Living in a Petri Dish

[GuyJean]

For the last week I've had headaches, an itchy nose, and irritated eyes. I thought maybe I was suffering from kafuncho (sp?), but I don't usually have allergies.

I kept noticing a musty smell in my editing/bedroom.. Since today was our cleaning day, I checked behind our huge dresser and in the very back of our closet.. Holy moldiness!! Some was a centimeter thick!

After scraping, washing and spraying, I feel better already!.. Beware of the killer Japanese mold!

GJ

[Hana_Mizu]

Killer mold, yikes. Guy are you sure you're not living in the Metropole Hotel (Hong Kong)! Don't stay there if you want to live!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2867055.stm

[American Oyaji]

I kept noticing a musty smell in my editing/bedroom.. Since today was our cleaning day, I checked behind our huge dresser and in the very back of our closet.. Holy moldiness!! Some was a centimeter thick!

How long have you lived there? Must have been a while.

Yeah, once a year, you need to move stuff around in your house and clean behind and under everything, especially if you have any tatami in your house.

[GuyJean]

How long have you lived there?

About two and a half years. We're actually pretty clean, so I was really surprised. It's a tatami room, but I usually don't worry about mold during the winter.. I believe it was the condensation. Definitely one of the most putrid things I've done recently. But I feel much better now!

GJ

[den4]

Best bleach the area that had the mold down, so the spores don't regrow.....some of the stuff can become lethal after long exposure to the stuff.....and hope you don't have leaks in the walls or condensation from the outside/bathroom/kitchen areas.....

don't matter if you're clean or not, if the spores are there....

also maybe get a dehumidifier or something to take out the moisture content in that section, to avoid a repeat.....them molds are scary things... :O

just my two yen

[American Oyaji]

Listen to den! Bleach that area.

That mold has been growing for a while. And moisture does build up on tatami where air can't flow.

I had mold growing UNDER furniture in my place. So look around your whole house and you might find more fungi.

[den4]

listen to american oyaji....check everywhere!!!

probably even under the tatami mats, too, if they are movable.....that mold is nastier than the mother of toads in its nastiness... :O

http://www.worldofschmitt.com/writings/smith/mother_of_toads.html

[GuyJean]

Thanks guys. Yes, I bleached the area, along with various other chemicals.. I'm SURE there are more spores under the tatami, but we plan on moving within 5 months..

Let my outrageous deposit pay for the renewal.

GJ

[American Oyaji]

Guy Jean, can I assume you are married?

Where are you guys moving too?

[cstaylor]

Yeah, you don't want an internal fungus infection... those are nasty.

[American Oyaji]

yeah

DryPets are awesome

pretty cheap too if I remember.

[ramchop]

It's a tatami room, but I usually don't worry about mold during the winter.. I believe it was the condensation.

Condensation? What's that? The air is so dry here compared to what I'm used to... OK, I've only been here since the start of winter and I know it's meant to get humid in summer, but the only condensation I've seen has been in the bathroom.

Who has been watering your mould?

[American Oyaji]

because everywhere in japan is so close to the water, there is always a certain level of humidity everywhere you go.

[GuyJean]

DryPets are awesome.
pretty cheap too if I remember.

They are both awesome, AND cheap! I was awed and shocked!

Thanks for all your help, fellow FGs. I think the fungus is fleeing..

As for the condensation, I live in a concrete building with tatami matts. I've noticed droplets gathering on the walls facing towards the oustide. I always see condensation on the windows, just from my heavy breathing.

Thanks again!

GJ