What Kills Spiders? Vinegar? Bleach? Hairspray?

What Kills Spiders?

Obviously there is a unique place in the world for spiders. I’m not going to argue the benefits of letting spiders be, even though personally that’s the position I would normally take. At least helping it to get outside when I see one in the house.

But having the fortunate and sometimes unfortunate situation of being the only man in a house full of women and girls,

I can tell you that there is no reasoning and no articulating words you can say to a woman, at least the ones in my house, when they see a spider.

Hysteria is the only emotion that can be drawn from in that moment.

Even if it’s a small spider. God forbid a tarantula ever enter our domain.

So this article is about what household items and sprays that you have around that can kill a spider when the evil dares to encroach upon your castle.

What kills spiders?

Here is a brief list of household items you probably already have on hand and some that may be even already within arms length. Good Luck in your Spider Removing endeavor.

Does vinegar kill spiders?

Vinegar is a spider repellent because it contains acetic acid. Vinegar is often used as a household cleaner to remove mold and mildew because of this very ingredient.

Mixed with water is also one of the easiest and best window cleaners you can use. Chances are you may even have a spray bottle of vinegar and water under your sink ready to use in case you see a spider in the house.

“Using a easy recipe of one part vinegar and one part water, you can spray the solution directly on a spider and it will definitely flee.”

And since the odor the white vinegar is enough to repel a spider, placing small bowls of white vinegar around the inside of your house is a easy way to repel and keep spiders from coming inside of your home.

Does bleach kill spiders?

Bleach is a fungicide as well as a pesticide because it has the capacity to kill bacteria better cellular level.

The acid in bleach destroys anything it comes in contact with, and yes that does include spiders.

But bleach is not recommended as a pesticide because it is not only dangerous to pest it is dangerous to humans. And destructive to anything you spray it on.

But if you’re in a pinch and you need something fast to get rid of a spider, one part bleach to three parts of water will do the trick.

Spray it directly on the insect and any web or spider eggs you can identify.

And get ready for your clothes to be stained White and eventually tear apart.

Does hairspray kill spiders?

Hairspray does not typically contain poisons that would kill a spider but it does have a coating effect that would smother the spider,

it will basically glue the spider’s body and legs, restricting any motion. This at least will give you enough time to get rid of the spider or get help to remove it.

As an insecticide, they are much better household options to get rid of spiders than hairspray.

Does Windex kill spiders?

When you see a spider and you are in a quick pinch to find something in a hurry that will execute him,

“Windex is a product that you may have nearby that will kill a spider. Not only will Windex kill a spider, you can adjust the nozzle so that you do not have to get too near to the spotter to douse him with Windex.”
Once you spray the Windex on the spider, give it a little bit and you will see that he has curled up and died.

Does Febreze kill spiders?

Febreze is a household item that is likely to be an arms reach when you spot a spider.

That is good because febreze contains an ingredient called hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin and another ingredient called Benzisothiazolinone that are both lethal to spiders.

Dousing a spider with febreze or any spray household air freshener, will not only kill the insect, it will not leave behind the toxic smell that you get from spraying a repellent like Raid.

Does Lysol kill spiders?

Lysol is poisonous to spiders but spraying on a spider with more than likely Chase it off rather than kill it on the spot. Although it will probably go somewhere and die.

Grabbing a broom and swatting the spider is more effective than spraying Lysol on it.

Does salt kill spiders?

Salt will kill spiders and it is one of the most easy and effective ways to repel spiders and keep them from coming into your house.

Obviously salt is not a spur of the moment something you can grab and kill a spider type of a solution.

But as a deterrent for keeping spiders out of your house, mixing warm water and salt in a spray bottle and spraying all of your perimeters, doors and windows, and dousing any eggs or webs you see with the salt and water solution will keep spiders from entering your home.

One drawback is, if it rains it’ll wash the solution away and you’ll have to do it again.

What household cleaners kill spiders?

Most household cleaners will not kill a spider instantly but they will inhibit its movement till it curls up and dies.

Any aerosol that you have available is likely to chase the spider off and eventually kill him and if the spray has an adhesive element to it like spray glue or hairspray, the spider will not be able to move and eventually die on the spot.

Spiders are very fragile creatures and any aerosol household spray that you have handy will eventually kill a spider.

What kills spiders instantly?

A commercial insect spray is a better choice if you need the spider to die instantly.

Does Raid kill spiders?

Raid spider blaster will kill spiders on contact. And sometimes waiting for a spider to die or using a repellent to scare them is not an option.

I have tried to keep a light-hearted approach to killing spiders in this article because it is such a funny thing to see how scared of spiders that some people can be. Especially the women in the girls that I live with.

But there is no denying that some spiders need to be very carefully dealt with.
If you live in a household, like I do with a lot of children and females, it’s worth teaching them to be able to identify when a spider is especially dangerous.

The Black widow and the Brown Recluse are both spiders that are popular but are deadly if they bite you.

If you have a spider infestation or think that you have spotted a dangerous spider in your home, the best thing to do is call a professional to examine your home and professionally exterminate the problem.

Do Air Purifiers Need UV?

Ultraviolet light is highly effective at reducing mold and bacteria when it is targeted and allowed to remain focused on its intended target.

