‘Mold: Get rid of it’

The other day, my mother and I stepped into an Ottawa building and were taken aback by the smell of mold in the front entryway. When she told the staff about the problem, we found that they’d already known about it but didn’t want to complain for fear of losing their jobs. She suggested I write a column about the issue, and I agreed I should.

Mold is a problem for many buildings. Regarding the issue in Ottawa’s downtown area, it isn’t a surprise considering the age of many of those buildings and the proximity of those buildings to the rivers. There was even a problem with bags somehow smelling of mold in one Ottawa retail chain, but that problem was taken care of soon after my mother talked to one of the assistant managers. When an employee or customer comes up and says they smell mold, he or she shouldn’t be penalized for it.

Mold poses a potentially fatal danger to everyone, especially to those who have allergies, asthma and other health conditions, and to small children and senior citizens. When mold is found, it should be taken care of immediately. Sometimes bleach or other cleaning products kill it, but it often comes back. When it’s very bad, renovations are necessary to remove the damaged material from the building, even if it means ripping out flooring or tearing down and replacing walls or ceilings. Because of how expensive (and repetitive) this process can be, my mother suggests considering the use of different drywall products such as green board drywall, blue board drywall, paperless drywall, or purple drywall, as all of these are moisture resistant and shouldn’t mold easily.

Anywhere there is moisture, there’s a good chance there’s also mold. Check for cracks in the foundations, walls or ceilings of buildings. Plumbing should also be inspected for leaks. Try to keep all of your rooms as well ventilated as possible: good, clean air flow can help to decrease the chances of mold. Mold can grow just about anywhere, so it’s important to be vigilant and to pay attention when a room smells odd or when you see odd substances on the walls.

Business owners, please get rid of the mold plaguing your buildings, for your employees’ and customers’ sakes as well as your own. Mold poses a huge health risk and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you can’t afford the renovations necessary to completely remove the mold then at least spray the mold with bleach any time it flares. You could also invest in air purifiers, which help to prevent mold and, if you already have mold, kill the spores released by it. Home owners, you also should heed this advice to protect your family and pets from the dangers of mold.

There are many measures that can be taken to prevent and eradicate mold. You can find more information online about the specific kinds of mold infesting your building, the health risks mold poses, the steps you can take to get rid of it and what you can do to prevent its growth. Please don’t disregard this information, as heeding it can greatly improve your quality of life and, if you’re a business owner, the quality of life for your customers and employees, as well.

KAYLA COOK has lived in Ottawa since 2011. She can be reached by emailing tammies@mywebtimes.com.