Nothing mars a beautiful home interior more than the unwanted incursion of mould. Mould’s reputation carries with it more than just an unsightly appearance—it can cause serious illness, and if left unchecked can result in costly repairs.

What Is Mould

Mould is the term used to describe fungus that grows on food and in damp environments in our homes, it grows in patches of dark grey, green, black or white. Although spores exist naturally in our environment and are ever-present in the air we breathe, when conditions are right for their growth, they can become a concern in our homes.

Mould and mildew are often used as two distinct terms, though both describe fungi which we find in our homes. The difference is mildew grows on surfaces causing cosmetic damage, while mould, referring to toxic fungus, spreads more easily, penetrating building materials and can cause structural damage, and severe illnesses. 

What Moulds Can Make You Sick

Although most common moulds are harmless and exist in the air we breathe, there are six types of toxic moulds with potentially serious health effects.

Stachybotrys: Referred to as black mould, this is the most dangerous of the toxic moulds, having a musty, dank odour. It can cause flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, headaches, memory loss and severe respiratory damage. Children are at higher risk of respiratory illness due to their developing lungs.

Chaetomium: Usually found where water damage has occurred, this variety thrives in dark, wet environments like drywall, wallpaper, baseboards and carpeting. It’s similar to stachybotrys, often growing in the same environment, causing allergy symptoms like red, watery eyes, trouble breathing, and even neurological damage and autoimmune illnesses.

Aspergillus: While its spores are present in the air we breathe, this mould variety can be detrimental to a compromised immune system. Exposure can result in allergic reactions, and lung infections including a specific and serious infection known as apergillosis.

Penicillium: Much like aspergillus, penicillium exists abundantly in our environment, but can cause asthmatic symptoms, bronchitis and other respiratory problems if trapped in our homes in certain conditions.

Fusarium: This type of mould is normally found in soil and plant debris, though it may also be found in very damp indoor areas like under carpeting, inside drywall, foam insulation, humidifier pans and HVAC systems. Fusarium spores in rare cases cause fusarium keratitis, a serious eye infection.

Alternaria: This allergy-causing mould is common in many climate zones during spring and summer. Although it’s not generally found in building materials, it can grow on most damp surfaces in the home, and most notably can be found in electric cables, cardboard, some synthetics and textiles.

What Are Common Causes Of Mould?

We know mould prefers damp environments, but it doesn’t take much to create a suitable environment for mould advancement. The most common causes of mould are:

•persistent humidity;

•leaky pipes;

•a leaky roof;

•condensation build-up;

•poor ventilation;

•wet laundry;

•flooding; and

•damp basements.

Years can pass with no issues, but as soon as the right humidity conditions occur, dormant mould spores can reactivate.

How To Detect Mould

Detecting mould can be tricky because it’s not always visible. It’s only when it blooms and spreads that it becomes easily detectable. Dank, musty, or mildew odours are good indicators of possible mould problems.

Mould spreads, so be sure to check all rooms in your home, especially dark and damp areas like the basement. Also check under the carpeting, flooring and behind wallpaper or drywall.

But what if I can’t see or smell any mould? If you or your family members have persistent allergy, cold or flu symptoms that subside when away from the house for any length of time, it could be an indicator of mould in your home. While mould test kits can be purchased, it’s a good idea to seek a professional to investigate further.

Dealing With Mould

If you’ve discovered a small spot of mould, it’s possible to address it safely on your own. Use warm soapy water to help get deeper into semi-porous surfaces then use undiluted white vinegar to neutralize the bacteria that causes mould spores.

A large or widespread infestation, requires a mould remediation professional, and it’s best not to disturb it further. If you attempt this scenario solo, you risk spreading the spores, feeding the mould—cleaners are often diluted using water which is what mould eats!—causing further structural damage. You can also miss something and have to remediate again, or become ill from breathing in the spores.

An Ounce Of Prevention

There are some key things you can do to keep mould out of your home, saving you down the road.

Do not allow wet materials to sit: Mould needs less than 48 hours to start growing, so never leave damp laundry or towels laying around. 

Keep household surfaces clean: Giving surfaces in your home—especially around sinks, tubs and tiles in your kitchen and bathroom—a good cleaning disinfection and drying. Leaving dry surfaces after each cleaning is key.

Reduce moisture levels in your home: Always run the exhaust fan during and after showering in your bathroom or when cooking in the kitchen to minimize moisture levels.

Stow your belongings securely: Store seasonal items in secure bins with tight-closing lids to keep moisture out. Be sure to store any gear or boxes in a way that allows adequate airflow between them.

Maintain your plumbing: Monitor your plumbing, and repair or replace as needed to prevent leaky or weeping pipes.

Optimize airflow in your home: Keep furniture away from walls and open windows when possible to allow natural airflow through your home. Make sure any confined spaces, like your attic or crawl spaces, are well ventilated so moisture does not become trapped.

