Living with allergies:
Relief from Mold Allergies

Mold allergies dampening your spirits? Here are some tips to reduce your chances of inhaling mold spores:

If you find spots of mold in your home, clean them with a household disinfectant or a solution of 50 percent bleach in water. Check the area to see if the mold returns; on floors or walls, this may signal an underlying water leak.
Keep humidity low (below 50 percent) by using a dehumidifier. Be sure to clean filters and empty any water collection trays often, because these can breed mold and disperse it into the air.
Open a window while you shower and keep it open for a half an hour afterward. If you use a shower curtain, stretch it out after the shower so it will dry more evenly. Change your shower curtain often.
Don't overwater plants.
Check pipes and faucets for leaks and correct them.
Vent the clothes washer and dryer outside.
Keep gutters clean and remove any rotting wood or debris from the yard.
Keep leaf-raking and lawn-mowing to a minimum. If possible, enlist a non-allergy sufferer for these chores. If you must mow or rake, wear an air-filtering mask and change your clothes immediately afterward.
When turning on air conditioners, open a window and leave the room for a few minutes to let spores that have collected in the machine disperse. In the car, open the windows for a few minutes when you first turn on the air conditioner. Clean air conditioning and heating vents often.