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After the fall, Alaskans move indoors for the long winter. Doors and windows are weather stripped to try and make the house as tight as possible. Houses are closed up to help keep heating bills down. In this environment, mold and mildew can develop.

Many individuals do not know that the home can be an excellent breeding ground for mold. Actually, about 40 percent of homes have mold growth. The cause is excess moisture. You might think homes in Alaska are dry. But the typical home has many sources of moisture that can cause problems.

Whenever the humidity is more than 60 percent, molds will grow. Molds can cause health problems, so they should be controlled and eliminated when they appear.

Molds
There are more than 1,000 species of molds. Molds are fungi, a simple microscopic plant. Mildew is a thin, black or white growth produced by molds. They reproduce by tiny, airborne spores. The spores can be many colors such as white, black, green, brown, yellow and orange.

Some types of molds produce a fruiting body called a mushroom. They can be detected by a musty odor or mildew growing on walls, windowsills or along baseboards.

Mildew will grow on paper products, ceiling tiles, wood, paint, wallpaper, insulation, drywall and fabric. I have even seen mushrooms growing on carpet in basements and in crawl spaces.

Health issues
Mold spores are so small that they can enter into the nose and upper respiratory tracts. Inhaling or touching mold or spores can cause allergic reactions, especially in sensitive individuals. Young children, the elderly and people with asthma are most often affected.

Some of the symptoms include nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, flu-like symptoms, chronic sinus infections, rashes, nosebleeds, fever, shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, fatigue and respiratory infections. Some molds can affect the central nervous system or suppress the immune system.

Why mold grows
All houses contain mold spores. The optimum relative humidity for a healthy home is between 20 and 50 percent. When the humidity gets above that, mold spores will germinate.

Mold will grow where moisture is highest such as the bathroom, closets, on windowsills and in basements, basically anywhere the surface is cool enough for moisture to condense.

The colder the outside temperature and the higher the humidity in the home, the more likely condensation will occur. Other sources of moisture include leaky and sweating pipes, leaky roofs and foundations.

Controlling mold
The key to mold control is humidity, moisture and water control. Take care of any leaks in the plumbing, roof or foundation. Insulating plumbing pipes is a good idea.

Lowering humidity is the best idea. Cooking, washing clothes and bathing can add a lot of moisture to a home. Make sure the dryer is vented outdoors. Use kitchen and bathroom vents when using those areas. Don't forget to clean out-of-sight areas. Kitchen and bathroom fans and refrigerator drip pans are favorite places for molds to grow.

Cleaning up mold
When mold does occur, clean it up immediately. Wear gloves, eye protection and a dust mask to protect yourself from spores and the chemicals used to clean. Discard anything that is moldy.

Use a chlorine bleach solution to kill and wipe off the mold. Mix in a well-ventilated space 3/4 cup bleach in one gallon water. Test the area to make sure the bleach does not damage items. Chlorine solutions can irritate the lungs. Ventilate the working area.

Musty odors are also a product of mold. As molds grow, they give off volatile organic compounds like alcohols and aldehydes. When inhaled, these can irritate respiratory passages. The musty smells can be removed by killing the mold.

Scrub floors and walls that have molds with a dilute solution of bleach. Rinse with clean water and wipe dry.

This winter, help improve the health of your home and help your family breath easier by eliminating and controlling molds. The key is moisture control.

The Cooperative Extension Service has several publications to help you understand moisture sources and reduce moisture in homes. Stop by the office at 1000 University Ave. to see what is available or visit the extension Web site at www.uaf.edu/coop-ext.

Michele Hebert is the land resources agent for the Alaska Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.