Taking control of household mold.(Advertisement)

You may not realize it, but mold is virtually everywhere. According to an extensive study recently conducted at the University of Arizona, no home is free from mold. That's because it's almost impossible to stop mold spores from entering your house. They come in on your shoes and clothing, on pet fur, through doors and windows, and they take up residence quickly and comfortably, thriving especially well in damp, warm, and humid areas like basements, kitchens, and bathrooms. Molds are microscopic fungi (more than 1.5 million different species exist) that live and grow year-round. Most ordinary mold is invisible, but left unchecked, it can develop into black or brown spots on your shower curtain, around tubs and showers, and under cabinets. These are actually tiny spore-producing "colonies" that can release millions of spores throughout your living environment, triggering potentially serious respiratory problems. The good news? It's relatively easy to make your home inhospitable to mold. To get mold and mildew at their roots and prevent colonies from forming, try Tilex[R] Mildew Root Penetrator and Remover. Look to Martha Stewart Everyday[TM] for new kitchen and bath accessories.

colds or mold? Stuffy, runny noses, coughing, irritated eyes, wheezing and sneezing may feel like signs of a cold. But these are also symptoms of many types of allergies, including allergic reactions to mold. The symptoms of mold allergy are very similar to the symptoms of other allergies. But unlike pollens or grasses, indoor molds are year-round. Mold ...