(no subject)

[theatokos]

A big part of the mold problem is our fault. I feel like a really awful tenant. I grew up in a place wetter than here, but all the housing is timber framed so the houses 'breathe,' whereas here it's all concrete, brick and plastic windows. We've been drying our laundry all around the house, not opening the windows enough, or heating the house consistently enough. We're beginning a program to change the way do things, air it all out, and dry things up. And clean up the mold. I am NOT looking forward to that. But it must be done. Then, we need to take all our bedding to the laundromat. Hopefully in a week's time or so we'll begin to feel better. Adam and I feel terrible.

We're still going to look at other places though. We think we may be paying too much.

Comments

[keypike.livejournal.com]

Just caught up on my flist - sorry to hear you've been having such a tough time with mold! Scary stuff....but glad to hear you've got a plan in place to deal with it.

Don't feel terrible....just move forward. When you know better, you do better, right?

[mindycl.livejournal.com]

i'm not so sure it's your fault. i also live in concrete/ brick housing, hang my laundry to dry on the shower rod and such, and dont have a mold problem.

[snowcalla.livejournal.com]

It's funny that you post this because I was just going to relay some mold info for you.

Yeah - you gotta get ventilation going. You also HAVE to get the fire going - if the woods too damp, use coal to get the fire going and heap the wood on top. Clean the walls and ceiling every week with vinegar and water. Then (learned this trick in the military) use a rag to wipe a VERY thin film of baby oil on the walls. Keeps the mold from gaining Purchase. At least it did in the showers in Texas in Basic Training.

Not fun at all. But you can get to be mold free.

[bloodfever.livejournal.com]

If that's all it is then it's a pretty easy fix, like you say you just have to adjust what you're doing a bit (and eww clean up) but...it sounds pretty bad for just having some damp laundry around! Are you sure there isn't some underlying structural issue with the house contributing (rising damp, etc)?

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

See. Now yesterday I spent all day reading up (thus discovering that we could be doing things better) and also talking to people, a few of whom are also landlords. They said that this amount and intensity of mold could not occur so quickly just from drying our laundry inside..... for the last 4 weeks. So, yes, I think we exacerbated a pre-existing condition.

[lopezuna.livejournal.com]

Hope it all works out. I'm still a bit puzzled as to how the mold could grow, even with the wet washing, unless there's an underlying structural problem like no damp proof course. Modern concrete houses (even jerry-built ones) usually have vents (it's kind of like this square in the wall that is tilted out a bit, up high), so that even if you never open the windows, there is some ventilation.

[readthisandweep.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I think you've worked out what the problem is. As I told you in a comment elsewhere ~ I worked it out the hard way myself vis a vis my bathroom.

Ventilation is vital. And drying out doors whenever possible. There's been so much rain lately, I know, & you have masses of washing. (I have a balcony so rain isn't an issue.) But you do have a garden so it can be done ~ you can buy covered carousel laundry lines too.

Can you use the dryers on campus?

Regardless of what anyone tells you, if there is a pre~existing condition, mold will creep in really quickly. (Landlords are a tribe & they lie!) And even if there isn't already any mold, with the amount of washing you are drying indoors in a small space, it WILL show up & fast.

If you're going to stay there, you simply have to find a way of drying from wet, outside, or in a dryer. Today is a perfect drying day ~ mine's out! Drying off indoors, once the worst is done, is okay. Outside all day, in to finish off overnight in a well ventilated room. Get the heating ticking over at a sensible temperature.

Good luck with the clean up ~ cheap bleach is fine BTW ~ don't waste money on the expensive stuff!

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Without a car we are not hauling our drying anywhere. It was suggested to us, but honestly? It's not a solution.

However, while I know we can now contain the problem, I am still not convinced that we are the entirety of the problem. Our neighbor had her roof replaced, it has been very very wet for a long time, etc etc. I don't think we're in a rush to move anymore. We really really like this place: yard, wonderful light, great kitchen, nice size, etc. But we shall keep our eyes open for when our lease is up in March.


UPDATE: The landlords came over and are buying a tumble dryer. All is well.

[readthisandweep.livejournal.com]

Great news ~ you must be so relieved. And now at least you can hang laundry out on nice days, knowing the dryer is there to finish the job off. And save your lives when it rains!