But the problem remains. How can that translate to cleaning air since there is no way to actually target air?

Are UV air purifiers effective? How so?

Do air purifiers need UV?

Most air purifiers work independently of UV and do not need or require UV to operate. The most common purpose of Ultraviolet light in an air purifier is as a method of sterilizing the filter to prevent it from becoming populated with live bacteria and germs.

But the air purifier will still work without the UV.

But… Another type of UV air purifier that DOES require UV to work is Photo catalytic Oxidation.

Also called PCO and tio2 air purification, these air purifiers create a reaction between Ultraviolet light and Titanium Oxide that produces an ionic plasma that kills mold spores and bacteria.
UV is central to the operation of these air cleaners and they will not work if the uv bulb is burned out.

Photocatalytic oxidation is commonly used in the Central AC ductwork. Which ties into the next way UV is used in air cleaning.

The third way UV is most commonly used in air purification is the HVAC system.

In this case, ultraviolet lamps are used to destroy mold and germs inside of the central heat and air system before they get a chance to enter into the home through the ductwork.

This is done by targeting the UV sterilizing lamp primarily onto the evaporative coils and drip pan in the air handler.

Though this method of air cleaning with Ultraviolet light works well,

It is not entirely necessary because both the AC coils and drip pan can be cleaned and maintained by making sure there is not any stoppage in the drain line that would cause moisture to build up in the drain pan and ultimately produce mold.
In other words it can be kept clean without the use of UV and ultraviolet light is not a component needed for a AC to run.

Photocatalytic induct air purifiers can also be inserted into the plenum and ductwork to destroy mold and bacteria inside of the air handler.

This is one of the best uses of UV air purification because it essentially turns the HVAC Central Heat and Air system into a whole house air purifier.

Though these UV induct air purifiers are usually on the expensive side, the expense does not even compare to what it would cost to place air purifiers throughout the house.

But there is one downside to this method is that the blower on the HVAC needs to stay on throughout the year.

Not too much of a problem in the winter and the off months but running the fan continuously when the AC is on does not allow the dehumidification function of the AC to work properly resulting in more humidity in the house.

The reason for this is that the condensation created in the air conditioning coils evaporates back into the house instead of exiting the house through the drain line.

One the main concerns when it comes to UV air purifiers is the danger of ozone being produced by the lamp.

Which begs the question ” Does UV remove odors?” since ozone has a distinct sharp odor when it is created.

The answer is the type of UV used in filtration air purifiers is not in the range to create ozone and is further protected by the type of glass that the UV is encased in.
This type of UV will help reduce the musty odors caused by mold and mildew without producing the smell of ozone.

PCO- tio2 UV induct air cleaners typically create more ozone because of the photocatalytic oxidation process. But the amount is below the .05 ppm acceptable level of ozone put in place by the EPA.

And though the musty smell of mold as well as other odors can be expected to be minimized with the UV PCO air purifiers, it is likely that the smell of ozone will be noticeable.

Many stand alone Photo Catalyst air purifiers like Molecule and Air Oasis use a UV that creates little to no ozone.
But it is also worth noting that companies like Oasis that used full ozone UV bulbs in their machines in the past also were able to make the claim that their units cleaned up to 3000 sq ft.
But with reduced ozone bulbs have reduced the amount of air that can be cleaned to areas more like 300 to 500 sq ft.

Recap

The typical UV air purifier is basically just a HEPA filter based air cleaner that has a ultraviolet light aimed at the filter to keep bacteria and germs from living and growing in the filter.

This type of air purifier can work without a UV lamp as it is not necessary to the primary function of the air purifier which is to filter contaminants from the air.

But in the case of HVAC air purification and photo catalytic oxidation induct air purification, the UV is Central to the ability to function of the air purifier to clean the air.

If the UV Burns out on a photo catalytic oxidation air purifier then your air purifier will not work until the UV is replaced.

In the case of an HVAC UV system, the UV is basically used as a sterilizer targeted on areas of the air handler that can produce mold.

If the UV lamp is broken or burned out, it will not do anything to aid in the this process and will have to be replaced.

Do I need a UV light for my air conditioner?

The air conditioning and heating system works independently from any type of UV device and does not need an Ultraviolet lamp to operate properly.

Out of the three methods in which UV is successfully utilized in air purification, PCO induct air purifiers make the most sense because they essentially turn your HVAC central heat and air unit into a whole house air purifier that cleans the air every time it cycles on and off.
The only downside is that it requires the fan on the AC to run continuously which can result in a humid house when the air conditioning is in use.

How to Make Gold Paint. The Color Mixing Guide

Do you know how to mix the right colors to get a great looking gold shade? Regardless of your painting furniture or slaving away on your next Picasso?

Mixing your own paint while might not only be cheaper, can also help you dial in to get the perfect shade of gold you are looking for.

In this guide, we will teach you how to make Gold paint as well as Metallic Gold and Rose gold.

How to Make Gold Paint.

What colors make gold?

Gold. The color of royalty. A symbol of wealth. And a signal of both affluence and prestige. All that and more.

But as a color of paint, it is not the easiest to mix. But it is easy to get too light or too dark and end up looking like rust or spicy mustard.

How to make gold paint?

Below is a list of color combinations that can be mixed to make gold paint.

