OOooooohhhhh! (That's a ghost sound...)
Duh dum... Duh Dum... Duh DUM. DUH DUM. DUH DUM DUH DUM... (That's the Jaw's theme song...)
It's slimy! It's gooey! It's gross! It's absolutely, positively putrid! AND, it's in our basement.
It's mold... Ahhhhh!
When Brian and I bought our house we were amazed at how clean and tidy the basement was. After all, you'd figure after 75 years of being a basement you'd be a bit rusty, dirty, perhaps have a few cobwebs in your corners too, but not this basement. It was spick and span...until we moved in...
Despite smelling a bit musty and damp (we figured that's what old basements smell like...), we were pretty content with our basement. Sure it could use a little work, sure we could probably utilize the space a bit better (it ended up as the store-all for everything we either a.) didn't unpack, or b.) didn't know where to put), but for the most part, our basement is ... a basement. Neither of us were overly concerned about the smell or the disorganization until we noticed that we were being taken over by a really, REALLY disgusting mold. (So gross that I won't even show you pictures close up.)
We're not quite sure how or where it started, or if it was there before we moved in, but it had to be taken care of, so we spent this weekend quarantining our basement items that were salvagable, getting rid of all the items that weren't, and sanitizing everything. I'm talking face masks, gloves, scrubbing on hands and knees from floor to ceiling and everything in between sanitizing. I'm not going to lie, it was not the funnest thing we've ever done but it had to be done, and so, we did it. (But not without burning a few nose hairs off in the process thanks to the 1:4 bleach to water solution that we mixed.) Plus, it was a good excuse to actually go through all the junk that we just threw down there when we moved in November!
We are now living amongst our clean basement items and are in the middle of determining our next plan of action to destroy the mold and prevent the growth of any new mold.
Stay tuned for the Attack of the Greenish-Black Mold Part II - When Humans Attack...
...Coming soon!
Reminds me of the 1959 movie THE BLOB, starring Steve McQueen
ReplyDeleteYou guys are such a hoot! You have certainly had your challenges living in an old house.
ReplyDeleteAnd, you're right, you have to get rid of that black mold. But what a GREAT job you're doing! Your house is well on the way to becoming the showplace of Upper Arlington! Love you guys, Gram
OOOoooohhhhhhh! (Still doing my ghost sound...) The Blob was my inspiration for this one, Grampy! I only wish I could add sound effects!
ReplyDeleteAnd there have been quite a few challenges but they have all been well worth it! I don't know about it being the show place, but it certainly suits us well!
Love you guys too!