The Danger of Mold in Your Home
Mold in the home has become a serious and sometimes even fatal problem in the USA, Australia and elsewhere.
TL;DR: Mold in the home has become a serious and sometimes even fatal problem. If you have a musty smell in your home, it is more than likely that you have mold, and most of the toxic mold we may be breathing in is actually invisible and floating in the air. When the spores start multiplying, those who are especially sensitive to mold can develop respiratory problems, common allergic reaction symptoms, nervous-system disorders and depression. Warm, humid homes with too much stuff piled up provide the perfect breeding ground. To protect yourself, fix any leaks, use a dehumidifier and a good air purification system with a HEPA filter if humidity is seventy percent or above, clear out excess contents, open the windows and let the sunlight in, ventilate the bathroom and clothes drier, change heating and air conditioning filters regularly, and keep homes no warmer than sixty nine degrees F with humidity around fifty four percent or below. Wear a mask, eye protection and gloves when clearing mold, remove and dump moldy porous materials such as carpeting and drywall, and dampen mold on hard surfaces before cleaning. Essential oils such as cinnamon, thyme, oregano, eucalyptus, basil, rosemary and clove bud are known to help control mold. The best prevention is to keep everything dry, open windows daily and use a good air purification system.
Unfortunately, once you have mold in a building, it will always be there unless you completely start from scratch. It is imperative that you reduce the amount of mold or mildew in the air that you are breathing.
Also read: Our complete guide to natural allergy relief
In this post:
- Do you have a musty smell in your home?
- Mold becomes a big problem when the spores start multiplying
- Is your home overcrowded?
- How can you protect yourself from mold?
- Remember too that...
- Sources
- Related reading on allergies and a healthy home
Do you have a musty smell in your home?
If so, then it is more than likely that you have mold but if you see mold, then the problem becomes more acute. Most of the toxic mold that we may be breathing in is actually invisible and floating in the air. We all need lots of fresh air and we are not going to get that if we are holed up inside a musty home ninety percent of the time with no fresh air circulating.
Mold becomes a big problem when the spores start multiplying
Those who are especially sensitive to mold start breathing it in. The result can be respiratory problems, common allergic reaction symptoms, nervous-system disorders and depression.
Is your home overcrowded?
If your home is warm and humid with too much stuff piled up and infrequently moved, this provides the perfect breeding ground.
Mold will find any organic matter to invade, infesting our living space through walls, windows, doors, carpets and of course under the refrigerator but can also be walked or carried indoors.
Many of us are unaware of our exposure to the "harmful to our health" effects of mold in the home.
How can you protect yourself from mold?
- Check for any leaks and fix them either yourself or with the help of a professional.
- Homes with a humidity level of seventy percent and above are especially vulnerable. You may need to invest in a high-quality dehumidifier. A good quality air purification system with an HEPA filter and UV & negative ion technologies may be the answer for you.
- Homes that are too warm with poorly lit, stuffy rooms are at high risk. Clear out all excess contents, open all the windows and let the sunlight stream in.
- In your bathroom, open the window when you shower and keep it open as much as possible. Do the same when using a clothes drier and make sure it has an anti-humidity vent.
- If you have heating and/or air conditioning, change the air filters regularly. Homes should not be over heated with a maximum temperature of sixty nine degrees F and a humidity level of around fifty four percent or below.
- Check all your storage areas and closets for any mold growth. If you find any, you need to protect yourself by wearing a mask, eye protection and gloves that will filter the mold. This may sound extreme, but people have died from clearing up a basement full of mold. Remember that mold on any porous surfaces cannot be cleaned but must be completely removed and dumped. This includes carpeting, drywall, wall-paper and other. Wash any clothes that have mold. When cleaning hard surfaces, dampen the mold with a wet cloth to lessen the likelihood of airborne spores. A non-toxic organic soap is best for the environment, or you can use essential oils but the main essential oils which are known to help destroy and control mold and the spores that result are: cinnamon leaf and bark; thyme; oregano; several species of eucalyptus; basil; rosemary; and clove bud. Various products (blends) are available online ready for you to use and these include “Three Thieves”, “Four Robbers” and “Pure Cleansing”. They are very safe to use with guidance and they smell good too.
- If you have mold on the structural support of your home, it may have to be sanded.
Remember too that...
The best prevention for mold is to keep everything dry; to ventilate your home by opening windows daily; and to use a good air purification system. Essential oils can be a great way of controlling mold. The use of cedar wood when building a home in wet or damp locations can be helpful in preventing certain types of mold.
Sources
- Mold. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/mold-health/about/index.html. (Accessed November 2, 2026).
- Mold Exposure: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications. Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/mold-exposure-symptoms-7111689.
- How Long Does It Take to Get Sick from Mold Exposure? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-sick-from-mold-exposure.
- Mold Clean Up Guidelines and Recommendations. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/mold-health/about/clean-up.html. (Accessed November 2, 2026).
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home. (Accessed November 2, 2026).
- WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: dampness and mould. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789289041683. (Accessed November 2, 2026).
- Damp and mould: understanding and addressing the health risks for rented housing providers. UK Health Security Agency and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/damp-and-mould-understanding-and-addressing-the-health-risks-for-rented-housing-providers. (Accessed November 2, 2026).
- Whiley H, Gaskin S, Schroder T, Ross K. Antifungal properties of essential oils for improvement of indoor air quality: a review. Reviews on Environmental Health. 2017. (Accessed November 2, 2026).
- Šegvić Klarić M, et al. Antifungal activity of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) essential oil and thymol against moulds from damp dwellings. Letters in Applied Microbiology. 2007. (Accessed November 2, 2026).