What colors make gold?

Combination # 1

Yellow – Red – Blue

1.Mix the yellow and blue together to make green.
2. Add Red to make Brown.
3. Add more Yellow

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Combination # 2

Black – White – Yellow

1. Combine the White and the Black to make Gray
2. Mix the Gray with Yellow

Combination# 3

Orange – Yellow- Brown

1. Mix the Orange and Brown to get a Terracotta color. Terracotta is a Sienna shade that is a very red Earth color.
2. Mix the Terracotta with Yellow.

Combination #4

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What two colors make gold?

The simplest recipe for gold paint is Yellow and Brown.

1. Start with Yellow.
2. Add in a small amount of Brown. A little goes a long way.
3. Depending on the shade you’re after, either add more Yellow or more Brown till You get the desired Gold paint you’re looking for.

If you start with Brown and add Yellow, it will take an enormous amount of Yellow paint to overtake the Brown to make Gold.

That’s why you should start with Yellow and only add a tiny bit of Brown and try it before you add anymore.

Combination # 5

Black – Red – Yellow

1. Mix equal parts of Black and Red to make Maroon.
2. In a separate spot, pour out some Yellow paint.
3. Add the maroon to the yellow.
Mix it in slowly till you get the shade of gold that you want.

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How to make gold acrylic paint?

Black – White – Yellow

1. Combine the White and the Black to make Grey
2. Mix the Grey with Yellow for a great looking acrylic gold color.
3. (Optional) Add in Gold sparkles to give it a metallic Sheen

How to make Rose Gold paint?

Combination# 1

Gold – Silver – Red

1. Combine equal parts of gold and silver paint.
2. Slowly add Red till you get the desired Rose Gold color that you are after.

Combination # 2

Gold – Silver- Pink- Gold Sparkles

1. Equal parts Gold and Silver
2. Add Pink
3 . Add Gold sparkles to give it a metallic look.

Combination# 3

Gold – Silver – Red – White

1. Mix Equal parts Gold and Silver
2. Pour out some White and a separate spot.
3. Add Red to the White till you get a Dark Pink.
4. Mix the Dark Pink with the Gold and Silver mixture.

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Do Humidifiers Cause Mold?

Mold spores are virtually everywhere that there is air, floating and searching for nutrients to take root.

And Mold and mildew is something you can find anywhere there is a source of water, food, and oxygen.

Do Humidifiers Cause Mold?

A humidifier meets the criteria for being a catalyst for mold growth and airborne bacteria in your home when:

It is poorly maintained
It is used when not needed
When it’s too Big

If it Leaks

The presence of mold in your home can not only cause damage to your house and structure, it can also exasperate allergies, and be a trigger for asthma.

According to one study, it can be a factor in the development of childhood asthma.

When mold goes unchecked, it can spread very fast and cause more damage than you may suspect.

This article will lay out 4 ways a humidifier can be responsible for mold.

1. Poorly Maintained Humidifier

Easily the number one way that a humidifier can cause mold production. Failure to keep a humidifier clean and filled with fresh water can create the idea setup of water, dirt, oxygen, and low light that mold can flourish in.

Once mold has taken root in a poorly kept humidifier, the humidifier becomes a distributor of mold spores throughout your room and house.

According to Pubmed, Humidity droplets act like microscopic containers that can carry bacteria and viruses much further than they can travel without the aid of humidity.

Another aspect of a poorly maintained humidifier is leaving water in the basin when the humidifier is not being ran.
Mold can develop in standing water in as little as 24 to 48 hours.

Imagine turning the humidifier on and running it after the water and it has been standing for a long period of time.

You’re just asking for a room full of mold spores ready to attack your respiratory system and your walls and ceiling.

2. Using a humidifier when the climate does not warrant it.

Excessive humidity in the air can be a absorbent for the pollution and spores already in the air. As stated in this article already, humidity droplets can provide a vehicle for germs and bacteria to to be able to travel long distances.

When the relative humidity is already on the high side, adding more humidity to the air by using a humidifier is like pouring fuel on a fire.

Moisture is the primary food source for dust mites. Dust mites along with mold spores are two of the most common household allergies

Adding extra humidity to an already humid area with a humidifier only provides extra water and nutrients for mold and dust mites to thrive.

Rooms like bathrooms or kitchens tend to already have an ample amount of humidity because of showers and baths and boiling water and dishes being soaked.

Using a humidifier in these conditions can add too much humidity to the air which can cause mold growth on the walls and allergies to kick up.

Exhaust fans are usually installed in bathrooms and in kitchens for this very reason.

3. Too Big of a Humidifier

Along the same lines as using a humidifier when you do not need it, is using a humidifier that is too large for the space you have it in.

Placing a humidifier that is meant to be used in a large living area in a small bedroom can add to too much humidity to the air which can result in mold growth especially in a room that is dirty.

Measuring the humidity and providing the right amount of humidity back into the air is key to getting the benefits out of a humidifier.

But overdoing it can result in mold. If you measure your humidity (a hydrometer can be purchased very inexpensively) and it is already between the 30 and 50% mark. Adding extra humidity can put you into the range of causing mold somewhere in your home.

