[dreamingangei38]

I live in a old cotton mill building that was here since the 1900's, that was made in to apartments, my apparment is on the 3rd floor beside the stare way but there is a staire way door, I was ask to clean up the staire for a bit of reduction off my rent, and I sweep white mold off the cender brick walls, it was fluffy and flying in the air and I knew I was BREATHING it but trying to cover my face as well.. but at the time I did not know it was mold . I had been feeling bad a few day later sort of like the flu but not bad, I'm going to see my dr. to day, is white mold bad?? Should I call the health department? PS my children and other children walk down them stares every day to go to school,, (The mold is white as snow, the stare way does have windows and not dark at all.


Ps I had cought a bat that was flying around in my appt, as well , it got in from the attic and the land lord said there's nothing they can do,

Im more concern about the WHITE mold right now no more bats

[ballengerb1]

White mold will not grow on cinder block walls, it is a plant disease. It could be that you have effervescence from the concrete and mortar. It is minerals leaching from the building materials. It looks like a white powdery film. You might want to check with your local health department or housing Department about those bats. Your landlord not only can do something, he must.

[landlord advocate]

If there are windows in the stairwell that open, it would be good to circulate air in the stairwell. The condition can be contained my washing the walls down with bleach. Letting them dry and painting with moisture sensitive paint.

As far as the bat. One bat. That can happen to any home. Your landlord needs to check the attic for openings from the outside and openings between your apartment and the attic. Since this is an apartment building, your landlord must hire a professional exterminator, licensed and bonded. He can not spray chemicals himself. Ask him to find and fill the holes in the attic and exterminate. The exterminator probably offers a guarantee. Once the work is done, if the bats are still a problem, ask the landlord to call the exterminator.

[ballengerb1]

I do not agree with the advocate on this one. Don't start washing anything with bleach. First off it isn't mold and secondly it isn't your proeprty to remediate. Painting isn't your responsiblilty either. The hallway is common property and you have no responsibility for it.

[landlord advocate]

Did I misunderstand? I thought Dreaming... was given a rent reduction in exchange for cleaning the stairs. I agree it is not normally the tenant's responsibility.

[ballengerb1]

No, we agree on that point but it was for cleaning. Now we are looking at "mold remediation" and painting. I don't really believe this is mold but fixing this problem is well beyond the definition of cleaning. Also, I do not sense that Dreaming has the skills and/or knowledge on how to remediate mold. Everybody likes to suggest fresh bleach but that is just a home remedy. Ever notice that remediation specialists do not use bleach, they use a mildewcide.

[plsmithjr]

No, we agree on that point but it was for cleaning. Now we are looking at "mold remediation" and painting. I don't really believe this is mold but fixing this problem is well beyond the definition of cleaning. Also, I do not sense that Dreaming has the skills and/or knowledge on how to remediate mold. Everybody likes to suggest fresh bleach but that is just a home remedy. Ever notice that remediation specialists do not use bleach, they use a mildewcide.

You should not use bleach to control mildew. Bleach is about 95 - 97% water which is what
Caused the problem. Once the organicidal properties of bleach hve dissipated what do you have left? Water. Try buying a product that is specifically formulated to control fungi and mildew.