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- Aug 8, 2005
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Perhaps this could be claimed to be anecdotal evidence so it's left up to the reader to decide.
We live in essentially mold central. An integral inescapable part of our lives. Tropical rain forest 6 months out of the year during the rainy season where it averages 80% humidity. When raining, about 10% of the time during that season humidity of course is 100%
Our area has two native scorpions which are very common, Lychas Mucronatus and H Silenus. Other species of Heterometrus are found in similar tropical and equatorial environments throughout S. E. Asia. I'm discounting L Mucronatus here since they are arboreal and naturally avoid much of the problematic mold source. The environment of Silenus and other Heterometrus species on the other hand is in and or just below the naturally hyperactive detritus layer and that layer is their natural hunting ground and food source.
Of course, ventilation on the forest floor is entirely convective - warm air rises. Not exactly highly efficient since the ambient air and the upper surface of the detritus are about the same temperature during the rainy season.
Now the anecdotal. Mold issues and control. Shoes are strictly forbidden in the house. The entire house is damp mopped 3 or 4 times a week with a mild solution of Benzalkonium Chloride solution, BKC. The industrial go to for moid eradication. Approximately 5000% greater concentration than the amount used in the packaging of the treats found in 7-11 stores that can have a shelf life of up to 1000 years. In other words, mean stuff. 1% concentration allowed to go airborne will relieve you of your sense of smell and deliver chronic bronchial irritation.
In addition to the regular mopping regimen certain precautions are taken. All closets and cupboards are left partly open and fans employed. Approximately 1/3rd of our electric bill goes to running the fans.
Ventilation.
Upstairs in the bathroom is the whole house ceiling exhaust fan. Approximately a 100 CFM number that sucks the bathroom door open to the consternation and embarrassment of guests who don't leave the door firmly closed and latched. That door has approximately 100 1 inch holes drilled in it which serves as a towel dryer, staggered on opposite sides to afford privacy. Unoccupied the door is always left open or opens itself. In the bedroom is a 12" continuous running window exhaust fan and an 18" floor fan which also runs continuously blowing over the bedding or into the closet.
Then the HEPA portable air filter which gets moved from room to room and another 12 inch fan in the office for comfort.
Downstairs is the domain of Hurricane Breath, a 20 inch oscillating fan that gets moved about the area, patrolling the kitchen, spare room, entryway and stairs. Augmenting are twin 8 inch exhaust fans in the kitchen. In the front former living room, now a massage therapy room of the boss, is a 32 inch ceiling fan, a 16 inch oscillating fan and a large cabinet type humidifier and spore trap thanks to a little BKC added to it's water. Another exhaust fan runs constantly in the downstairs bathroom.
Sadly, all the above anti mold efforts often fail as in the very nice wood cabinet that the boss got fed up wiping down with a BKC solution and is presently out on the porch waiting for me to toss it off the edge and either burn it or feed it to the ubiquitous termites. The latest in a rather long list of pieces of furniture that insisted on joining it's friends in the detritus layer.
All of the above is written in the hopes of giving people some idea as to the mold resistance of the AFS
I almost forgot the leg hugger. Bane of the dust bunny. A souped up 1000 CFM leaf blower used to ventilate and warm problematic locations such as under and behind furniture and beds et al. So named since it must be held away from the body or it will try to take your pants off.
We live in essentially mold central. An integral inescapable part of our lives. Tropical rain forest 6 months out of the year during the rainy season where it averages 80% humidity. When raining, about 10% of the time during that season humidity of course is 100%
Our area has two native scorpions which are very common, Lychas Mucronatus and H Silenus. Other species of Heterometrus are found in similar tropical and equatorial environments throughout S. E. Asia. I'm discounting L Mucronatus here since they are arboreal and naturally avoid much of the problematic mold source. The environment of Silenus and other Heterometrus species on the other hand is in and or just below the naturally hyperactive detritus layer and that layer is their natural hunting ground and food source.
Of course, ventilation on the forest floor is entirely convective - warm air rises. Not exactly highly efficient since the ambient air and the upper surface of the detritus are about the same temperature during the rainy season.
Now the anecdotal. Mold issues and control. Shoes are strictly forbidden in the house. The entire house is damp mopped 3 or 4 times a week with a mild solution of Benzalkonium Chloride solution, BKC. The industrial go to for moid eradication. Approximately 5000% greater concentration than the amount used in the packaging of the treats found in 7-11 stores that can have a shelf life of up to 1000 years. In other words, mean stuff. 1% concentration allowed to go airborne will relieve you of your sense of smell and deliver chronic bronchial irritation.
In addition to the regular mopping regimen certain precautions are taken. All closets and cupboards are left partly open and fans employed. Approximately 1/3rd of our electric bill goes to running the fans.
Ventilation.
Upstairs in the bathroom is the whole house ceiling exhaust fan. Approximately a 100 CFM number that sucks the bathroom door open to the consternation and embarrassment of guests who don't leave the door firmly closed and latched. That door has approximately 100 1 inch holes drilled in it which serves as a towel dryer, staggered on opposite sides to afford privacy. Unoccupied the door is always left open or opens itself. In the bedroom is a 12" continuous running window exhaust fan and an 18" floor fan which also runs continuously blowing over the bedding or into the closet.
Then the HEPA portable air filter which gets moved from room to room and another 12 inch fan in the office for comfort.
Downstairs is the domain of Hurricane Breath, a 20 inch oscillating fan that gets moved about the area, patrolling the kitchen, spare room, entryway and stairs. Augmenting are twin 8 inch exhaust fans in the kitchen. In the front former living room, now a massage therapy room of the boss, is a 32 inch ceiling fan, a 16 inch oscillating fan and a large cabinet type humidifier and spore trap thanks to a little BKC added to it's water. Another exhaust fan runs constantly in the downstairs bathroom.
Sadly, all the above anti mold efforts often fail as in the very nice wood cabinet that the boss got fed up wiping down with a BKC solution and is presently out on the porch waiting for me to toss it off the edge and either burn it or feed it to the ubiquitous termites. The latest in a rather long list of pieces of furniture that insisted on joining it's friends in the detritus layer.
All of the above is written in the hopes of giving people some idea as to the mold resistance of the AFS
I almost forgot the leg hugger. Bane of the dust bunny. A souped up 1000 CFM leaf blower used to ventilate and warm problematic locations such as under and behind furniture and beds et al. So named since it must be held away from the body or it will try to take your pants off.
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