I always hear of people looking to make “mold free” and I want to explain why that is not the goal. Every single environment, whether indoor or outdoor, is going to have a mold biome. This is 100% natural, normal, and healthy! You will never live in a mold free home. I will never live in a mold free home. It is unattainable and not the goal, anyway!
So what is the goal?
You want a home free of the most toxic mold species—fusarium, chaetomium, and stachybotrys. Beyond those, you want low enough counts of allergenic and pathogenic molds that your family can thrive and be healthy. You want a home that even the “sickest” member of your family is well in. And THIS is an achievable goal, though it is not always easy.
I have looked at hundreds of ERMI tests of homes throughout Southern California. In most mold groups, they comment on ERMI after ERMI and tell the person why they could never live in that home, they will be sick in that home, etc. and it can put you into major fight or flight. The reality is no home will ever be perfect—we want a reasonable biome that our immune system and nervous system will do well in! And this will look different for each person. I happen to be more sensitive than the average bear, so I need a lower mold count than most people would.
So again—a low/reasonable amount of mold, void of the most toxigenic species, is the goal! Then our nervous system can relax into a feeling of safety and our true healing begins.