4. Leaking Humidifier

One of the main ingredients that mold needs to start growing water. Mold inside of the house is always connected to an inappropriate source of water somewhere. Usually it’s a leaking pipe or a leaky roof.

But a humidifier, because it has a basin for holding water, can also be a source of inappropriate moisture if it is leaking.
If the table or counter where are the humidifier is sitting has water around it, then there is a chance that the humidifier is leaking. And just as easily as mold can take root in the moisture caused by a leaky pipe, it can take root from the water leaking out of the humidifier.

Most people are not going to let mold grow right on the counter in front of them. But it may not be as easy to see when it has drip down the back or sides of a counter top or table.

Many modern humidifiers already take all of these situations that can occur when a humidifier is in use into account.

For instance, there are self cleaning, germ-free humidifiers that are already on the market that use technologies like ultraviolet light and bacteria and mold resistant plastic and their production.

1. There are also many additives that you can buy the place in the water of the humidifier to reduce mold and bacteria growth inside of the humidifier.

2. Many of today’s humidifiers also come with features like auto shut off and built in hygrometers and humidistats
that measure the humidity inside of the room and turn off dehumidifier when the relative humidity entered in as a cutoff point is reached.

3. Safety features are also installed to let you know if you have a leaky basin or if your water compartment is not seated correctly and is leaking.

4.There are also many ways that you can communicate with your appliances through smart plugs that can be purchased that allow you to schedule when your humidifier is on and off and allow you to turn it on from a remote location.

The only feature I have not seen on a humidifier yet is one that does not allow the humidifier to run when the water has become tainted.
Sounds like something that needs to happen. Maybe you can be the one to invent it.

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Does an Air Purifier Help with Mold Spores?

Mold is a household problem, that if you find inside of your home, should be taken very seriously and dealt with very quickly.

Mold when it is left unchecked can cause more destruction than many people give it credit for and faster than you may have believed.

Mold can develop in as little as 24 hours once spores find moisture. Walls can be inundated very quickly because of how porous drywall is. It can call us and become a problem in 1 to 12 days.

It is also a problem that can exasperate allergies, respiratory issues, and trigger asthma attacks. According to this study, mold is instrumental in the development of asthma in children.

Does an Air Purifier Help with Mold?

An air purifier will help with allergy symptoms related and caused by mold because it can filter out the spores from the air that are breathable.

But mold itself is caused by an inappropriate source of moisture and dirt somewhere in the area.

And there will still be a constant supply of mold spores in the air til the source of the water is found and stopped.

Regardless, having clean air to breathe when you are dealing with a problem like mold is still essential, and a mold spore air purifier is perfect for that reason.

But in instances like a damp basement where moisture is more pervasive, using an air purifier is more like putting a Band-Aid on the problem instead of addressing the real issue.

An area that has excessive humidity like the basement would benefit more from a device like a dehumidifier rather than an air purifier, at least initially.

Though an air purifier can help reduce the mold spore count in the air, it will do nothing to fix the problem that is resulting in poor air quality caused by mold.

Unless the source of the mold is fixed and the air is dried out, using an air purifier for the mold is like taking an aspirin for a headache but never addressing the reason you are having headaches.

Thank God for the aspirin, but fixing the problem is better than covering it.

To sum it up, an air purifier will help reduce the amount of mold spores in the air and in doing so reduce the symptoms related to breathing mold spores, and it will also reduce the chance of mold growing somewhere else.

And with less mold spores traveling through the air, there are less chances of it finding a new place to start growing.

But it will not fix the original problem and until the source of moisture is found and stopped and the area is dried out, you will continue to have an issue in your home with mold.

Some people worry that using a air purifier with a HEPA filter to capture mold spores will cause mold to grow in their air purifier.

That is a real concern if the humidity in the room is so high that it even makes the HEPA filter in the air cleaner damp.

But that is usually not the case, and since it takes moisture for mold spores too began to colonize, as long as you keep your air purifier dry, you should not have a problem with mold growing inside or on the filter.

What Causes Mold in a House?

Mold inside of the house is more likely to be caused by a leaking pipe or windowsill. A leaky roof is also a common place where moisture is finding it’s way inside the house.

A leaking windowsill is pretty easy to identify but finding a leaking pipe or a drip in the ceiling is not as easy and may require a professional.

If you suspect you have a leaking pipe inside of the wall, oftentimes you’ll see the paper on the outside of the drywall begin to bubble or the whole area starting to swell and feel softer to the touch than the rest of the wall.

Leaks from the ceiling are pretty much the same but since it’s harder to get up and feel of the ceiling, you can most likely identify moisture coming in by searching for discoloration in the ceiling.

Another way mold spores become part of the air stream in your home is through the HVAC system.

HVAC which stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

Though the heating and air system is vital to your comfort, especially in some climates, it also has the capacity to produce mold because of the presence of moisture and dirt located in a dark area inside of the air handler.

This can become an issue very quickly if not addressed. Mold spores inside of your ductwork can be distributed through your whole house every time the air handler kicks on.

If you have a musty smell coming from your vents or if you can identify mold around the vent, chances are your air handler is developed mold in it somewhere.
Two of the easiest things to check if you think this may be the case are the drip pan and the evaporative coils.

Condensation drip pans can get clogged , causing a buildup of moisture that can turn into mold and feed mold spores into the house via the duct.

