Over 200 mycotoxins have been traced back to common household molds. Mycotoxins disrupt RNA synthesis, and have been linked to DNA damages. Even in small quantities, mycotoxins are easily absorbed by the intestinal lining, airways, and skin. In fact, some of these mycotoxins are so efficient at poisoning the human body that they have been harnessed to be used as biological weapons in war.
There is no doubt that molds produce powerful and potentially harmful substances that can negatively impact the health of the individual. However, many molds and mycotoxins can be beneficial, too. The world-changing innovation of penicillin antibiotics began with the growth of the mold Penicillium, after all.
Many common household molds are volatile, and saturate the indoor air with harmful spores known as “microbial volatile organic compounds,” or mVOCs. When homeowners try out abrasive amateur cleaning efforts, another harmful compound is released as the mold cell walls fragment, and these “glucans” are mobilized in the air. When inhaled, these can cause inflammatory respiratory problems, with the flu-like ailment known as Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome, or ODTS, being one of the most common. This is probably one of the most important reasons to contact Steamatic for our mold and mildew remediation service. Not only will you save yourself time, money, and finish with a much more desirable aesthetic result, but you won’t risk spreading glucans through your home.
When it comes to mold and mildew remediation, it is always best to act sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the more you risk exposing your family to the vascular, respiratory, digestive, neurological, and immune system affects of these harmful toxins. Trying to “wait out” your mold problem won’t work, despite the fact that mold spores will die out over time. Even “dead” spores that are unable to reproduce are as dangerous as their live counterparts, so don’t delay – call Steamatic today at 1-888-767-7616.
For many Canadians, mold in the home is an all-too-common problem. Despite our country’s reputation as a frigid Northern frontier, there are still plenty of pockets of heat and humidity throughout the year that mold can feed off of. In fact, if you look in the right place, mold can grow on even the chilliest of Canadian winter days. If you want to fight off potentially harmful mold growth, you will need to know your enemy, so read on to learn more!
Fungi grow by releasing spores into the air. These reproductive cells are not visible to the naked eye, and when you consider that there can be thousands of mold spores in any given cubic foot of indoor air, it is not hard to see why mold growth prevention can be tricky. Even if growth conditions are not ideal, many spores can lie dormant for years until the environment becomes more suitable. The most common places that you will spot mold growth include the spaces beneath bathroom and kitchen sinks, the gap behind appliances where slow plumbing leaks are common, around the edges of windows, and any other humid part of the home.
If you are going to stand up to stubborn mold growth, then you should know that there are three main types of fungus to watch out for:
Allergenic mold is not typically life-threatening, but can be quite problematic if you have a prexisting respiratory condition. If you are allergic or asthmatic, allergenic mold can be an issue.
Pathogenic mold generally produce some kind of infection, which can be harmful to your health especially if your immune system is already compromised. Pathogenic molds can cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a kind of acute response that resembles bacterial pneumonia. Individuals with compromised immune systems may be at risk of lung conditions such as Aspergillus fumigatus.
Toxigenic mold is probably what you have heard spoken of in the news. These “toxic molds can have serous health effects on whomever comes into contact with them. Reactions to toxigenic mold exposure range from immunosuppression and headaches to cancer. Toxic molds put you at risk of inhaling mycotoxins, which are some of the most potent carcinogens known to mankind.
Steamatic Furniture Solutions: Leather Furniture Cleaning and Maintenance Tips
Though most people associate the Steamatic brand with steam-cleaning technologies, different options exist so that any furniture style can be accommodated. If you would like to learn more about how our all-inclusive furniture cleaning techniques could help you regardless of whatever avant-garde furniture material you have opted for, then visit our website now.
If you are in between schedule cleaning but want to keep your furniture looking its best, then read on for a simple overview of the Do’s and Don’ts of leather furniture upkeep!
DON’T:
Neglect leather furniture. It is a common mistake to think that leather furniture is tough enough on its own. After all, leather is the material of choice for punching bags, biker gear, and was even used as light armour in the Middle Ages! Really, the worst thing you can do is to do nothing at all. Neglecting your maintenance duties will cut the life span of your furniture down considerably. Be diligent about cleaning spills!
Let stains settle in. Building off of the previous point, don’t let stains set! This is relatively easy; just soak up the stain by blotting the area with a clean, dry cloth. You usually won’t even need a cleaner – a wet cloth will do in more serious cases. Be warned, though, not to use a wet cloth with any greasy stains.
