Re: mold and very damp vs just possible mold

[Guest guest]

Almost certainly there is mold there too if it has that " old building

musty smell " which I think is actually " musty/moldy " smell, and given

it's in damp SF and a 1918 building. We are leaving our 1930's SF house

for good, they did not know how to engineer the foundations for drainage

then, and we have mold problems in a crawl space that have contaminated

the entire house and probably contributed to my son's chronic illness.

We will start by looking for a place to live in drier parts of north

bay, targeting a house 6-8 years old which is old enuf to have offgassed

the worst of the nasty construction materials VOC's but hopefully young

enuf to not have developed a mold problem yet. Longer term we will seek

housing away from city pollution, agricultural pollution, perhaps higher

drier climate and away from electrosmog, google antennasearch.org to see

how many cell towers and masts are in SF, and this can cause all same

symptoms as mold or chemical exposures.

best of luck, hope you find safe housing and that your health improves..

sue v.

>

>Hi

>i have been living in a semi converted garage for 10 years with my dog.

>it is very very damp and i am often sick- i also found black mold

>growing on my bed last year- i live in the SF Bay area so it isn't easy

>finding a big dog friendly place. this building has a cement floor and

>cinder block base that is very damp- my dogs bed actually go wet- my

>question is.. i may have found another place to live- it is off the

>ground and seemed dry- it is an old building built 1918- and has " old

>building " smell- i'm not sure what that is- but it at least has some big

>windows- gets good light and felt much dryer than where i am living-and

>a much much better area- air wise i have been really sick this week and

>haven't been able to move forward-

>i am wondering should i take the risk their may be mold there too?

>thanks

>c

>

[Guest guest]

thats a tough one, I vote yes, because I fell like that moisture problem means

big trouble. at the same time the smell you say is at the other drier place is

conserning, dry mold and it's toxins aren't good either. but if I was in your

shoes, I'd still move and take that risk. the dry place, can you descibe the

smell? I know thats hard to do. you might seriously want to take along a white

hanky and wipe a little dust up and take a good look it it, this is just a

thought based on my own experience. if it's black, that could be a bad sign.

I think that really, a good clean mold free building/home/apt. well not have

that smell that you might be talking about. no matter how old it is. I bought a

100+ victorian home and it didn't have that smell or any smell until a roofing

company caused my home to have a mold problem. I have moved into old homes

sence that has that smell and regreted it. I kindof believe that by you saying

there is a smell at all isn't a good sign, I dont believe there is such a thing

as many people might think, that there is a smell attached to old homes, thats

mold. still, you are desiding between bad and better. hummm,

that is a tough one, on second thought, I really can't help you deside because

I'm relateing what you have described to my own experience and they wont be

exactly the same.

I can say good luck with that. personally I would try dispertly to find

something else altogether. and fast.

>

>

> Hi

> i have been living in a semi converted garage for 10 years with my dog. it is

very very damp and i am often sick- i also found black mold growing on my bed

last year- i live in the SF Bay area so it isn't easy finding a big dog

friendly place. this building has a cement floor and cinder block base that is

very damp- my dogs bed actually go wet- my question is.. i may have found

another place to live- it is off the ground and seemed dry- it is an old

building built 1918- and has " old building " smell- i'm not sure what that is-

but it at least has some big windows- gets good light and felt much dryer than

where i am living-and a much much better area- air wise i have been really sick

this week and haven't been able to move forward-

> i am wondering should i take the risk their may be mold there too?

> thanks

> c

>

[Guest guest]

it's actually in oakland- not sure if that is any less moldy than SF.

sometimes i think living in a living space would be better than a old garage in

west oakland.. just got an notice from ePa of lead clean up happening in the

area- i guess they found it in soil.

i am glad you have the stamina to move up and out- i think i will be stuck

here- in this garage for a while longer

>

> Almost certainly there is mold there too if it has that " old building

> musty smell " which I think is actually " musty/moldy " smell, and given

> it's in damp SF and a 1918 building. We are leaving our 1930's SF house

> f

[Guest guest]

Yes, take the chance-big windows mean lots of fresh air which may be all the old

building needs (I'm being uncharacteristically optimistic here!).

