Re: More Mold

[Guest guest]

Jill,

We have a Patagonia fleece jacket that still retains a small from our

moldy apartment more than two years ago. Its one of several fleece

items we have that were the most problematic clothing tems we have.

Fleece things in general, which we had a lot of, some pretty nice

items that we didn't want to throw away,

have seemed to be very hard to clean.

My reaction to them for a very long time was to turn red where they

touched my skin and I sweated.. ,my theory is that furry things

absorbed and retained a lot of (toxins?) for some reason.. I don't

know for sure how or why but i theorized that it may be because of

electrical charges tend to collect on pointy objects - thats known to

happen with ionizers..the air has a slight negative charge and the

earth and stationary items on it are positive.. They- opposites -

attract..

So, we kept washng them and washing them and finally, now the ones we

wear and have washed the most don't do it anymore..

Two years.. maybe fifteen (I'm guessing) washings..

On Sun, Aug 24, 2008 at 5:32 PM, jill1313 <jenbooks13@...> wrote:

> Am I sensitized now, or more aware, or both? I really don't know.

>

> I am MCS now too but, I just went shopping today (wheezing and

> congested....and not sure if that's just me or still moldy in my

> place. Could just be me).

>

> Anyway. The first store I went to, Patagonia, is high end organic

> stuff. Well, I've concluded I prefer REGULAR cotton to organic cotton.

> I am actually more sensitive to organic. Others have said that too.

> Weird, eh? And its so fricken expensive.

>

> The second store was the Gap. If I buy Gap shirts online, I find some

> are great wonderful and after about five washes the formaldehyde is

> out. Others smell awful, like metal, which to me means pesticides from

> a different batch of cotton. You never can tell. So I thought, I'll go

> IN the store and smell stuff. Well I practically got a major mold hit

> when I walked thru the door. I'm looking at some cotton shirts from

> India and I'm thinking, is the cotton moldy? What's happening? I was

> starting to feel a little sick-ish and I walked around one more minute

> and then I realized, the whole store is moldy from the a/c system. Its

> totally contaminated. Its the same smell, I smelled in the Broadway

> theater about 2 months ago. Well I hightailed it out of there, I'm not

> ready for another mold-migraine!

>

> So then I went into Towne Shoppe, a lingerie shop that also has nice

> tops. So I'm smelling the tops and they all seem pretty decent. I buy

> one at 70% off sale, and think, okay I scored, and as soon as I get

> outside and sniff it I realize it reeks of perfumed scent. Probably

> Towne Shoppe had Glade or air fresheners or something and my nose just

> went numb to it. It reminds me of being in Bed Bath Beyond where they

> pipe god knows what Glade type stuff through the entire 50,000 sq foot

> store. I bought a sink mat there adn while in the store, it smelled

> totally neutral. Get it out and it smells like Cherry Glade. It didn't

> bother me that much but what is amazing is even 3 months later, the

> thing still smells of CHerry Glade, even after being aired out and

> exposed to tons of hot soap and water.

>

> So much for mold, it is kind of scary once you can smell it or

> recognize it and are sensitized. You never know when you walk in a

> building if it will be moldy because of poor maintenance. And others

> are happily browsing not experiencing anything.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Supposedly it's organically grown cotton. But after that God only

knows what dyes and chemicals are used in it. I don't care for

organic smells either. llaci

[Guest guest]

>Jill-I've had MCS for years nor but the toxic clothing thing is new

for me. Last week a perfectly good pair of sandals started making me

sick-it was a plastic smell I think. My bedroom reeked.

I also have problems with bras. But they seem to be made from more

artificial stuff than T-shirts, for example, and lately, one wash and

the thing just reeks of some kind of chemical smell. I don;t know what

to do about this new development. I've never had trouble with clothing

before.

Also, thanks for the blow by blow re Bed Bath and Beyond! I'm glad to

hear someone else has the same issues with that store! it's SO toxic!

> Am I sensitized now, or more aware, or both? I really don't know.

>

> I am MCS now too but, I just went shopping today (wheezing and

> congested....and not sure if that's just me or still moldy in my

> place. Could just be me).

>

> Anyway. The first store I went to, Patagonia, is high end organic

> stuff. Well, I've concluded I prefer REGULAR cotton to organic cotton.

