Attacking Mold And Mildew with Essential Oils

The latest reports this morning indicated at least 8 inches of rainfall in Milwaukee last night. The amount of flood damaged homes is still unknown, and I am reminded of our previous home’s flooding years ago. Back then I didn’t use a diffuser for essential oils, and used bleach (as I was told by many) to clean up the mold that followed. I now know bleach is so harmful, essential oils can take care of the job effectively without harming the individuals using them. Whether you have a musty basement or fresh water damage, it is never too late to start diffusing essential oils into your home to purify the air. There are many studies showing that mold and bacteria cannot stand up to the power of essential oils which are naturally anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial.
Clove, cinnamon, peppermint and rosemary are some of the most powerful essential oils against mold and bacteria. The Young Living blend “Thieves” contains these four oils. A study at Weber State University showed a blend similar to Thieves killed 99% of bacteria in 12 minutes when diffused. Melaleuca, lavender, peppermint and thyme showed the strongest killing power against MRSA antibiotic resistant bacteria according to studies at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
Mold spores are everywhere, but they multiply quickly when exposed to water. Keeping mold in check first begins with getting your home dried out and keeping it that way. For any flood damage, contact a professional first for clean up. Mold and mildew breed anywhere there is moisture, so it is important to have your home cleaned up quickly and properly. In the mean time, diffuse your essential oils to start killing the existing mold spores and keep them from growing to large numbers. If you have a damp basement or crawl space, run a dehumidifier in the moistest weather and clean up excess water as soon as possible, using fans to keep air circulated. Studies show when ventilating air it is more effective to blow air out of the house, rather than bring outside air into the house. Unchecked, mold growth can cause serious physical symptoms including nausea, rashes, bloody noses, diarrhea, headaches and more. If you suspect serious mold problems in your home, do not attempt to fix it yourself. There are many qualified mold experts trained in properly cleaning dangerous levels of bacteria.
The best oils to diffuse to prevent mold growth are blends. Synergistic blends of oils are more powerful than the individual oils. These Young Living blends are powerful combinations to purify the air: Thieves, Christmas Spirit, Abundance and Exodus II. Many of the Biblical Oils are powerful against mold as well in particular Cassia. For the best effect, use a cold-air diffuser which does not heat the oils and destroy the anti-microbial properties. Completely avoid chemical air fresheners that are just masking mold and mildew odors. These are not killing bacteria and are filling your air with more harmful toxins in the form of chemicals. Diffusing essential oils can be the start to cleaning up your air after water damage or in a damp area. But the most important goal is to correct the cause of water damage.
When you enroll with Young Living for wholesale pricing as a distributor, there is no monthly quota to meet and you simply get the best pricing on their oils. The Start Living kits all include a coupon for 50% off a diffuser, up to an $80 value! The 2 newest diffusers are the Aria and TheraPro diffusers.