Bathroom
Mold RemovalWhat You Need To KnowThose blue-green splotches around your tub or sink? They probably aren’t your children’s latest art project, but rather, mold spores. Here are some tips for how to keep your home mold-free.
What To Avoid
Watch for excess moisture:Mold is a fungus that often grows where it is dark and there is moisture. Leaky roofs, windows, pipes, sinks, or showers can contribute to mold growing in your home. Wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery can all get moldy. Some people are quite sensitive to mold. For them, mold can cause nasal stuffiness, irritation of the throat, eyes or skin, coughing and wheezing, and other lung conditions.
Check clothes and vents:Mold can even be brought into the house on clothing or through vents.
Large mold area:If your mold problem is larger than 1 square yard, hire a professional mold cleaner!
Safer Choices
Cleaning tips:As with many other cleaning activities, often using water, dish soap and a microfiber cloth or mop is your best bet. We recommend gloves, an N95 mask and goggles too.
Prevention methods are key:Control humidity levels (use a dehumidifier where moisture levels are high).Promptly fix leaks. Ventilate shower, laundry, and cooking areas. Wash wet towels and clothes promptly. Allow your shower curtain and bath rugs to dry fully after use. Avoid cleaners with synthetic chemicals and bleach that have toxic properties and can harm health.
DIY:Vinegar, baking soda, citrus seed extract, and hydrogen peroxide based cleaners can be used safely to remove mold. Find online recipes with these ingredients to make your own solutions.
Find Safer Products
Websites and Apps:
Clearya
Clearya is a free browser extension and app that notifies you when there are unsafe ingredients in your makeup, personal care, baby care, cleaning and other products, and helps you find safe products.
Clearya is a free browser extension and app that notifies you when there are unsafe ingredients in your makeup, personal care, baby care, cleaning and other products, and helps you find safe products.
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics - Nontoxic Black Beauty Project
They offer a list and database of non-toxic beauty products made and sold by Black-owned companies that are committed to toxic-free beauty and personal care products.
They offer a list and database of non-toxic beauty products made and sold by Black-owned companies that are committed to toxic-free beauty and personal care products.
Detox Me
This app allows you to scan barcodes on products to find relevant tips. They also offer a buying guide to decode product labels and find non-toxic alternatives.
This app allows you to scan barcodes on products to find relevant tips. They also offer a buying guide to decode product labels and find non-toxic alternatives.
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG has a "Skin Deep" database that rates personal care and beauty products based on their safety and toxicity levels. EWG also offers a Healthy Living app that allows you to scan barcodes and find safer products.
EWG has a "Skin Deep" database that rates personal care and beauty products based on their safety and toxicity levels. EWG also offers a Healthy Living app that allows you to scan barcodes and find safer products.
Think Dirty
This app and website allow you to scan or search for personal care products to see their ingredient safety ratings.
This app and website allow you to scan or search for personal care products to see their ingredient safety ratings.