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Post by shanieomaniac on Dec 7, 2021 6:15:25 GMT -5
So, it's time to face the facts. I have mold. I don't know for certain what type of mold it is yet but I've made some calls to get things tested. All I know is there is definitely a mold problem in here. No, it didn't flood. As it turns out there was a huge mold problem at my old apartment and I didn't realize the extent of it and, as a result, by simply transferring all my stuff to the new place, there's now mold here too. (Or, the mold could have already been here, I don't know. The apartment is in the same complex.) Anyway, I'm now faced with the situation that, before I take anything from here into a new place, I need to de-spore everything. This includes my figures. Any ideas from you guys on how I could start to prepare for this process? It's winter in PA so working outside really isn't happening, and I don't have a ton of other places I can do things. So for now this is more planning until I can find a temperature controlled environment elsewhere that I can clean everything.
But yeah. Any thoughts? Have any of you ever had to de-mold your stuff? I've already realized my books are goners and that my electronics are going to need professionally done. Mainly looking for advice on the figs here.
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TheXtremisT
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10 Year Member
This is the way
Joined on: May 3, 2008 8:03:15 GMT -5
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Post by TheXtremisT on Dec 7, 2021 6:25:05 GMT -5
That sucks balls. Are you using an air purifier with a HEPA filter? That will help limit your exposure to airborne mould.
Wash each figure with a toothbrush or similar larger brush, in warm soapy water and dry thoroughly.
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Post by RuthlessFigs on Dec 7, 2021 6:58:14 GMT -5
I had a bit of a mold problem earlier this year.
I moved into a new house in a different city in November 2020, and had my figures set up by early/mid December. A few weeks later into early January, I noticed they started getting this white somewhat fuzzy layer on them.
On some figures, it wasn't too bad, then others would almost be entirely covered. Not knowing initially, i just wiped it off with paper towel, but it'd come back again a few weeks later.
I eventually discovered a huge mold issue in a wardrobe and then realised there was a thin layer of it on my shelves, my bed frame etc... too.
I used White Vinegar to clean everything. I poured a bit into the bottle cap, dabbed a bit of paper towel in, and wiped the figures with that.
Then for the shelves & bed frame, i poured some into a spray bottle, sprayed, and wiped.
Thankfully my lease extension was only 6 months, so i was able to move out of that house in July. When i moved into my new house, i sprayed & wiped everything again, and i haven't noticed any mold like substance since. So i'm assuming the Vinegar must have worked, as as this house not already having a mold issue.
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Post by shanieomaniac on Dec 17, 2021 5:53:02 GMT -5
Hey, not that anyone asked, but I figured I'd post an update.
I have been informed that both my ex and my case manager have come down with *something*. Both of them have lost almost all their hair in less than 6 months as well as having breathing problems and been diagnosed with IBS. I have also been suffering all these symptoms, including being diagnosed with IBS. All three of us have had these symptoms strike in the last 6 months. I moved in here in May. The only other person who has been here in that period is my mother and she has so far been unaffected, but then she has the strongest immune system of anyone I've ever met, so who knows.
I'm now terrified that the problem is severe enough that I will lose EVERYTHING.
My parents are remodeling right now so I don't know if they'd be willing to store anything that's incoming. I've started to leave everything I get in the box it arrives in, wrapping it in plastic, and depositing it in the corner. I really don't know what to do but I've decided that I'm not going to buy anything more until I figure this ish out. I can only pray that the figures I want are still in-stock when it gets sorted.