But garages are just an awful place to live-it's not constructed for people-an

old building, even a slightly moldy one, is already a step above.

Air out the building, let the sun in. And DON'T take any of your moldy stuff

with you unless you can wash them really really well!

(take the dog !

>

> thats a tough one, I vote yes, because I fell like that moisture problem means

big trouble. at the same time the smell you say is at the other drier place is

conserning, dry mold and it's toxins aren't good either. but if I was in your

shoes, I'd still move and take that risk. the dry place, can you descibe the

smell?

[Guest guest]

the place i live gets a black " soot " like dust that gets all over everything i

think it is from the surrounding dirt. looking for a place that doesn't have

that " old house " smell- but hard to look when one isn't well.

and yes- very damp here-- maybe just moving out of the direct dampnesss would be

an improvement?

babysteps

>

> thats a tough one, I vote yes, because I fell like that moisture problem means

big trouble. at the same time the smell you say is at the other drier place is

conserning, dry mold and it's toxins aren't good either. but if I was in your

shoes, I'd still move and take that risk. the dry place, can you descibe the

smell? I know thats hard to do. you might seriously want to take along a white

hanky and wipe a little dust up and take a good look it it, this is just a

thought based on my own experience.

[Guest guest]

Is it above ground or below ground garage. More looking to find someplace that

has no odor at all and no sign of dampness would be best. If you find

someplace, see if you can take out shorter lease to try it out before signing up

for a year.

>

> Yes, take the chance-big windows mean lots of fresh air which may be all the

old building needs (I'm being uncharacteristically optimistic here!).

> But garages are just an awful place to live-it's not constructed for people-an

old building, even a slightly moldy one, is already a step above.

> Air out the building, let the sun in. And DON'T take any of your moldy stuff

with you unless you can wash them really really well!

> (take the dog !

>

>

[Guest guest]

My thoughts on places to live in NoCal.

I scoured most of No Cal but avoided the coast due to the moisture. It was so

wet when I camped there so that I could see a dentist in Sebastopol.

Mendocino Cnty sprayed a large am't of herbicides in spring. I was there 3 times

checking out Willets. The final time I barely made it out from the spraying...

even on the road by the State Park.

I was teetering on moving to Stonyford. It's REAL dry with hardly any

vegetation. A woman there called it the forgotten land. No farming just cows... &

spread out as well. I chose a town in Plumas County because I find my MCS

symptoms more unbearable than death ! The house I picked has no neighbors (dryer

exhaust is my worst) the folks are less fragrant, & the stores leave their doors

opened as much as possible. It has bone dry summers that compensate for very wet

winters that turn everything to a sog pit.

Sometimes I reprimand myself for not choosing dry Stonyford thinking What right

do I have to think I can lead a semi-normal life & go food shopping like

everyone else without severe neurological meltdowns among other things! Then I

remember that I'd have to go to Chico for a good health food store... & shopping

would be almost like going to my doom ...although some towns are much more

toxic.

There is a place to camp in Stoneyford. It's on a reservoir. No facilities

except for portable toilets & there's a good distance between sites. Maybe you

could take your dog & have look around. At least detox for a few days. There is

a library & a small restaurant that may be good places to find out about

rentals.

I could dig out my travel notes if you want more specifics.

> >

> > Almost certainly there is mold there too if it has that " old building

> > musty smell " which I think is actually " musty/moldy " smell, and given

> > it's in damp SF and a 1918 building. We are leaving our 1930's SF house

> > f

>

[Guest guest]

wash the dog really,really well too.

> >

> > Yes, take the chance-big windows mean lots of fresh air which may be all the

old building needs (I'm being uncharacteristically optimistic here!).

> > But garages are just an awful place to live-it's not constructed for

people-an old building, even a slightly moldy one, is already a step above.

> > Air out the building, let the sun in. And DON'T take any of your moldy stuff

with you unless you can wash them really really well!

> > (take the dog !