> I am actually more sensitive to organic. Others have said that too.

> Weird, eh? And its so fricken expensive.

>

> The second store was the Gap. If I buy Gap shirts online, I find some

> are great wonderful and after about five washes the formaldehyde is

> out. Others smell awful, like metal, which to me means pesticides from

> a different batch of cotton. You never can tell. So I thought, I'll go

> IN the store and smell stuff. Well I practically got a major mold hit

> when I walked thru the door. I'm looking at some cotton shirts from

> India and I'm thinking, is the cotton moldy? What's happening? I was

> starting to feel a little sick-ish and I walked around one more minute

> and then I realized, the whole store is moldy from the a/c system. Its

> totally contaminated. Its the same smell, I smelled in the Broadway

> theater about 2 months ago. Well I hightailed it out of there, I'm not

> ready for another mold-migraine!

>

> So then I went into Towne Shoppe, a lingerie shop that also has nice

> tops. So I'm smelling the tops and they all seem pretty decent. I buy

> one at 70% off sale, and think, okay I scored, and as soon as I get

> outside and sniff it I realize it reeks of perfumed scent. Probably

> Towne Shoppe had Glade or air fresheners or something and my nose just

> went numb to it. It reminds me of being in Bed Bath Beyond where they

> pipe god knows what Glade type stuff through the entire 50,000 sq foot

> store. I bought a sink mat there adn while in the store, it smelled

> totally neutral. Get it out and it smells like Cherry Glade. It didn't

> bother me that much but what is amazing is even 3 months later, the

> thing still smells of CHerry Glade, even after being aired out and

> exposed to tons of hot soap and water.

>

> So much for mold, it is kind of scary once you can smell it or

> recognize it and are sensitized. You never know when you walk in a

> building if it will be moldy because of poor maintenance. And others

> are happily browsing not experiencing anything.

>

[Guest guest]

Air conditioner coils are pretty much all moldy unless owner is aware of indoor

air problems of mold. It easier to clean there than other places in the home

unless you have ducts that have fiberglass in them, then the ducts probably are

contaminated.

>

> We had a reputable company come out to clean the hvac and sure enough they

found mold on the coils. I simply cant take anymore, when we searched for this

house we thought we checked every nook and cranny for mold or places that mold

would grow. So far we had a pcv tube behind a wall that someone drilled two

small holes into and leaked for only God knows how long that had mold, if I

wasn't so obsessed with water leaks we would

[Guest guest]

Air conditioning is often moldy. With all the discussion here about air

conditioners, how was this overlooked? Dr Shoemaker talks alot about mold and

AC. Not surprising at all that mold was found there.

>

> We had a reputable company come out to clean the hvac and sure enough they

found mold on the coils. I simply cant take anymore, when we searched for this

house we thought we checked every nook and cranny for mold or places that mold

would grow. So far we had a pcv tube behind a wall that someone drilled two

small holes into and leaked for only God knows how long that had mold, if I

wasn't so obsessed with water leaks we would have never found the leak or the

mold. Below the kitchen sink there was a nut thats connected to the cold water

that was leaking under the cabinet and into the basement that may or may not

have mold. The crawl space had ground water and because the vapor barrier wasn't

properly installed mold was growing in the dirt and now coils to the hvac are

confirmed to have mold. Ive been sitting outside all day with the hopes that the

vacuum the hvac company is using will suck up most of the mold spores but who am

I kidding, this house will never be clean enough for me to live in.

>

> Why is this happening to me, why is the man upstairs so intent to see me

suffer this way? My faith has been tested but i've always stayed strong until

now. now i no longer believe in a higher being now i can clearly see it's just

me on my own he has forsaken me for the last time

>

[Guest guest]

In all the time that I've spent on this forum I dont think I have ever came

across a thread that mentions air conditioners, they obviously exist I just

never really paid attention to them in all this time I had no reason to.

The HVAC tech said he didnt think the air ducts were ever cleaned out and when

the air ducts aren't cleaned out the owner usually doesn't take the time to

clean the HVAC so he doubts the hvac has ever been cleaned since this house was

built 10 years ago. What baffles me is the previous owner lived here for 10

years and was breathing the mold spores that were being put into the air by the

hvac and never got sick. I've been here for 3 months and Im already feeling

symptomatic.