Evaporative coils are the coils on an AC that absorb heat and cools it off with a refrigerant. In the process the coils produce condensation which which drips into a drainage pan.

Mold can start in the evaporator coils when the coils get dirty. At that point the AC has everything it needs to produce mold. Dirt, water, and darkness.

Checking and keeping the evaporative coils on the AC clean is one of the easiest things to do to avoid mold buildup inside of your HVAC.

Recap

An air purifier can help with mold because it will reduce the mold spores in the air. Which in turn will reduce the amount of chances that spores can come in contact with any moisture in the house and at the same time create less chances of breathing in mold spores which can be a source of allergies and a trigger to asthma.
Less Mold Spores traveling through the house also means less new outbreaks of mold.

But though an air purifier can be a very good device to use when you have an issue with mold, it is only a supplementive solution and will not do anything to fix the original problem causing the mold.

Finding the source of the mold, fixing the problem and cleaning it up, as well as drying the area out are all things that are needed to help control mold and mold spores.

Why Does My Room Smell Musty?

Musty is a word that is sometimes used to describe the feeling you get from a stale or a stuffy room. It’s usually a smell that you just can’t quite put your finger on, but you know that there is something that is not quite right. But in most cases that “not quite right feeling” is the presence of mold and mildew.

Why Does My Room Smell Musty?

A musty smell in a room is an indicator that you have moisture coming in somewhere that along with dirt or grime has become a source of food and nutrition for mold and mildew to take root. Mold can take root and grow very fast when given the right ingredients. A musty smell should be taken seriously as a warning that there is an issue with mold close by.

I’ve had a personal experience with this.

In my neighborhood there was an issue with heavy rains that washed over the curbs and went up the driveway and eventually seeped into the backdoor of the house.

It didn’t seem like much at the time so we really didn’t do too much about it besides put some towels down to soak up the water. And it was the very back of the house that doesn’t get a lot of traffic anyway.

A couple of months later I noticed a rotten smell coming from that area.

I pulled out a bookshelf that was in that corner and pulled up the edge of the carpet only to find that dark green and black mold had spread heavily underneath the carpet and had made its way all over the wall and the back of the shelf, including all the books on it.

It was pretty shocking to see how much the mold had taken over.

We had to take the carpet up and remove and replace the drywall on that side of the room.

Luckily the mold did not turn out to be the dangerous Stachybotrys or black mold.

All that to say that if you have a musty smell in your room, it’s a situation that you should take seriously.

Mold can do more destruction than you may be giving it credit for. And do it much faster than you may think.

Mold can also exasperate allergies and is known to be a trigger for asthma.

What you are looking for in your room when you have a musty smell is an inappropriate source of moisture.

According to the National Library of Medicine , Mold spores are practically everywhere and there is really no way to get away from them or keep them out of your house. But without an adequate source of moisture, they cannot grow and colonize into a problem.

So the fundamental thing you’re looking for in the case of a musty smell is moisture and the supply of that moisture.

Why Does My Room Smell Musty in The Morning?

What could be some reasons your room smells musty?

Wet carpet

Wet drywall
Window seals
Excessive humidity

Dew
Leaves
Moldy items in trash

Moldy food laying around
Mold inside of the HVAC duct work

1. Wet carpet

Remember that you are looking for the source of the moisture.

If you have wet carpet then the ideal is to figure out why it is wet.

Some reasons may be as simple as a soaking wet towel laying on the carpet or has there been a big spill that was not cleaned up?

If you have a large area that is damp, then there may be a leak that has sprung from a pipe beneath the flooring.

it will be worthwhile for you to peel the carpet back and make sure that your floor is not soaking wet beneath.

And if it is, you should make it a priority to have it fixed as soon as possible to avoid further damage and mold growth.

2. Wet drywall

It can be a smell can be coming from the walls if a pipe inside of the wall has busted. Examine the walls and see if you can find any areas where they are bubbling, swelling, or peeling which would indicate that moisture has gotten inside of the drywall.

3. Window seals

One area that moisture can get into the house easily is the windows. If the windows are not sealed properly, you can find moisture creeping in around the window. If it has been going on for a long time, you will also find the frame around the window rotting.

4. Excessive humidity

If you live in an area with a climate that is prone to high humidity, you may find that it is the humidity that is causing moisture to build up inside of your room. If this is the case, then mildew is probably showing up on your walls or ceiling somewhere.

This is the case in many basements. The level of humidity inside of the room causes condensation to build on the walls and create a natural food source for mold and mildew.

The best solution in that case is to use a dehumidifier to pull moisture out of the air so that it does not have a chance to become a problem in the form of mold.

5. Dew

Many people claim to be more concerned with the dusty smell in their house in the morning time.

That morning musty smell is usually associated with the moisture that develops in the air in the early morning hours.

It’s the moisture that is commonly known as dew.

Dew can help turn the volume up on the smell of mold and mildew in the morning.

6. Leaves

Leaves, specifically in the Autumn season can pile up in gutters and around the house and make an excellent environment for mold to take root. And once the mold has colonized inside of the leaves, any sort of rustling around caused by the wind or by kicking the leaves can unleash mold spores into the air.