Reduce moisture in the basement: If the humidity is more than 50%, it’s advisable to run a dehumidifier, or install a foundation drain. Keep an eye out for foundation cracks and repair without delay—this is especially important if you own an older home. Installing insulation and thermal or storm windows can help to keep basements warmer and more dry.

 
Mould is certainly nothing to ignore, especially when it comes to your health and well being. If you keep a keen eye on your home with periodic inspections, maintenance and prevention measures, you will have more reason to rest easy. 

As fall is just around the corner, it is time to start transitioning out or our summer clothes and into our fall and winter ones. Now is the perfect time to clean out and reorganize our closets.

Sort

The first step is to take everything out of the closet and make four piles: the Now Pile, for things used or worn often; the Someday Pile, for clothes you might fit into again or might use if an occasion arises; the Never Pile, for things you absolutely never reach for; and the Seasonal Pile, for things used seasonally. Be honest and remember your goal: a clean, well-organized, easy-to-use closet.

Donate

Donate all the garments that no longer fit you and the clothes you don’t wear but hang on to because you paid a fortune for them. Take them to a consignment shop or sell them on an online store. Check your local thrift store to make sure they are accepting donations and how many you can take at a time.

The next step is a tough one. Move everything from the Someday Pile into the Never Pile. This is the hardest step. But you can do it. 

Sort Again

For most people, the Never Pile is often much bigger than expected. It’s normal for the Never Pile to amount to 40% or more of the items in your closets, that’s a lot of closet space wasted.

At this point, the purge is not quite finished. Once we see how much space we can free up by eliminating unwanted, unnecessary and unused stuff, we’re often motivated to go further. It’s time to look for “never” and “someday” items hiding in the Now Pile.

Think Fast

Act quickly, while motivation and resolve remains strong, place everything from the Never Pile in large trash bags for donation, resale or sharing. Be strong. Keep moving forward and trust your first instincts. Next, get the bags out of your way by temporarily relocating them to the garage, guest room, basement or attic.

Seasonal Strategies

Pack up seasonal stuff in clear plastic bins with big, easy-to-read labels that let you know what’s inside. Store them out of sight in an easily accessible place.

When storing seasonal clothes, wash and dry-clean out-of-season clothes before you put them in storage, because antiperspirant, cologne and makeup residue attracts insects. Make sure items are dry before you store them. Dampness leads to mildew and a musty smell. Never store clothes in plastic bags like those from dry cleaners. Store them in cotton zip-up bags. No mothballs. No exceptions.

Home Stretch

Dust or vacuum before you put anything back in the closet. Dust mites destroy fabric, and they are horrible for people with allergies.

After the closet is empty and clean, you’re heading for the home stretch. Don’t repeat old mistakes. Wooden, plastic, padded or flocked hangers are best for maintaining the shape of a garment. Make sure you shop for hangers with a nice, elongated hook and contoured shoulders. The longer hooks will help keep your collars in shape. The contoured shoulders mirror human shoulders and will help keep the garment in shape. Keep in mind, too, that slim hangers create more space on the rod.

Choose clip or clamp-style hangers with felt or foam cushioning to hold skirts and pants in plush fabrics such as corduroy, velour or velvet. Tube style, open-ended hangers are a great choice for pants.

Group Think

When it comes to determining what goes where, group “like” things together for ease and simplicity. Long-sleeved shirts, short-sleeved shirts and sleeveless shirts all belong in the shirt section. Bottoms such as skirts and pants also get their own section. You can also group clothes according to color, function, work or occasion.

One More Thing

After a week or so of appreciating how much quicker and easier it is to live with a well-organized closet full of things you actually use, it’s time to deal with the sequestered bags from the Never Pile. But it’s important to remember this: Do. Not. Open. Not even a peek.

Can you remember what’s inside them? The answer is probably no. These items have served you well, but it’s time to move on. Resist the urge to open the bags one last time. Drop them off at a thrift store, recycling them or sell them online. Let them have a new life with people who will use them. Then move on.

Enjoy your newly organized waredrobe!

Vancouver is studying five options for emergency dwellings for homeless people

Homelessness has become a looming issue across the country. Vancouver city staff is  looking into 5 possible option of eleviating the stress tent cities are putting on local communities. Some solutions are creating a “temporary tiny house villages” and low-income RV parks as part of its temporary disaster relief shelter framework.

Council added these two options recently to three other possible options.These options were to lease or buy housing units, including hotels and single-room occupancy hotels, establish a temporary emergency relief camp on vacant public or private land and to temporarily convert city-owned buildings into emergency housing.

City staff have until Oct. 2 to report back to council on all the options.

The homeless crisis has worsened due to COVID-19, and is most obvious in Strathcona Park where at least 300 tents have been put up.

Many residents across the city have noticed increases in homelessness in their neighbourhoods, which in turn is adding to the stress of COVID-19.

People who are homeless need to have options for change.

