Architect and mold survivor Cheryl Ciecko shares her top 15 considerations for avoiding mold in homes, avoiding mold illness or recovering from other chronic health challenges. Check humidity levels Check in all rooms with windows closed for a day. Use a $10 humidity meter from Wal-Mart or Amazon.com. Move it from room to room […]
Cutting holes is serious business when searching for mold in your home. It’s actually the last resort solution! Proper steps should always be followed before holes are cut as there are potentially serious implications. When you cannot find any mold through testing or visual inspection these are the next steps: Step #1: Check humidity levels […]
Awareness is key At least 25% of human beings are susceptible to toxin exposure and related illnesses, which include respiratory distress, autoimmune diseases, mental illness, and even cancers. There is some indication that the numbers affected might be even higher. A major public building in Florida, that has been closed down due to mold infestion, […]
Hi! I’m Cheryl and I’m a licensed architect and a patient whose health has been affected by toxins. Along with my family, I have been affected by mold exposure, pesticides and heavy metals including lead, mercury, arsenic, as well as Lyme disease. When a few doses of heavy stress have been added to the mix, […]
Mold is everywhere Without mold we would not have dirt to grow our food, as mold is part of the decomposition process of organic matter. Mold will grow almost anywhere. The requirements are: Oxygen Moisture Nutrients Temperatures between 40 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Oxygen and temperatures which are ideal for mold are also ideal […]
How essential oils and immunity are linked Have you heard of the Bubonic Plague? There’s a story going back to that time, referencing herb vinegar solutions, which ultimately evolved into the essential oil blends that people have been using for many years to support health and wellness. Many herbs and oils were used to during […]
There has been lots of discussion in blogs and social media about ‘mold-free’ building and ‘mold-free’ products. Here’s my review of hempcrete. What is HEMPCRETE? Hempcrete is a mixture of hemp hurds (shives) and lime (possibly including natural hydraulic lime,[1] sand, pozzolans or cement) used as a material for construction and insulation.[2] It is […]
There’s lots of toxins in our environment and lots of misinformation about them -especially the ones found in building materials- on the internet and elsewhere. Air quality can be affected by VOCs (Volitile Organic Compounds). “Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some […]
The steps people need to take to deal with mold illness is expensive – really expensive! Once the immune system has been triggered by mold or other environmental toxins due to water damage, creating a safe place to live is a must and a high-quality air purifier is just one of the components necessary for […]
Make your own air conditioner! Did you know you could use a fan, some copper piping, a fountain pump, and some ice to make your own, mold-free AC unit? Use it to keep cool along with your DIY air purifier (instructions here). Try this DIY cool air solution using a fan, copper pipe, a fountain […]