7. Moldy items in trash

Sometimes a musty smell is coming from a moldy item that has been thrown away and just sitting there stinking. The trash can is one of the first places to look when you smell something musty in your room.

8. Moldy food laying around

Moldy food can cause a very pungent musty smell when it is laying out or in the trash can. Items like half eaten hamburgers and apple cores are best disposed of in the main kitchen area where the trash is taken out more frequently.
If you have a musty smell in your room, looking for any food that has been left out to mold is a good place to start.
Another place that you can find moldy musty smells is in the kitchen sink where the garbage disposal is. If the garbage disposal has not been cleaned properly in a while, you are liable to smell moldy food coming from there.

9. Mold in HVAC ductwork

If there is mold in your ductwork, you can be sure that it will be distributed throughout the house every time the heating or air conditioning comes on.

According to this study, mold can be commonly found inside of an air handler, specifically the wheel fan blades, the ductwork, and the cooling coil fins.

Another source of mold coming into the house through the ductwork is the evaporative coils. Dirty evaporative coils contain all the ingredients for mold to flourish and find its way inside of the house.

If you have a musty smell coming from your HVAC ductwork, cleaning the evaporative coils located on the outside section of your unit is a good place to start to reduce the volume of mold spores coming in.

Another trouble area for HVAC systems when it comes to mold is the drip pan. If the drip pan is not draining sufficiently, water can build up in the pan and become a source of mold.

Clearing any blockage from the drip pan to the outside drainage is also a good way to ensure that you do not have mold growing and coming in through your HVAC.

UV systems are often used to target areas like evaporative coils and drip pans so that mold does not have a chance to colonize and become a problem in your air quality.

Is There a Fan that Blows Cold Air vs. Just Air?

Is there a type of fan that blows cold air versus just plain air?

Not really. Once you add cold air to a fan, it basically becomes an air conditioner or an evaporative cooler.

An air conditioner is really just a fan that blows refrigerated air.

Albeit much more sophisticated than that since it it dehumidifies as it cools the air, but fundamentally the same.

And a evaporative cooler is a fan that blows air off of pads that are soaked in water.

Technically a fan is just a motor that has propellers attached to it to move air.
The temperature of the air that a fan is moving may seem to be cooler because of the wind chill effect that it is creating, but the temperature is the same going in, as it is coming out of a fan.

And logically once you begin to cool the air off any other way, whether it be through a refrigerant or damped pads,

you can no longer call it a fan because you have begun to condition the air with an outside element, which then makes it an air conditioner.

But whatever you want to call it, the point is to get some cool air on you when you’re hot.

DIY Air Conditioner

You have probably heard of DIY air conditioners that are basically fans that blow over ice, done with beer coolers.

If you want to take the time and put in a little more effort, this type of DIY fan/ AC is a excellent way to get a fan to feel like an air conditioner.

The ideal is to cut circular holes, a large one on top for a fan to blow into, and two on the sides to connect some flexible duct too. (This is done using a circular blade saw, the type that you use for a door handle, only much bigger. And a power drill.)
Connect connect the flexible duct to the hose that you cut on the sides using duct tape or aluminum tape.
Feel the beer cooler with ice up to the point of the flexible duct.
Plug the fan in and turn it on.
Enjoy the cool air coming off of the ice through the flexible duct.

your going to need a constant supply of ice as well as a cleaning schedule because you are looking at a recipe for mold when you combine a container of water with heat in a dark place.

Evaporative coolers work much like the DIY beer cooler air conditioners you see on YouTube.

They are usually window type air conditioners that have a water supply that keeps pads soaked with water as a fan blows cool air off of the water into the house.

Evaporative coolers or Swamp coolers have one major flaw, they increase the humidity in the room.

You’ve probably heard the saying” it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity”.

That’s because the humidity can make it feel much hotter than it actually is during the warm and hot months.

And it’s not an accident, that evaporative coolers have taken on the nickname ” swamp coolers. And thats because in the right conditions, an evaporative cooler can make a room feel like a swamp.

That’s not to say that there’s not a place for them, everyone likes the feeling of cool air coming off of the ocean or a lake.

But it’s all the same premise.

Portable Air Conditioner

Refrigerated Air Conditioners have the advantage of being used as a fan when you don’t need the colder air.

And the advantage of reducing the relative indoor humidity which can be at the source of the temperature inside of the house.

Recap

Are you looking for a fan that blows cold air like an air conditioner?

Unfortunately you’re not going to have too much luck with a fan blowing cold air like an air conditioner unless you can first cool the air off before the fan blows it.

Which is technically what an air conditioner is.

And evaporative cooler is a type of fan that blows air off of water which makes the air feel cooler. But this type a fan is also called a swamp cooler because of its tendency to fill the house full of moisture, making it feel like a swamp.

And since, the high humidity in warm weather is as much a factor in the heat, adding more humidity to the air it’s only going to make it feel that much more uncomfortable.

But if you’re just looking for a personal fan and want to make it a little cooler, they do make small evaporative coolers that feel just fine blowing on you whereas trying to cool down a whole house or room may make it feel balmy.

There are plenty of DIY solutions for making a fan blow cold air. Most amount to the same technique of blowing the air over ice or water.

A better solution is a small mobile refrigerated air unit. They will not only blow cold air, they will help reduce the humidity in the room at the same time.