Forget to spot-test your cleaning and maintenance products. Not all cleaning and maintenance products are created equally. If you forget to test them before diving into your cleaning duties, you may find yourself staring at a horribly stained or faded furniture set. Test out your solution on a hidden corner first.
DO:
Dust and vacuum. The timeless look of old leather does not happen without effort. Dusting will help your leather look vibrant and full of character, rather than dingy. Don’t let dirt get worked into the creases; get to work with a large furniture duster instead! As a general rule, try to work some leather furniture vacuuming in any time you are vacuuming your living room floors.
Keep leather furniture covered. Consider covering up your furniture with lightweight sheets when not in use. This will cut your cleaning duties down considerably, and also keep harmful UV rays from doing any damage.
Nourish and condition your leather. There are many products on the market, but many leather furniture owners recommend saddle soap, hide food, and even olive oil applied using a clean microfiber or lint-free rag.
3 Furniture Handling Tips to Protect Your Vinyl Floors
Unfortunately, there is little that can be done for badly scratched floors aside from replacing tiles or covering them up with area rugs and furniture pieces. Our Steamatic team would like to offer homeowners 3 helpful furniture handling tips to keep your vinyl floors safe to avoid these damages.
3 All-Natural Mold and Mildew Fighters
If you have very minor mold problems, like those tiny traces commonly found near poorly-sealed windows, then you may be able to tackle the job yourself. If this is the case, then you will want to do so in a way that is safe, effective, and environmentally friendly. Read on to learn about 3 all-natural mold and mildew fighters you may have lying around the home.
3 Tips to Help You Choose the Best Carpet Cleaning Company
Think critically about their cleaning process.
Some companies will show up to your front door with low-quality, commercially available carpet cleaning equipment. If this happens to you, politely ask them to leave, and look elsewhere. Steamatic has devoted years into the research and development of a high-quality cleaning process that uses extra hot water, emulsifying agents, and specialty vacuum cleaners to get the best clean in the least time, and to leave your carpet nearly dry immediately after cleaning.
Avoid companies undercutting the competition.
You get what you pay for, right? Many disreputable companies will offer an unbelievably low price just to get their foot in the door. Once they do, they will launch into an up-selling spiel, or leave you with poor results. Steamatic carpet cleaning is affordable, but priced in a way that will cover the costs of their high-quality materials and cleaning equipment.
Assess the company based on longevity.
When shopping around for any service, it is recommended that you assess the market climate. Look at how long your chosen company has been in business, and discern whether they have been able to thrive despite having multiple competitors, as this is a good sign. Steamatic carpet cleaning services have been in business for over 40 years, and represent the gold standard for carpet cleaning companies.
If you would like to learn more about Steamatic services, visit our carpet cleaning page for more information.
Steamatic Candle Safety Tips
In hopes of helping families prevent fires in the home, the Steamatic team would like to offer readers some important candle safety tips.
3 Washer Maintenance and Flood Prevention Tips
On average, fault washing machines cause upwards of $6,000 in damages. In hopes of stopping serious water damage in your home, Steamatic would like to share 3 tips on washer maintenance and loss prevention.
Water Damage Do’s and Don’ts – How to Act Until Help Arrives
Calling Steamatic water damage restoration services can help you and your family recover from even the worst of flooding, but there are some things you can do to minimize damages until help arrives on the scene. This will come as a relief to many, who cannot bear to stand idly by and watch their belongings be consumed by a steady-climbing wall of water. Read on for a list of the Do’s and Don’ts in the event of water damage!
What to do once flooding has been detected:
What not to do after flooding has been detected:
Leaky Roof Water Damage Prevention Tips
The Steamatic team would like to offer our readers some loss prevention and roof maintenance tips to minimize their chances of encountering any problems.
Save Your Smartphone from Water Damage with Steamatic
With over 40 years spent solving water damage issues for Canadian homeowners, Steamatic should be your first choice for water damage remediation, but when it comes to saving your Smartphone, you have all the tools you need on hand. Let Steamatic handle the heavy-duty work while you focus on drying out your phone. Read on for some simple instructions on how to dry your phone out safely!
Many manufacturers and Smartphone repair shops recommend rice-immersion only as a way of discouraging the user’s impulse to plug in their phone and thus risk short-circuiting. If you can resist the urge to plug it in, a simple air-dry will do the trick. Ideally, leave your phone in a warm room where there is some sunlight and plenty of air circulating.