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

good idea about the shorter lease- thank you.

my current place is ground level.. and the cinder blocks that support the walls

are very damp and the sealant is peeling off- additionally this is a one room

building

also i am not sure what kind of paint they put on the concrete floors but it

peels up too- it keeps raining in oakland..sometimes the place is so damp even

my clothes are damp when i put them on.

the 1918 studio i looked is about 7 feet off the ground and seemed very dry.

but the odd smell. the challange is finding a decent place with a " fenced

yard " that will take my old dog. she is my ally so no giving her up.

> >

> > Yes, take the chance-big windows mean lots of fresh air which may be all the

old building needs (I'm being uncharacteristically optimistic here!).

> > But garages are just an awful place to live-it's not constructed for

people-an old building, even a slightly moldy one, is already a step above.

> > Air out the building, let the sun in. And DON'T take any of your moldy stuff

with you unless you can wash them really really well!

> > (take the dog !

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My cat smelled moldy I noticed when I put my nose right up into his fur, just

hugging him but over time he lost that when out of the damp building problem.

Please don't get rid of pets. They shed their fur and loose it. I learned how

to even give my cat a sponge bath. If you can do that with a cat, you can do it

with anything, maybe not a bird though?

My cat, I took warm water with baking soda in it and a TINY amt of soap to just

use as an emulsifier but I think baking soda would be enough if need be and

squeezed the solution over the cat body, not including the head area. Then the

same with some clean warm water to rinse. I started out just doing his body

about mid way back to tail and built up to higher up on his body as he got used

to it. I gave him a sponge bath once a week. He got used to it and didn't mind

after awhile.

I blotted him with towel and then to get more water out, blotted him down with

paper towels to get him drier.

I wore a long sleeved sweater and rain coat just for beginners but I would have

only gotten scratched by accident as he wasn't upset but did try to get away at

times.

>

> wash the dog really,really well too.

>

[Guest guest]

what a great story about the cat and the sponge bath!

yes big windows but no direct light.- but in anycase this last bout with

bronchittis has knocked me down- hope to get some more energy - but when.. i

like the idea of going away and detoxing- was thinking about that but

everything takes energy- and then not sure what to do about food when /if

camping.

it has been a week since i last looked at the place (the old building)in

oakland- i have been too overwhelmed and exhausted- (dont think the antibiotics

help- excpet with the cough) i will try to get the stamina to call the

landlord to see if the old place is still available. this is overwhelming

when you are sick.

what about books? my photo books have been in the other " garage " for storing

but i noticed a lot of black dust on them from the landladies " remodleing " last

summer- that messed up everythign- i think the dirt here in west oakland is

toxic too.

i will wash the dog-!!

thank you

> >

> > wash the dog really,really well too.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

People here have taken photos to be copied and then thrown out the original ones

since you cannot wash paper things, and you can enclose important papers in

zipper bags and throw out unimportant papers and books. It's not worth the cost

of your health.

Yes, the hardest part I think is that you have to do all this, while you feel

weak and sick!!

>

>

> what about books? my photo books have been in the other " garage " for storing

but i noticed a lot of black dust on them from the landladies " remodleing " last

summer- that messed up everythign- i think the dirt here in west oakland is

toxic too.

>

> i will wash the dog-!!

> thank you

>

>

[Guest guest]

I just noticed this post and since I see the  " wash the dog " comment I thought

you need to know that you can get a fungal shampoo from the vets office. I

HIGHLY recomend that. I woould concider a short time on anti fungals as well. I

hav not had any problems explaining anything to a vet. They seem to pretty much

understand the problem already. I had one perfectly healthy dog go blind

(picture on the groups page) and the other has never really recovered from the

weezing from the lungs but they are bolth troopers and mad it through otherwise

with a good amount of treatment.

Many places will put your photos on disk for you or make copies if you want to

spend the money to do that. But at least put them on disk so you have them. Barb

is absolutly right. DONT keep any papers you do not have to. Only very important

ones and do not store them in your new home. Although expensive. I wish I had

done this. Put papers in their own zip lock or get copies and then store them. I

had to get a couple of medecal papers out once and make copies. But after being

out of the home for awhile and " detoxing " if you will. As soon as I touched them

my fingers began to itch and turn red. It was not pleasant. I got rid of

everything but I understand cross contamination is very easy and must be

avoided. Good luck, hope all goes well.

