I had mold in my bedroom - inside built in cupboards on an outside wall. It was pretty bad and I could smell it as I slept. I researched it and sprayed it with Tea Tree Oil/water mixture first. The we decided to just rip the cupboards right down because there was lack of air circulation there which contributed to the mold. We kept the door closed at all times and took out all the moldy drywall. We wore masks, goggles, and disposable white coveralls (I see the Dollarama carries them now). We threw the drywall right out the window as we were tearing it off. And yes, the vapour barrier was moldy too. So we decided to remove the Vapour barrier and insulation right down to the studs. I found lots of air leaks from the outside too and used caulking or spray foam in a can to seal these spots. We used new Roxul insulation, new vapour barrier (taped it together at the joints/floor/ ceiling/ window. New drywall. The process took about a month because we're slow and had to tape/mud/sand the drywall. It was ALL worth it! It looks much better, smells fantastic, and the new Roxul insulation is a sound barrier so it's nice and quiet too.

I am very sure your lungs and more will be grateful that you did that work.. its something that I have no seen talked about on the prepping boards much and yet it really can be a issue and dealing with it or preparing for it when money could be tight is worth having a look at imho.

I am glad that you got that area fixed up Prepher and thanks for sharing your story.

I am very sure your lungs and more will be grateful that you did that work.. its something that I have no seen talked about on the prepping boards much and yet it really can be a issue and dealing with it or preparing for it when money could be tight is worth having a look at imho.

I am glad that you got that area fixed up Prepher and thanks for sharing your story.

Excellent points and subject matter. Two things jump to mind.
Those who have remote bug out locations, could find critters having taken over the place ( coons, squirrels, mice..) after a six month absence and have a hell of a mess on their hands. Or the remote location was and is, due to less extensive construction methods, ripe for mild. The other thing is perhaps a roof or wall leak having occurred and due to absence,one not being aware of it until smell of mood hits you

The other is a full time home running under less heat, extra efforts to keep heat in... wet clothing not being dried as well, more food processing done indoors etc. Lifestyle changes effect things in ways not planned for. Just being busy with emergency situation, means you will miss some early signs.

Just a thought...and not very "eco friendly".
I've had great success fighting "mulch mushrooms" with weed killer...maybe it would work on mold?
I know we wouldn't want to spray that stuff all over our houses, but when removing drywall & insulation, maybe it could help if the studs or outside sheathing has been affected...a little goes a long way.

Mold proof paint did a great job for me, 2 years later no mold.

If your replacing drywall anyways in a high moisture area consider putting in the green mold resistant drywall. For removing surface mold bleach and water mixture works the best and stops the spread.

So mold is everywhere. Its a matter of keeping it in check rather than getting rid of it. Which is almost impossible in everyday life.

If you have moisture, and warmth and a food source for it you're going to get mold. Take away one and you start winning the battle.

Doesn't matter where you live, or how you live we are all susceptible to it. It can be a mansion, or a trailer. I combat it too...these are my suggestions though depending on how you live some may or may not be applicable:

-Older basements don't usually have proper damp proofing/insulation. Almost guaranteed heavy moisture in the air. Buy a dehumidifier for the basement. They are about $100. If you keep the moisture levels low you deny one of the variables needed to promote mold growth. Typically in winter because the air is so dry its not needed.

-Air Conditioners are dehumidifiers. By dropping the dew point, the moisture content in the air drops. Why a house is nice and cool as well as dry in the summer.

-By the time you see mold appear on drywall or wood in your home...your pooched. Sort of. If its coming through drywall or around windows, etc. it can be the tip of the iceberg and most of it is hidden in the building envelope. Clean up the exposed surface as best as possible....and dont go gangbusters and start cutting out drywall on a whim. All that you do is expose your home environment to the mold in the walls/ceiling or wherever and disturb them and kick them into the air. If you don't have the know how to remove and repair yourself, find someone who can. You can do more damage by opening up areas then leaving it temporarily.

-Do a walk through inside your home and the exterior. Look for locations where moisture can get in. Poor roofing, cracks/gaps in siding, bad caulking/trmi around windows, penetrations for hose bibs, laundry vents, etc. Dont let water get into your building envelope.

-Take a peak in the attic space. Make sure you have ventilation in your roof. So the soffits should be clear of insulation/debris to allow air to move into the attic space, and there should be vents in the roof itself to allow air to move in. The more the better. There are minimum code requirements, but there's no harm in exceeding that. Also take a quick check under your insulation to make sure there is plastic poly in place (you can push the insulation aside if its blown or peel it up if its batt). if it's there, thats a good sign.

-Run kitchen fans and bathroom fans after cooking / showers. Simple as that. Bath mats, shower mats, etc. pull them up until they are dry. They will grow mold. Deny moisture a chance to stagnate and remain.

-If you have central air in your home, run the fan option daily for 20 minutes just to move air around.

-Windows in the winter are a huge source of mold. You have a thermal bridge where cold air outside meets warm moist air inside causing condensation. This can pond and...with stagnant moisture, warmth and a food source (cellulose in the drywall or the wood trim) mold can grow. Keep window blinds open to allow air to circulate in these areas throughout the day. If you have horizontal blinds dont let them sit on the sills, but are 1/2" above.

-Most hardware stores have anti mold products. If you see mold, get one of them and kill it. You can wipe it away without using products, but spores will still remain and most likely come back. Its best to get a product and be sure you've cleaned it up so it wont reappear. Javex/Bleach works great. After its cleaned up, get rid of the dirty rags/papertowel, etc. in a sealed bag (grocery bag tied up...it isn't super rocket science) and dispose of out of the home. You don't want to start spreading the spores around to other areas of your home. Once its cleaned up, for example a spot of mold on the wall in a basement...find out what caused it so you can prevent it in the future.

-Anti mold paint products are okay...but they are not a silver bullet. They are typically resistant to mold, but if your banking on your paint to protect you, it may be placed in error.

- https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Mold-from-Growing-in-Your-Home
is a pretty easy read with some good ideas for prevention.

i'm more of a prevention approach, as once mold sets in...its a pain in the ass to get rid of. Generally, if you dont allow moisture to stagnate you're more than likely going to win the battle.