Seattle has eight city-funded “tiny house villages” that have opened in the past three years in response to that city’s homeless crisis.

One of those villages — Second Chance — evolved from un-permitted squat, to a sanctioned tent city, to a city-funded tiny house village.

Hopefully, one of these five options will be viable and can be used by other communities across Canada to help deal with the rising homeless issue.

There’s a saying among arachnologists that you’re never more than five feet from a spider. That’s especially true here in British Columbia, where there are nearly 900 documented species of spiders.

At this time of year, you’re likely to find some walking across your living room or in your bathtub. They might have slipped in through the crack under your door, or hitched a ride when you walked through a web in the garden.

But don’t worry, they are quite harmless and only there by accident. It’s mating season in the spider world and males are wandering around looking for females. They come into the house, by accident.

The most common spider you’ll find are the garden cross orbweaver spider (Araneus diadematus) and the giant house spider (Eratigena atrica), which are commonly but incorrectly referred to as wolf spiders. Another is the hobo spider (Eratigena agrestis).

All are introduced species and harmless to people. Their lifespans are only a year. When the mating is done, the female lays her eggs in silken pods and hides them away for spring hatching. She dies, and sometimes eats the male before she goes.

Arachnologists say while some spiders will bite, the only one British Columbians have to worry about is the Western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus), which has a pea-sized, polished black abdomen with hourglass-shaped red marking. Its bite and small dose of venom can cause abdominal cramps and swelling, but nothing more. This spider rarely leaves its hiding place and lives for two or three years. It likes mossy outcroppings in gardens and rocky slopes.

Perhaps the creepiest spider in BC — the Pacific folding-door spider (Antrodiaetus pacificus), a distant relative of tarantulas can live up to 20 years. They lay trap webs outside their holes and wait for prey to be caught, then pull it in for dinner. The females never leave their burrows and the males wander the forests.

BC has 893 distinct species — a large number considering there are 1,600 documented species in all of Canada. Our diversity of habitats — mountain ranges, valleys, prairie, deserts and coastal forests — allow spiders to flourish here.

People often blame spiders for bites when the culprits are actually bed bugs, lice, fleas, ticks and other insects. But make no mistake. Spiders are useful to humans. They take care of a lot of insects that carry diseases for humans and cause crop damage.

A lot of people still have the knee-jerk reaction to kill a spider when seen; but, we should just let them live and go about their business.

Colour has the ability to inspire, excite, soothe, heal and even agitate. This is especially true for children, who can be extra sensitive to impact of colour. The importance of picking out just the right colour for a young child’s room shouldn’t be underestimated.

While scientists have learned a lot about the way colour influences our minds and bodies, keep in mind that every child is different; these generalizations don’t apply to all. But if you’re curious about how to bring colour into your child’s room, this information may help you get started.

Red 

Red has the ability to energize the body and excite the mind, increasing heart and breathing rates. However, some research suggests that too much exposure to red encourages aggressive behavior and an inability to focus. The bottom line: Red is great as an accent, but might not be the best wall colour for a restless child.

Orange 

Orange is one of the most misunderstood colours. This warm, friendly and youthful colour is actually great for children since it’s said to encourage confidence, extroversion and independence. The social nature of this colour also puts children and their friends at ease, inspiring communication and cooperation.

Yellow 

Most of us associate yellow with feelings of happiness and cheerfulness. Studies also pair this bright and cheery colour with motivation; softer yellows can aid concentration, while brighter ones can increase memory. Beware of using too much bright yellow, though. In large doses it may create feelings of agitation and even anger.

Green 

This calming, natural colour has a soothing impact on a child. Scientists have also found that green may improve a child’s reading speed and comprehension. There’s no need to keep this anxiety-reducing colour to a minimum.

Blue

Having the opposite effect of red, blue decreases feelings of anxiety and aggression and lowers blood pressure and heart rates. Children who experience tantrums or other behavioral problems may appreciate the soothing effects of a blue room.

Purple 

Often associated with royalty, purple is ambitious and self-assured. It’s also the colour of passion, creativity, wisdom and spirituality. This deep colour is great for inspiring sensitivity and compassion in children. But if your child is particularly sensitive, you may want to keep this colour limited to accents.

Pink 

Although it’s usually associated with typical girly spaces, pink has a calming feel that can translate to both sexes. Any child can grow out of too much pink quickly, though, so try pairing pink artwork, accessories and textiles with a neutral background.

Warm Colours 

Warm colours inspire happiness, coziness and comfort in most people. They can also make large, open spaces feel more intimate for young ones. Of course, this doesn’t mean you’re limited to brown and tan — use these easy colours as a platform for brighter and more daring shades.

Cool Colours 

Some of us associate cool colours with sterile, hospital-like environments, but lighter cool colours can have a calming effect on children. Plus, many of these colours help small spaces seem a little bit more open. Try layering in shades of cream for some softness and contrast, and consider comfortable and cuddly textiles for warmth.