 

    

   

 Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men :Mortimer

Adler

________________________________

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

Sent: Fri, June 4, 2010 9:03:24 PM

Subject: [] Re: mold and very damp vs just possible mold

 

People here have taken photos to be copied and then thrown out the original ones

since you cannot wash paper things, and you can enclose important papers in

zipper bags and throw out unimportant papers and books. It's not worth the cost

of your health.

Yes, the hardest part I think is that you have to do all this, while you feel

weak and sick!!

>

>

> what about books? my photo books have been in the other " garage " for storing

but i noticed a lot of black dust on them from the landladies " remodleing " last

summer- that messed up everythign- i think the dirt here in west oakland is

toxic too.

>

> i will wash the dog-!!

> thank you

>

>

[Guest guest]

Please note that discs do not last forever, they deteriorate, so make

more than one disk, also store your photos on your computer and a back

up drive, as well you can make new paper copies. Having more than one

copy is key for photos you care about, digital copies can get wiped out

so so easily, damaged disk, hard drive crash, etc. sue v.

>Many places will put your photos on disk for you or make copies if you

>want to spend the money to do that. But at least put them on disk so you

[Guest guest]

so i need a plan.. first things first- the place i am at now is so damp and it

smells like wet newspapers-

i need another place to go- i have been here

10 years and as a result of these illness'es it's not like i have a great

support system.

even my dog was coughing in the nite last nite- first i think i have to get me

and the dog out- then come back and deal with the books- and papers- i am

taking a bit of medical leave from my job so i will have time- i dont have a

plan or energy- feeling pretty overwhelmed and have to find a place- the

challange is- old dog can't do many steps - and most area's in oakland i do not

feel safe-

i feel i must find a way to take some small steps or this garage is going to

consume me. .

> >

> >

> > what about books? my photo books have been in the other " garage " for

storing but i noticed a lot of black dust on them from the landladies

" remodleing " last summer- that messed up everythign- i think the dirt here in

west oakland is toxic too.

> >

> > i will wash the dog-!!

> > thank you

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

that's a good plan, get yourself and doggie out, forget about the stuff,

relatively speaking it is unimportant, look at planet thrive, mcs safe

housing, maybe you can find something thru that, also i believe there is

a bay area mcs or environmental group, haven't joined it myself,

they may have safe housing leads, there is low income mcs safe housing

in san rafael but it probably has a long wait list, not sure.

good luck, safe housing, that is one of the biggest struggles many of us

face, and having to find it when we feel very poorly...

sue v.

>

>so i need a plan.. first things first- the place i am at now is so damp

>and it smells like wet newspapers-

>i need another place to go- i have been here

[Guest guest]

HI

I think i have found a place, we'll see if the landlord will accept my dog like

he said. it seems to be in a much dryer part of oakland.

and it seemed to be pretty dry. the neighborhood is kinda iffy- but probably not

worse than were i am. it has lots of windows and i didnt' see any mold in the

obvious places- now i just have to get over my fear of " change " after having

been in the same place for so long. and have a couple other places to look at.

my dog has a great feather bed- how do i get it cleaned and safe? thanks

>

> that's a good plan, get yourself and doggie out, forget about the stuff,

> relatively speaking it is unimportant, look at planet thrive, mcs safe

> housing, maybe you can find something thru that, also i believe there is

> a bay area mcs or environmental group, haven't joined it myself,

> they may have safe housing leads, there is low income mcs safe housing

> in san rafael but it probably has a long wait list, not sure.

>

> good luck, safe housing, that is one of the biggest struggles many of us

> face, and having to find it when we feel very poorly...

>

> sue v.

>

> >

> >so i need a plan.. first things first- the place i am at now is so damp

> >and it smells like wet newspapers-

> >i need another place to go- i have been here

>

[Guest guest]

turns out the place i found has black mold growing in the closet- the landlord

showed me.. he said he is going to replace the window as it was leaking - and

but some agents (then paint) to get rid of the mold

he seemed very concerned.. i am glad he is addressing the issue- but now i'm a

bit paranoid about moving there- it does have window and good light though- and

i suppose i could just not spend anytime in that room. any thoughts? it has

to be better than where i am now.

thanks

>

> HI

> I think i have found a place, we'll see if the landlord will accept my dog

like he said. it seems to be in a much dryer part of oakland.

