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Is this mold?

M

manlymatt83

Lifer
I've been waking up with a sore throat in my apartment lately, and when I come up, it smells misty. I don't really see any physical mold (other than my shower, which I'll admit isn't the cleanest right now).

However, I did notice that the bathroom sink, which used to be attached to the wall, is coming apart from the wall. In the corner and space between the sink and wall is this:

http://oi52.tinypic.com/wqqxj4.jpg

Is that harmful mold? I can't seem to get it clean with a paper towel... perhaps it's dry.

Just trying to figure out what could be causing our sore throats... and some people suggested mold since my apartment is so small and so old.
 
Sorry man. It already sounds like you've caught the consumption. I don't think there's much we can do now but try to make the rest of your days comfortable.
 
Eeew...yes it is mold...and it's the nasty contagious stuff.
You need to rush to the emergency room immediately!! They MIGHT be able to keep you alive...maybe.
 
Well the musty smell in your apartment is the bigger sign of possible mold than that pic. Mold loves moisture and if your apartment is humid enough to always smell musty then yeah you could have mold. If your sore through doesn't go away I'd see a doctor and tell them you suspect mold might be a culprit. Most likely it's just a cold or something. But if it continues for a long time I'd go to the doc just in case. Mold CAN be bad for you especially if you are always breathing it in. Do you have a dehumidifier? If not I suggest renting one and drying out your apartment REALLY well. Then try and keep it dry.
 
Too difficult to tell from the pic. Put your nose down there and see if it's stronger.

Oh, and invest in a can of lysol.
 
manlymatt83 said:
What would lysol do? It just masks smells when you spray it in the air no?
Click to expand...

lysol is a disinfectant--so it works on bacteria. As far as I know, it won't do much for mold.

here's what you do:

spritz the area liberally with 50/50 bleach/H2O) solution. let it sit.

pour some undiluted bleach (the stuff is already 10% anyway--which is good, 100% vapors would kill you) into a container and leave that sitting in your tub. let the vapors spread for a bit.


Then, scrub the area down with some 70%+ Isoproponol solution.

Also consider running a dehumidifier for a week or so.

You might have to spray and scrub several times--and even then, may not work 100%
 
In addition to running the exhaust fan, I put an oscillating fan aimed at the shower for a couple of hours. It dries out the towels, and there is never a mildew problem.
 
waking up with a sore throat could be allergy related. though, more importantly, the musty smell is a sign of mold by itself. Id get a large powerful dehumidifier, either from apartment management or by yourself. it will only get worse as the outside humidity rises during the year. however, turning on the AC will dehumidify the place, but you have a while to go before its hot enough to turn on the AC. (depending on where you live obviously)
 
So ever since the weather got hot, that "misty" smell is back. I come into my apartment and it smells like someone left around a few pairs of dirty gym shorts, but no such dirty gym shorts exist (I wash mine). I just wish I could find the source of the smell. Seems to only be sometimes, and I'm still not feeling the best when I wake up (though I do think some of my issues was allergies).
 
Musty tends to be damp. Sounds like you've got a water leak. Plumbing or roof. Water stains on the paint?

De humidifier would help but it's a band aid. Need to find the issue. Feel better if you stay away for a few days?
 
highland145 said:
Musty tends to be damp. Sounds like you've got a water leak. Plumbing or roof. Water stains on the paint?

De humidifier would help but it's a band aid. Need to find the issue. Feel better if you stay away for a few days?
Click to expand...

Nope, that's the thing. My apartment itself is actually pretty nice - can't see a water leak or anything. However, it's *small*. 600 square feet maybe. And my bathroom is right next to my front door and kitchen is on the other side... maybe the musty smell is just coming from the bathroom and it's making the apartment smell because of how small it is?
 
manlymatt83 said:
There's a fan. I only run it when taking showers. Should I leave it on more often?

For what it's worth, my toilet is *always* sweating. Sometimes to the point of dripping to the ground (not actually really puddles).
Click to expand...
15 min after a shower. Does it vent outside (like it should)?

Warm apartment, cold water in the tank = condensation. iirc, you can get some type of insulation for the tank.
 
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