The biggest downside is they have to be vented. So that means either using a window air conditioner or running the provided ductwork to a window or attic.

Can You Sleep With an Aromatherapy Diffuser On?

The benefits of aromatherapy essential oils range from a spiritual feeling of well-being to an all natural aid to reduce the symptoms of all types of illness.

But when are essential oils not considered a health aid but rather the opposite and even worse a hazard?

For instance, even though the effects of Lavender oil are known for its relaxation qualities and ultimately a sleep aid, should you sleep with a diffuser on?

Can you sleep with a aromatherapy diffuser on?

No. You should never diffuse more than 30 to 60 minutes at a time. Not only does Sleeping with a diffuser on, not increase the benefits of an essential oil, it can cause the body to stress, making your sleep less restful.

Although there are many natural calming effects that are experienced by breathing the aroma of certain essential oils like chamomile and sweet marjoram and could be considered an aid to fall asleep,

Superior Essential Oils

Can you leave a diffuser on overnight?

The continual breathing of essential oils while you are asleep does not provide any benefit and can rob you of the natural exchange of fresh air that you get through the proper use of essential oils in time intervals.

There are times however, that certain essential oils like eucalyptus could be beneficial to help you breathe better while you’re sleeping in the case of a chest or head cold when you are dealing with congestion.

A practical solution to this is to go the smart Wi-Fi scheduling diffuser route.
That way you can schedule the diffuser to come on once or twice throughout the night to mist the air with the medicinal breathing effects of essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint.

ASAKUKI Smart Wi-Fi Essential Oil Diffuser

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if you already have a diffuser but it does not have the smart capabilities of a Wi-Fi diffuser, an Smart Plug is a great way to schedule when power is going to the diffuser and turning it on and off as needed.

Sleeping with a diffuser on around pets

Many people are unaware of the danger of using some essential oils around their pets. Specifically essential oils that contain menthol.

Menthol is a strong scent for human beings. Multiply that by approximately 15 times and you can imagine how strong the smell of menthol can be for dogs.

Another type of inhalant similar to menthol that is used to assist with cold symptoms is an ingredient called camphor.

Camphor is the active ingredient in Vicks.

And there is, it turns out, this ingredient is toxic to dogs.

If you are using a diffuser with a menthol based essential oil including peppermint, tea tree oil, or eucalyptus,
Or the Vicks additive that comes with their warm mist vaporizer,

Be aware how these essential oils can affect your animals and give them a way out of the room in case it is too strong for them.

Another issue that animals can have with diffusers, specifically ultrasonic diffusers, is that they can emit a very high vibrating pitch that is unnoticeable by humans but can be very loud to a dog.

OliveTech Smart WiFi Essential Oil Diffuser

Voice Control
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Free Cleaning Kit

And on the subject of ultrasonic diffusers, being that they have a reservoir for water, the chance of mold and bacteria accumulating in the diffuser is much higher.

This is also an area where animals are sensitive and can be predisposed to getting bacteria, fungi, and parasites on their skin and develop dermatitis.

Poisonous

Essential oils can be poisonous if ingested. Though most animals are not going to eat something that they instinctively know is unhealthy, being that essential oils are derived from plants, the livelihood of a pet ingesting an essential oil maybe a little higher than otherwise.

Recap

Though many essential oils like lavender are known for their stress reducing and calming effects on the mind and on the body, a little can go a long way and must be used with discretion to get the best results and effectiveness from them.

Essential oils when inhaled, should be diluted somewhat and never breathe for more than 30 to 60 minutes at a time.

The exchange of fresh air with the scent of the essential oil is essential to the overall effect of the aroma.

Sleeping with a diffuser on does not give you the exchange of fresh air you need with the aroma to get the best possible effect nor does it affect your mood when you are already asleep.

Although it is true that some essential oils can be a great sleep aid to help you fall asleep, the continual smell of the essential oil while you’re asleep will not only not help you sleep better, it may even produce more stress and cause you to have a less restful sleep.

An easy solution if you are looking for a diffuser to help you fall asleep but not necessarily wanting to sleep with it on is a smart diffuser.

It’s true that every appliance you can imagine has a smart version that you can turn on and off with your phone or schedule when you want to use it has popped up lately.

But smart diffusers actually make a lot of sense when you’re talking about using them as a sleep aid.

If you already have a diffuser and are not shopping around for another one, scheduling electrical outlets are available that essentially do the same thing.
A smart plug can essentially turn any appliance into a smart appliance giving you the ability to schedule and check it on your phone anytime you want.

Pets and diffusers

Pets for many people are companions even when they are sleeping. But there are many essential oils that include menthol that are not safe for your animals to breathe and definitely not safe to ingest.

Another issue with diffusers and pets is that ultrasonic diffusers make a ultra high sound that can drive your animals crazy.

If you’re going to use a diffuser around your animals, leave them a doggie door or a way out so that they do not have to be in the vicinity.

Also: DIY Humidifier

Does a Michigan Basement have a Higher Potential for Radon?

What is a Michigan basement? A Michigan basement is basically an oversized crawl space. An area under the house that has been dug out to make room for storage. And most known for the location they stem from. You guessed it, Michigan.

