‘Our mouldy home gave me pneumonia and put me in hospital’

WHEN Dilvin Yasa and her daughters began battling a series of illnesses, she never could have imagined the source of her problems was hiding underneath her pillow.

Curbing mould growth means understanding your surfaces. Picture: iStock

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WHEN Dilvin Yasa, 37, and her young daughters began battling a series of illnesses, she never could have imagined the source of her problems was hiding underneath her pillow.

“It never occurred to me that my family’s health problems could be linked to the musty odour emanating from my bedroom.

“Initially, I’d put my sudden onset of night-time wheezing down to dust, the recurring chest infections down to a work trip to Beijing earlier in the year (when the city was at historically high levels of pollution) and my daughters’ constant coughing down to childcare bugs.

Cleaning properly is essential in removing mould permanently.

“Sure, the smell in our bedroom seemed to be getting stronger by the week, but repeated inspection of walls, ceilings and furniture revealed no clue as to what was causing it. I felt like I was going out of my mind.

“As the weeks passed, my chest infections became constant, while my husband’s asthma worsened. After a lifetime of consistency, my menstrual cycle changed and suddenly I began to get heavy periods which lasted for two weeks each month.

“Unexplained headaches came along soon after, as did the random skin rashes coupled with constant lethargy and an almost paralysing inability to concentrate.

“Most days, I felt like I was walking around in a fog and my mental health suffered. I cried for no real reason and remained highly reactive to everyday situations. Decent sleep became a thing of the past as all four of us woke numerous times throughout the night and felt exhausted throughout the day.

By that evening, I could barely breathe and I was rushed to hospital.

“Did I mention I felt like I was losing my mind? What was causing it?

“Evidence of the mould problem in our bedroom came via a dark-coloured dress riddled with telltale white spots, dug out from the pits of my wardrobe. It was the only thing we could see that had mould on it, but that was enough for me to act – even though I hadn’t yet linked it to our health problems.

“The professional mould removers pulled apart our bedroom furniture and found the undersides of everything – drawers, bed, wardrobe – completely covered in mould.

“They also found a great deal of it in our girls’ room, tucked away from the visible eye and, in this case, with no noticeable odour.

Although cleaning commenced immediately, care wasn’t taken to contain the spores which were blasted up into the air. Half an hour after I entered the house post-clean, I began to feel exhausted and feverish.

Dilvin Yasa became ill after extensive exposure to mould.

“By that evening, I could barely breathe and I was rushed to hospital where staff struggled to get my oxygen levels back to what they considered a safe level.

“Because I have Sjogren’s syndrome, a condition where my immune system is compromised, my reaction to the spores was never going to be pretty and I was diagnosed with pneumonia.

“By the following morning, my six-year-old and two-year-old daughters had chest infections.

It was while digesting this news in the hospital bed that I came across a body+soul article on mould and suddenly everything fell into place.

“As soon as my oxygen levels were safe enough for me to leave hospital, I discharged myself and went home to pack a few things before I moved us all into a friend’s empty apartment within the hour.

“Amazingly, once we were away from the mould, everyone started to feel better; the chest infections disappeared, as did the asthma, wheezing and lethargy.

“We began to sleep through the night again for the first time in months and as the weeks wore on, my headaches, skin rashes and depression disappeared and my menstrual cycle returned to normal.

Fortunately, as the mould was linked to the storms we had earlier in the year, we were able to claim this through our insurance.

“It took weeks of testing – both medical and indoor air quality readings – to determine the pneumonia was caused by mould, but by then I’d spoken to so many mould experts I really wasn’t surprised.

“We moved into a nearby hotel for a month while our entire home was cleaned from top to bottom; our bedroom furniture was replaced as were all quilts, pillows and blankets, and every single soft toy and garment was dry-cleaned.

“Fortunately, as the mould was linked to the storms we had earlier in the year, we were able to claim this through our insurance otherwise we would have been between $20,000 and $30,000 out of pocket.

“It’s been 10 months since we moved back in and things have never been better. I feel like I have a new lease on life. Now that I know the havoc mould can cause, however, I’ve become incredibly cautious with my habits.

“Windows and doors are locked open with a special lock – even on the coldest days – to ensure cross-ventilation, and we run dehumidifiers a couple of times a week in every bedroom.

“Even though I’ve been doing this for the better part of a year now, I’m still always shocked at just how much moisture gets sucked out of the air by the dehumidifiers. If it’s one thing this experience has taught us, it’s that with mould and your health, you can never be too careful.”

HOW TO DO A MOULD MAKEOVER

Words: Brianna Scully

WHILE mould has its place outdoors, it doesn’t belong in your home. Mould is commonly found in damp areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundries but the fungus knows no bounds, turning up in carpets, walls and even your clothes.

It can be very detrimental to your health. As mould spreads it gives off spores, and when we inhale those spores we can exhibit mild symptoms including sneezing, coughing and rashes. However, it can be more serious, with those who have mould allergies experiencing headaches, shortness of breath, and even depression.

The elderly, infants, children and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk of mould contamination. While not all mould is a health hazard, it’s best to eradicate it.

1. Be surface savvy

The porousness of surfaces determines how easy it will be to get rid of mould. Super-porous areas such as wall-to-wall carpet and unpainted drywall may need to be removed entirely. However, semi-porous surfaces including wood and non-porous surfaces such as tiles can often be salvaged.

2. Ditch the bleach

While bleach will remove the colour of the mould, it can only kill it on non-porous surfaces – think kitchen tops, bathtubs and sinks. Spray semi-porous surfaces with vinegar and, if you can’t stand the smell, try adding a few drops of essential oils to the mix.

3. Prevent it now

Like most health problems, prevention is the best solution. Ensure your home is well ventilated by opening windows, especially in humid hotspots such as bathrooms and laundries. Keep your shower times to a minimum and, once you hop out, make sure you wipe your floors dry.