Surprisingly when you consider all the mold and mold spores that I've been

around today I dont feel that bad. The back of my neck hurts which usually

happens when I've been exposed to mold and I have a very slight headache. Maybe

I should consider myself lucky, maybe for whatever reasons Im building up a

tolerance to mold, maybe there's hope after all.

>

> Air conditioning is often moldy. With all the discussion here about air

conditioners, how was this overlooked? Dr Shoemaker talks alot about mold and

AC. Not surprising at all that mold was found there.

[Guest guest]

Speaking of higher beings-our synagogue has become horribly infested with bad

bad mold and no one will listen to me about it. I have stopped going (if god

wanted me there he wouldn't have made me sick) but my bigger problem is my

husband who doesn't want to stop or even change synagogues. He goes regularly

and comes home reeking of mold. Its very bad and I make him change his clothes

and leave them outside.

This is ridiculous and has made me dread the weekends when he goes. I know he

knows he will have to stop but it's going to be a big fight.

> >

> > We had a reputable company come out to clean the hvac and sure enough they

found mold on the coils. I simply cant take anymore, when we searched for this

house we thought we checked every nook and cranny for mold or places that mold

would grow. So far we had a pcv tube behind a wall that someone drilled two

small holes into and leaked for only God knows how long that had mold, if I

wasn't so obsessed with water leaks we would have never found the leak or the

mold. Below the kitchen sink there was a nut thats connected to the cold water

that was leaking under the cabinet and into the basement that may or may not

have mold. The crawl space had ground water and because the vapor barrier wasn't

properly installed mold was growing in the dirt and now coils to the hvac are

confirmed to have mold. Ive been sitting outside all day with the hopes that the

vacuum the hvac company is using will suck up most of the mold spores but who am

I kidding, this house will never be clean enough for me to live in.

> >

> > Why is this happening to me, why is the man upstairs so intent to see me

suffer this way? My faith has been tested but i've always stayed strong until

now. now i no longer believe in a higher being now i can clearly see it's just

me on my own he has forsaken me for the last time

> >

>

[Guest guest]

One of my ongoing big problems with mold is with air conditioners. They keep

getting moldy. I replaced a brand new A/C this year because once it gets a mold

spore in it, I'm finished. No amount of cleaning will help.

My cars keep getting mold in their a/c's too. I can't use either cars A/C now

(and it's 100 degrees here in NY!). But I can't afford to buy new cars every

time. Plus it seems the A/C's are getting moldy faster and faster (both my cars

are brand new-one is not even a year old yet!). This is something I am going to

have to learn to live with because a solution is not going to happen.

I keep an open bottle of both rosemary oil and a coriander/olive oil in the car

which seems to combat the moldiness. But as I said I can't use the A/C at all

and leave all 4 windows open all the time-it's like I'm driving a convertible

sometimes with all the wind but I have to use the car.

> >

> > Air conditioning is often moldy. With all the discussion here about air

conditioners, how was this overlooked? Dr Shoemaker talks alot about mold and

AC. Not surprising at all that mold was found there.

>

[Guest guest]

i went over my cousins house, he's been living there since 1991 and has had a

water leak somewhere in the bathroom, its so bad that the linoleum is bubbling

up in front of the sink. when i walked into his bathroom i became violently ill

i asked him about it and he said its been like that for a couple of years and it

doesnt bother him in the least.

the previous owner of our house has to my knowledge never cleaned the a/c coils

since she moved in 10 years ago. She's been breathing the same contaminated air

for a very long time and has had no ill effects.

my nephew has pretty much the same problem my cousin has only difference is his

dishwasher is leaking and is bubbling up the linoleum as well but he doesn't

have the money to get it fixed. He told me just yesterday that he's sure there's

mold growing under the dishwasher but like my cousin doesn't get sick from it.

people like you and i have been cursed with something that's every where and

looks for every opportunity to grow and all we can do is our very best to see

that it doesn't get that opportunity but more often than not we fail only to

suffer more.

>

> Speaking of higher beings-our synagogue has become horribly infested with bad

bad mold and no one will listen to me about it. I have stopped going (if god

wanted me there he wouldn't have made me sick) but my bigger problem is my

husband who doesn't want to stop or even change synagogues. He goes regularly

and comes home reeking of mold. Its very bad and I make him change his clothes

and leave them outside.

