Outdoor molds

Molds that grow outdoors are microscopic parts of plants that are called fungi. Outdoor molds grow on mowed grass, compost piles, decomposing leaves or vegetation, hay bales, and in humid shady areas. These tons of very lightweight spores become airborne and some become attached to certain types of plants, weeds and grasses. Molds tend to become a worse problem during the fall however, it is present all around in some places.

Avoiding airborne pollens and molds

• Keep the windows of your house closed during the mornings during the pollen seasons and avoid going outside during these times too.
• Ceiling fans and fans in general have a tendency to draw in molds and pollens so avoid using them during mold and pollen seasons.
• Stay away from damp woods and parks with lots of trees and grass. If you do exercise in the morning such as jogging or hiking, try changing your schedules especially on windy days when dust and pollens are floating around in the air. Remember to wear a protective mask with a HEPA filter if you are in an area with mold or pollen so as to keep the spores out of your nose and mouth.
• Have a person that is not sensitive to allergens mow the lawn, rake leaves, and do the gardening. If this is not possible, make sure to wear a mask with a HEPA filter, sunglasses, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt and pants.
• After doing gardening or having been in an area with pollen make sure to immediately change your clothes, wash them and take a shower (don't forget to wash your hair). Pollen sticks to everything and they have a special liking for clothes so take the necessary precautions immediately.
• It's best to avoid keeping a lot of plants in the house. There are some plants that are more dangerous though such as African violets because they grow on damp soil.
• There are cases in which a sensitive person can become affected by both perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis. When this happens, usually the perennial symptoms worsen during the seasonal pollen seasons. You may notice this if you have a pet in the house that doesn't normally cause you any allergic problems but during pollen seasons you might get a runny or stuffy nose or sneeze a lot.