, so sunglasses will definitely not help.
4. Wear a Dust Mask
Protecting your respiratory pathways is essential, and that’s where a dust mask comes in very handy. You don’t need a very advanced or powerful mask, and a simple N95 dust mask will do the job. It filters particles as small as 0.3 microns, so it should offer the needed protection when cleaning and dealing with concrete molds.
Just make sure that the mask fits properly on your face and doesn’t have any leaks, and that you replace it regularly. We also wrote an article about when to reuse and when to change your dust mask.
5. Change Clothes and Shower After You Clean
Mold spores can remain on your clothes and then get in touch with your skin, so it is important to change your clothes after cleaning up, throw them in the washing machine and also take a shower yourself.Always keep your house clean and get rid of the mold as soon as you notice it. But also make sure to follow the guidelines above when cleaning it. Click here to get your N95 dust mask today.