> This is ridiculous and has made me dread the weekends when he goes. I know he

knows he will have to stop but it's going to be a big fight.

[Guest guest]

You do not build up a tolerance to mold , your body is trying to acclimate, can

be very dangerous

> >

> > Air conditioning is often moldy. With all the discussion here about air

conditioners, how was this overlooked? Dr Shoemaker talks alot about mold and

AC. Not surprising at all that mold was found there.

>

[Guest guest]

That would concern me as well ... in fact, my husband has decided to stay in

this house while he works and visit us on weekends until we futher figure out

what to do.. he wont leave and Im concerned when he comes to visit.. he will be

bringing his laptop because it is owned by the company he works for and he has

to constantly work.

I dont think there is a way to be pristine... my parents home was recently

remdiated and they close to refuse to think their belonings mya not be safe but

they will be visiting and we will have contact with them.. what to do?

There has to be practical solutions to dealing with things like this. it is not

very healing to be on alert all the time.. if I were more educated and felt

better.. more recovered, I woudl write a handbook.

This is crazy making just posting to get answers and not being able to put all

the pieces together.. with all due respsct and much mugh greatefulness to

everyone who is taking precious time and energy to respond.. thank you all so

very much..

I am terrified.. I am mkaing the hugest move of my life with two kids in tow and

terrified of cross contaminating our new place.

Robin

>

> Speaking of higher beings-our synagogue has become horribly infested with bad

bad mold and no one will listen to me about it. I have stopped going (if god

wanted me there he wouldn't have made me sick) but my bigger problem is my

husband who doesn't want to stop or even change synagogues. He goes regularly

and comes home reeking of mold. Its very bad and I make him change his clothes

and leave them outside.

> This is ridiculous and has made me dread the weekends when he goes. I know he

knows he will have to stop but it's going to be a big fight.

>

[Guest guest]

Me too , it is 105 today, no AC, just like everyone lived before 1970

>

> One of my ongoing big problems with mold is with air conditioners. They keep

getting moldy. I replaced a brand new A/C this year because once it gets a mold

spore in it, I'm finished. No amount of cleaning will help.

> My cars keep getting mold in their a/c's too. I can't use either cars A/C now

(and it's 100 degrees here in NY!). But I can't afford to buy new cars every

time. Plus it seems the A/C's are getting moldy faster and faster (both my cars

are brand new-one is not even a year old yet!). This is something I am going to

have to learn to live with because a solution is not going to happen.

> I keep an open bottle of both rosemary oil and a coriander/olive oil in the

car which seems to combat the moldiness. But as I said I can't use the A/C at

all and leave all 4 windows open all the time-it's like I'm driving a

convertible sometimes with all the wind but I have to use the car.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think you have the right idea, don't use a/c in car except on exceptionally

hot day, or not at all. Windows down. I know you get car exhaust etc but you

will anyway. You get a free sauna/detox. Take a change of clothes maybe to

work.

>

> One of my ongoing big problems with mold is with air conditioners. They keep

getting moldy. I replaced a brand new A/C this year because once it gets a mold

spore in it, I'm finished. No amount of cleaning will help.

> My cars keep getting mold in their a/c's too. I can't use either cars A/C now

(and it's 100 degrees here in NY!). But I can't afford to buy new cars every

time. Plus it seems the A/C's are getting moldy faster and faster (both my cars

are brand new-one is not even a year old yet!). This is something I am going to

have to learn to live with because a solution is not going to happen.

> I keep an open bottle of both rosemary oil and a coriander/olive oil in the

car which seems to combat the moldiness. But as I said I can't use the A/C at

all and leave all 4 windows open all the time-it's like I'm driving a

convertible sometimes with all the wind but I have to use the car.

[Guest guest]

Robin after my first exposure i moved to a hotel because my g/f was living with

the same friend that i accidentally crossed contaminated their house she was

still carrying just enough spores on her clothing that would make me ill. what

we would do is she would come over friday after work take her shoes off outside

of the door and head straight to the bathroom to take a shower. the minute she

took her clothes off she'd stuff them in a black trash bag tie it up and id take

them out to her truck. when she got out of the shower she would use a blow dryer

we had purchased and sure it didnt have any mold spores and would get dressed

with clothes that i had laundered myself to ensure they weren't contaminated.

she'd stay till either sunday night or Monday morning at which time she'd run

out to her truck and get another pair of clothes she had and would get ready for

work.

if your husband is coming over on the weekends i would strongly suggest he try

to follow the same protocol as this method worked very well for me in terms of

me not getting sick from my g/f's clothes. Also, buy nizoral shampoo for your

hair, its expensive but definitely works.

