I just read a story on Marketwatch.com about the financial fallout of mold remediation issues. Here is a link to it, but it is located in the advice section of the website.

A young home buyer writes in to detail his account of purchasing a “flipped” home in Florida, only to later find a huge mold problem in the basement, and a water intrusion issue each time it rains. Now he faces $30,000 in repairs and mold abatement for the home and $10,000 in lawyer fees, because he has decided to pursue a case against the flippers who sold him the home. He asks the advice columnist if taking an emergency loan from his 401(K) is a poor decision, given that in most of these cases, the homeowner loses.

Well, this statement should come as no surprise: front-loading washing machines tend to have problems with mold. Haven’t we all either heard this assertion, known someone with a front loader who complained of this, or had an issue ourselves with mold or mildew in a front-loading machine? From my personal experience, the house my family usually rents at the beach has a front-loading machine, and unless you leave the door ajar between washes, the musty mildew smell can come on pretty quick. Clothes washed in it don’t ever seem to smell as fresh as those washed in our home machine. I never had any proof that the lack of that “clean” smell was caused by mold, but I certainly always thought is was the case.

My post today actually hinges on some truth behind those assertions, because some pretty big-name, front-loading washing machine manufacturers are paying up for a fault in their construction that causes them to harbor mold. The brand names featured in the proposed settlement include Whirlpool, Maytag and Kenmore—Sears and Whirlpool have already reached settlements for models made between 2001-2010. The lawsuit claims that during use, the machines did not properly clean themselves of detergent and residue that would then become trapped in the boot and seal around the door. This residue would become a breeding ground for mold and mildew, thus creating odors in and around the machine. Sometimes, even “freshly washed”clothes were still full of musty smells and mildew spots.

This topic is a trigger for me: People knowing about toxic mold in a home or work environment and not disclosing it to others who will be living or working there. For some, mold is a life or death situation. This is serious, and should be treated as such. I get so upset when mold is passed off as fixable with just a little bleach, or as just a moisture issue–as it is in this story.

Toxic mold could send an allergic person into a state of crisis–asthmatic symptoms, leaky gut, shortness of breath, brain fog, itching, hives, the list goes on and on.

This particular news story from Denver  involves homebuyers and a property with a listing price that was “too good to be true.” They soon found out that realtors were not only aware of the mold’s existence, but they were also aware of its toxicity. The realtors and homeowners CHOSE, I repeat, they CHOSE to not disclose this, in order to sell the home.

This is where I need to take a step back and realize that health safety depends on the individual. Sometimes, even the best doctor won’t go deeper without the patient’s insistence.

I hope you will watch and read this news story–especially if you are like me and are moving soon, or have to move frequently. As important as the look, location and overall feel of a home, when you are in market to buy or rent, is its air quality. Hire professionals to inspect and investigate any home where you plan to live for leaks, previous leaks and damage, and for air quality. You can even do your own testing with the EC3 Mold Test Plates. It may cost a bit more in the beginning, but could save you from purchasing a potentially dangerous home.

Take care of yourself and your health.

Today, I’m bringing a news piece to you to show how important it is to speak up, if your working environment seems to be negatively affecting your health.

In Ozark County, MO, a very busy ambulance station is being demolished, because of toxic mold. Here is a link to the full article.

When many of the workers began getting sick while on their shifts at the station–nose bleeds, running noses, watery eyes, the facility was investigated by a hazmat team. The team found nine different types of mold in the station–most of it located in or near the area where the medics slept while on their shifts. It is notable that the medics interviewed ONLY claimed to feel sick WHILE at work in the toxic building.

The most interesting part of this article, in my opinion, is the fact that the building is going to be demolished, rather than fixed. Demolition and rebuilding is actually seen as the cheaper, safer alternative to remediation. This tells me that the folks in charge realize the dangers and expense involved in eradicating mold when it has gotten this bad. Toxic mold is no joke. When it becomes prevalent, with spores being release through HVAC units and moisture levels that are off the charts, it is probably the wiser decision to leave, or in this case, demolish that living environment.

My blog is mostly directed to people whose home is not toxic and who want the skills and advice on how to keep it that way. This article is extremely important to read, though, because it imparts information that shows that mold is going more mainstream, and people are understanding how detrimental it can be to health.

I would love to hear from anyone who had to have their work environment investigated or tested for mold. Did you get sick while at work? Do you have any lasting effects from working in a moldy environment? What did you do about it?