> and it seemed to be pretty dry. the neighborhood is kinda iffy- but probably

not worse than were i am. it has lots of windows and i didnt' see any mold in

the obvious places- now i just have to get over my fear of " change " after

having been in the same place for so long. and have a couple other places to

look at.

>

> my dog has a great feather bed- how do i get it cleaned and safe? thanks

>

[Guest guest]

as far as photos- it is the photobooks i have collected that have stuff.. if i

set them out in the sun maybe that will drive the mold away?

my negatives (hopefully they are not moldy )

i guess i could have them put on CD but i have bizillions of them- it would

cost a fortune. but a good goal

>

> Please note that discs do not last forever, they deteriorate, so make

> more than one disk, also store your photos on your computer and a back

> up drive, as well you can make new paper copies. Having more than one

> copy is key for photos you care about, digital copies can get wiped out

> so so easily, damaged disk, hard drive crash, etc. sue v.

>

>

> >Many places will put your photos on disk for you or make copies if you

> >want to spend the money to do that. But at least put them on disk so you

>

[Guest guest]

mold in closet is bad sign, and unless it is properly remediated by a

qualified person, they will probably just spread the mold around more,

others on this group know more about that than me... sue v

>turns out the place i found has black mold growing in the closet- the

>landlord showed me.. he said he is going to replace the window as it was

>leaking - and but some agents (then paint) to get rid of the mold

>he seemed very concerned.. i am glad he is addressing the issue- but now

>i'm a bit paranoid about moving there- it does have window and good

>light though- and i suppose i could just not spend anytime in that

>room. any thoughts? it has to be better than where i am now.

>thanks

[Guest guest]

Dont move there, once you have been exposed to mold you become more sensitive

with every exposure, it is called sicker-quicker. And forget the dog bed, there

is no way to de-contaminate anything like a comforter, or upolstered things, if

you take that kind of stuff with you ,you will just continue to be sick. There

has been a lot written about moving, and much arguing about what is safe to

take. Like everything , ther is no one size fits all., better to take nothing,

put it in storage , and live in the new space till you can acertain if it is

safe without confounding the issue with toxic belongings up front.

>

> turns out the place i found has black mold growing in the closet- the landlord

showed me.. he said he is going to replace the window as it was leaking - and

but some agents (then paint) to get rid of the mold

> he seemed very concerned.. i am glad he is addressing the issue- but now i'm a

bit paranoid about moving there- it does have window and good light though- and

i suppose i could just not spend anytime in that room. any thoughts? it has

to be better than where i am now.

> thanks

>

[Guest guest]

You can spray a bird with colloidal silver/water mix. It won't hurt

even if it preens the feathers.

Barth

www.presenting.net/sbs/sbs.html

SUBMIT YOUR DOCTOR: www.presenting.net/sbs/molddoctors.html

---

bbw> My cat smelled moldy I noticed when I put my nose right up into his fur,

just hugging him but over time he lost that when out of the damp building

problem. Please don't get rid of pets. They

bbw> shed their fur and loose it. I learned how to even give my cat a sponge

bath. If you can do that with a cat, you can do it with anything, maybe not a

bird though?

bbw> My cat, I took warm water with baking soda in it and a TINY amt of soap to

just use as an emulsifier but I think baking soda would be enough if need be and

squeezed the solution over the cat

bbw> body, not including the head area. Then the same with some clean warm

water to rinse. I started out just doing his body about mid way back to tail

and built up to higher up on his body as he

bbw> got used to it. I gave him a sponge bath once a week. He got used to it

and didn't mind after awhile.

bbw> I blotted him with towel and then to get more water out, blotted him down

with paper towels to get him drier.

bbw> I wore a long sleeved sweater and rain coat just for beginners but I would

have only gotten scratched by accident as he wasn't upset but did try to get

away at times.

bbw>

>>

>> wash the dog really,really well too.

>>