Mold exposure is extremely hard on relationships your spouse has to be willing

to bend over backwards to make sure you and your kids stay healthy. ive been

lucky so far, while my g/f has complained at times about mold controlling our

lives she's always been willing to do what i have asked of her, not many people

can say that.

>

> That would concern me as well ... in fact, my husband has decided to stay in

this house while he works and visit us on weekends until we futher figure out

what to do.. he wont leave and Im concerned when he comes to visit.. he will be

bringing his laptop because it is owned by the company he works for and he has

to constantly work.

>

> I dont think there is a way to be pristine... my parents home was recently

remdiated and they close to refuse to think their belonings mya not be safe but

they will be visiting and we will have contact with them.. what to do?

>

> There has to be practical solutions to dealing with things like this. it is

not very healing to be on alert all the time.. if I were more educated and felt

better.. more recovered, I woudl write a handbook.

>

> This is crazy making just posting to get answers and not being able to put all

the pieces together.. with all due respsct and much mugh greatefulness to

everyone who is taking precious time and energy to respond.. thank you all so

very much..

>

> I am terrified.. I am mkaing the hugest move of my life with two kids in tow

and terrified of cross contaminating our new place.

>

> Robin

[Guest guest]

My friend who helps take care of me does the same thing

In a message dated 8/12/2010 12:32:23 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

tug_slug@... writes:

Robin after my first exposure i moved to a hotel because my g/f was living

with the same friend that i accidentally crossed contaminated their house

she was still carrying just enough spores on her clothing that would make

me ill. what we would do is she would come over friday after work take her

shoes off outside of the door and head straight to the bathroom to take a

shower. the minute she took her clothes off she'd stuff them in a black trash

bag tie it up and id take them out to her truck. when she got out of the

shower she would use a blow dryer we had purchased and sure it didnt have any

mold spores and would get dressed with clothes that i had laundered myself

to ensure they weren't contaminated. she'd stay till either sunday night

or Monday morning at which time she'd run out to her truck and get another

pair of clothes she had and would get ready for work.

if your husband is coming over on the weekends i would strongly suggest he

try to follow the same protocol as this method worked very well for me in t

erms of me not getting sick from my g/f's clothes. Also, buy nizoral

shampoo for your hair, its expensive but definitely works.

Mold exposure is extremely hard on relationships your spouse has to be

willing to bend over backwards to make sure you and your kids stay healthy.

ive been lucky so far, while my g/f has complained at times about mold

controlling our lives she's always been willing to do what i have asked of her,

not many people can say that.

[Guest guest]

I was told by a very reputable professional that if theres mold in the a/c coils

in your car that regardless of whether you use it or not your going to be

exposed to them. Granted your going to have your windows down allowing more

fresh air in but they're still going to be present.

>

> I think you have the right idea, don't use a/c in car except on exceptionally

hot day, or not at all. Windows down. I know you get car exhaust etc but you

will anyway. You get a free sauna/detox. Take a change of clothes maybe to

work.

[Guest guest]

I meant from when the car is NEW, not already moldy Tug, i.e. don't ever use the

a/c in it so no problem develops.

> >

> > I think you have the right idea, don't use a/c in car except on

exceptionally hot day, or not at all. Windows down. I know you get car exhaust

etc but you will anyway. You get a free sauna/detox. Take a change of clothes

maybe to work.

>

[Guest guest]

If the car is new maybe it is the new car smell that makes you ill.  It can

feel

like a mold problem, if it affects your respiratory, causes pain and other

symtoms.  That new car smell is toxic, so it may be that.

 

  

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen

________________________________

From: barb b w <barb1283@...>

Sent: Thu, August 12, 2010 12:33:53 PM

Subject: [] Re: more mold

 

I meant from when the car is NEW, not already moldy Tug, i.e. don't ever use the

a/c in it so no problem develops.