Hubby also met with the mold remediation man and the house is scheduled to have a mold test done on Monday, which means we are NOT leaving this weekend. There is obviously mold in the house and we are looking forward to learning their names so we can give it to the doctor.
I have learned many things about mold over the months and this man confirmed my information. For instance, you do not clean mold with bleach. Yes, bleach will kill it, but it also disperses it—like it will kill what it comes into contact with but it stirs up what it misses. I am going to guess that the chlorine gas will activate it and the mold spore will hit the airwaves and scatter it. Vinegar and baking soda are far superior for cleaning molds. And here is the thing that most people do not know. Mold grows in dust. So when we do not keep our houses clean, we create mold breeding grounds. And that goes for windows as well because of the slight condensation that develops with the temperature changes. When I cleaned the windows in the house the other day, I had to wear my respirator in order to not inhale the mold on some of the windows. There was not just black mold but also red molds, particularly on a window in the east room that had been covered up for years. Awning windows in particular are probably more difficult to clean mold off of because of the way they come together and probably have a propensity to collect dirt in them…remembering that dust/dirt breeds mold. So window cleaning ought to be done regularly not just so we look like clean people but for our health. And if you live in a climate where mold is inevitable learn how best to keep it under control and get a good HEPA air scrubber…the cost may be well worth it for the sake of your health. And if there is any mysterious health issues consider taking the time to learn more about mold illness. (It looks rather like Lyme-maybe worse, and the two seem to like one another.)
Moving right along, we also met with a man and his wife who professionally do concrete painting and staining. While we wanted a stain the cost for that job was less than frugal. He does have a paint product that will be the cheapest and most reliable flooring that can be done. I have seen this done and it looks fine, just not what we envisioned. He quoted us a price that was more than fair for the amount of work to be done. I know that concrete painting is becoming more and more an option because realtors are suggesting it. The following is an imperfect sample of what the painting would look like if this color was used. This whole process has a thick sealer put over the top and the final product would have a nice gloss to it.