My Daily, Weekly, and Monthly “Cleaning” Routines for a Healthier Home

I have readers write to me almost everyday wondering about the importance of mold maintenance and cleaning their homes for mold on a regular basis. I am often asked, “Is all of that cleaning for mold you are doing necessary? I thought you lived in a safe home now with no water damage or elevated indoor mold levels? Why are you still doing so much mold maintenance to stay well?”

Before I give my answer, I want to say that I realize this post does not apply to everyone. Because I am a mold-allergy sufferer with an autoimmune issue (ulcerative colitis), my impetus for being so thorough with my home environment, especially when it comes to mold is probably quite different from the average person. I strongly believe that for allergy patients, the mold sensitive, the elderly, or for those with compromised immune systems, regular mold maintenance is essential to maintaining good health. I believe it may also be essential for young children with developing immune systems.  I am not pushing what I do as the right thing for everyone in every home.

What I am saying is this: For a certain population of people, cleaning for mold and actively preventing it in their homes can make a HUGE positive difference in their overall health. And, when you consider that Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) affects 50 million people, and that 80 million people in the US have a genetic predisposition for mold sensitivity, it makes sense that my sharing this information and what I have learned that works for me can help a lot of people.