Though they are not typically made large enough to be able to walk around in some people do put their washer and dryer there. Other major machinery and appliances that can be located in a Michigan basement for easier access include the water heater, the HVAC, and the electrical breaker box.

Access to plumbing underneath the house is also a reason people may dig out a larger crawl space beneath the house.

Michigan basements are rarely finished beyond cementing for breaking the walls so that the walls do not cave in. The floor it’s typically just left as dirt.

The climate inside of a Michigan basement is is damp and cool. For this reason the dugout crawl space is often used as a wine cellar.

A wine cellar needs to stay around the 45°, to 60° range and maintain a relative humidity of about 60%. That describes the climate inside of a Michigan basement pretty well.

As you can imagine, being that the floor in the Michigan basement is usually just dirt, it is easy for this type of basement to flood. Especially in heavy rain.

Sump pumps with radon mitigation and dehumidifiers are generally kept on hand to keep the area dryer during the rainy season.

Other drawbacks too keeping a Michigan basement is the exposure to Radon.

The air pressure in a home can perform like a vacuum pulling radon out of the soil beneath the house.
Digging out the dirt beneath the house for a Michigan basement adds to the danger of radon exposure.

Radon is an odorless gas that comes from soil and is the second leading cause responsible for lung cancer when exposed for long periods of time. A Radon test is the only way to know whether or not you have a problem.

Radon Barrier.

The environmental protection agency recommends covering the floor of a Michigan basement with plastic and venting the area outside underneath the plastic to avoid radon exposure.

The plastic sheeting could be as simple as your standard 6 mm polyethylene. But if you go with a contractor you will probably have to upgrade to a fire rated membrane. The plastic won’t stop the radon but it will cause the radon to travel through the path of least resistance. As long as there’s some type of exhaust fan at the edge, the result is good.

Insulating a Michigan basement is also a must to keep right on from leaking into the house. Spray foam is the easiest way to get around joist and makeshift walls.

If you find you have high levels of radon, then you may be looking at installing a radon removal system which could include pouring a cement slab over a radon guard insulation and a vapor barrier to keep the radon from leaking up and also providing a way to capture it.

Though all houses have the potential of radon coming Getting in, a home with a Michigan basement has a higher potential for Radon.

Homes with Michigan basement should test for Radon often and employ a radon mitigation system for her a radon abatement service to ensure that radon levels in your home are below the accepted safety standard of 4.0pCi/L

My Electric Space Heater Keeps Tripping the Breaker?

Having a electric space heater that keeps tripping the breaker is an exasperating problem.

Only this past winter my wife told me that the electricity going to her office at work keeps blowing and she’s losing her computer progress every time it happens.

When they finally figured out the problem, it turned out that she had put a space heater on her feet… Which seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to do if your feet are getting cold sitting at your desk all day.

But the problem was, it was plugged in on the same power strip as her computer, her printer, her coffee machine and her microwave.

Funny but not uncommon.

Space heater keeps tripping the breaker

When your electric space heater keep stripping the breaker, you can generally be narrowed down to two or three things that you can easily check out for yourself.

1. Overload

It’s combined with other appliances on the same circuit.

Space heaters use a lot of Watts. Almost every brand of space heater you can purchase is a 1500 watt unit.

That means that they cannot run on high at the same time as any other appliance or machine on the same plug is running at all.

Not only do they use a lot of energy, most of them surge when they come on.

Taking the heater off the combined outlet and plugging it in to its own dedicated outlet could be the solution you’re needing.

2. Heater going bad

Considering the amount of wattage, the typical space heater uses, if the heater has any loose connections, you can expect that it is simply getting too hot.

Things you can check:

1. Turn the heater down and run it on a lower temperature. If you’re still blowing the breaker, then your heater is malfunctioning.

1. Feel of the cord running to the wall while it is running. If it is getting hot. Your machine is malfunctioning.

Look at the outlet. If the plug looks melted or burned in any way, your heater it’s not working right.

If you have any of these issues, it’s time to get a new heater.

3. Extension cord

Since space heaters are a household item, most people do not give a second thought to plugging them into a extension cord to locate them to their most convenient spot.

The problem is not all extension cords
are rated to be able to handle the amount of wattage coming from a space heater.

If you have a space heater on a extension cord, you should be thankful that the breaker is blowing rather than the extension cord melting and catching a fire.

Though definitely not as convenient, putting the heater on a dedicated outlet without the use of a extension cord or power strip is the safest way to go.

4. The breaker itself

Breakers weaken and go out. Hello this is usually not the case, it is not impossible that the breaker itself needs to be switched out.
The easiest way to tell if this is the case or not is the plug the heater into another outlet in another room, and see if you’re still blowing the breaker.

Hopefully this helps to get you back to a safely running space heater or at least let you know that it’s time to replace it.

The main issue is that people rarely think about how many amps a electric space heater pulls. They tend to be viewed as an everyday item like any other appliance that you just plug in and go.

Unfortunately that is not the case with space heaters and though most people realize that you would have to put a washing machine or refrigerator on its own dedicated circuit, the same kind of consideration is not given to electric heaters.

In case you’re wondering, they decided to go with oil-filled heaters in my wife’s offices because of the surge and demand that the little electric space heaters were putting on their load.