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TheXtremisT
Main Eventer
10 Year Member
This is the way
Joined on: May 3, 2008 8:03:15 GMT -5
Posts: 3,870
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Post by TheXtremisT on Dec 17, 2021 18:36:11 GMT -5
Hey, not that anyone asked, but I figured I'd post an update. I have been informed that both my ex and my case manager have come down with *something*. Both of them have lost almost all their hair in less than 6 months as well as having breathing problems and been diagnosed with IBS. I have also been suffering all these symptoms, including being diagnosed with IBS. All three of us have had these symptoms strike in the last 6 months. I moved in here in May. The only other person who has been here in that period is my mother and she has so far been unaffected, but then she has the strongest immune system of anyone I've ever met, so who knows. I'm now terrified that the problem is severe enough that I will lose EVERYTHING. My parents are remodeling right now so I don't know if they'd be willing to store anything that's incoming. I've started to leave everything I get in the box it arrives in, wrapping it in plastic, and depositing it in the corner. I really don't know what to do but I've decided that I'm not going to buy anything more until I figure this ish out. I can only pray that the figures I want are still in-stock when it gets sorted. This is just some non-professional advice, but go get your thyroid hormones checked. Mold can exacerbate an under-active thyroid. IBS and hair loss are some of the symptoms. I've been through it myself, but without the hair loss. One reason your mom is doing fine is because of what you suspect. Normal people with strong immune systems can deal with this type of stuff. Mold can worsen existing immune problems. My reply may get deleted because this is a figure forum but definitely get your T3/T4 and TSH checked by a professional. |
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Post by shanieomaniac on Dec 17, 2021 20:57:59 GMT -5
Hey, not that anyone asked, but I figured I'd post an update. I have been informed that both my ex and my case manager have come down with *something*. Both of them have lost almost all their hair in less than 6 months as well as having breathing problems and been diagnosed with IBS. I have also been suffering all these symptoms, including being diagnosed with IBS. All three of us have had these symptoms strike in the last 6 months. I moved in here in May. The only other person who has been here in that period is my mother and she has so far been unaffected, but then she has the strongest immune system of anyone I've ever met, so who knows. I'm now terrified that the problem is severe enough that I will lose EVERYTHING. My parents are remodeling right now so I don't know if they'd be willing to store anything that's incoming. I've started to leave everything I get in the box it arrives in, wrapping it in plastic, and depositing it in the corner. I really don't know what to do but I've decided that I'm not going to buy anything more until I figure this ish out. I can only pray that the figures I want are still in-stock when it gets sorted. This is just some non-professional advice, but go get your thyroid hormones checked. Mold can exacerbate an under-active thyroid. IBS and hair loss are some of the symptoms. I've been through it myself, but without the hair loss. One reason your mom is doing fine is because of what you suspect. Normal people with strong immune systems can deal with this type of stuff. Mold can worsen existing immune problems. My reply may get deleted because this is a figure forum but definitely get your T3/T4 and TSH checked by a professional. Huh. I wonder if it means anything that my mother is on medication to raise her thyroid.
Will have to do research.
Oh, and as one more update, we found where the mold was hiding today. It's caked inside the walls and ceiling and has (from what I understand) spread to the surrounding apartments. I have a horrible feeling this whole building is going to have to be torn down.
I got my second RSC haul today from BF/CM season. I did open the box long enough to make sure everything was OK, but the only figure I removed from package was Trish as her box was beyond mangled and had tears in it. The rest of the figures, however, are still sealed and went back in the big box and the box resealed.
Hopefully they will be ok.
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Post by screech on Dec 18, 2021 14:10:42 GMT -5
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Post by shanieomaniac on Dec 18, 2021 16:51:47 GMT -5
I know this is for the meme but I am literally in bed praying every night for a total-loss electrical fire. My insurance covers fire. It doesn't cover this. That said, I don't even know if my insurance would replace everything. I could probably re-buy all of the wrestling figures just fine but some of my Doctor Who figs and a bunch of my Buffy figs you just can't get anymore. And that's not even counting the trading cards. I have a couple low-print trading cards, plus a 1/1 Road to Wrestlemania printing plate that it would be a shame if something happened to them. Plus my three master card sets. I dunno. I really just don't know. |
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champofakind
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Posts: 2,667
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Post by champofakind on Dec 19, 2021 1:31:22 GMT -5
What kind of mold is it? Is it black mold or a common household type?
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Post by shanieomaniac on Dec 19, 2021 6:58:22 GMT -5
What kind of mold is it? Is it black mold or a common household type? I haven't gotten a peak at what's in my apartment myself (only my mother has) but the guy upstairs says his apartment has massive amounts of black mold in the ceiling. And considering we now suspect that the upstairs mold problem started downstairs, yeah. Probably black mold.
That said, I've been doing an absurd amount of research lately (on nights like this when I can't sleep) and everything reputable I read says that black mold is just another type of mold and that, technically, all mold is bad. That said, the multitude of articles I read state that Mold Toxicity is largely a myth, which is consistent with my doctor telling me that "If you think you've been exposed to mold you need to contact an allergist", so I have no clue what's going on.
Said articles however also state that, outside of porous surfaces such as fabric and paper, mold contamination can usually be fixed pretty easily once they are removed from the environment. So I'm back to the point of "Everything is fine except the cloth goods".
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kinnikuman
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Post by kinnikuman on Dec 19, 2021 9:58:50 GMT -5
Sounds like a class action lawsuit ... if the landlord knew.
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