In September of 1999, Hurricane Floyd brought flooding to basements and mud to the living rooms of local residents of the Carolina coastline. The hurricane didn't stop there. For some people, sneezing, congested chests, and breathing difficulty were part of the legacy of Hurricane Floyd. Stagnant water and humidity turned many homes into breeding grounds for mold, a common allergen. A report was sent to the residents of North Carolina by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), stating that mold spore counts were drastically high, and could possibly remain in the air until the end of the year.

You can have a mold problem without a hurricane, however. Microscopic mold spores are produced constantly from regular mold and mildew. Some of these spores are windborne, like pollen, meaning that they catch flight on the wind, and are carried through the air. Symptoms of asthma and allergies can be brought on by breathing in these spores. While everyone needs to breathe, breathing is the problem when it comes to spores.

You can find mold inside and outside. All that is needed is moisture, oxygen, and a certain mix of chemicals. No matter how clean you think your home is, there is some mold, somewhere. Most often you will find molds in basements, bathrooms, waste baskets, refrigerators, and laundry rooms. Your favorite plants might even be the home for some mold. Outdoors, you can find mold in compost heaps, rotting plants, and piles of leaves, even attached to grasses and weeds. Basically anywhere you will find shade and moisture, you can find molds. Late fall is generally the worst season for outdoor molds in the U.S.

Fighting Mold Allergies Outdoors

To combat outdoor molds, stay away from the places they usually grow, and wear a dust mask to keep from inhaling the spores while working in the yard or garden. Molds can stick to your clothing, so make sure that you take off and wash your clothes and clean your shoes when you go back inside. Follow this up by showering and shampooing right away.

Fighting Mold Allergies Indoors

You can fight molds indoors by taking away from their moist, dim habitat. It may sound like a big task, but don't fret. You have more power over mold than you think. Good ventilation is the basic component to fighting mold. Moist, stale air aides mold growth. After Hurricane Floyd, the AAAAI encouraged the residents of North Carolina to take these measures:

• • Wash moldy areas like the bathroom floor or kitchen counters with a cup's worth of bleach mixed in a gallon of water.
• Get rid of anything moldy. Problem items are often shower curtains and old wallpaper in the bathroom. If the problem persists, or was present before, you might want to buy items that are made of material resistant to mold.
• Fix leaking roofs or pipes, sealing them.
• Store clothing in dry areas.
• Mold can spread through air vents to the whole house, so make sure these are cleaned regularly.