How to identify hidden mold in your home with Michael Rubino

Michael Rubino, aka The Mold Medic, joins Thyroid Strong Podcast to discuss how to overcome poor air quality and create a safe home environment. Michael is the leading expert on all aspects of mold, remediation, and air quality. We talk about how to get started if you suspect mold in your home, how to find a great remediator, and Michael’s top product recommendations.

Key Takeaways
Someone who has Hashimoto’s is likely to be a lot more sensitive to mold than someone without it. Michael shares easy visual inspections that you can do around your house and highlights possible places where mold can hide. He lists his go-to sampling strategies, including collecting dust, to test for toxins and abnormalities. He also details what to look for when building a team of experts to help you remediate and remove mold from your home.

About Michael Rubino
Michael Rubino has become a renowned leader in the mold and remediation space. President of HomeCleanse, formerly known as All American Restoration, and author of The Mold Medic: An Expert’s Guide on Mold Removal, Michael continues to push the conversation forward for creating better indoor air quality. He is also a council-certified Mold Remediator by IICRC and ACAC and a contributing member, sponsor, and speaker for the Indoor Air Quality Association.

Hidden In Plain Sight: How To Inspect For Mold In Your Home
The air that you breathe is essential for your health and wellbeing, especially if you have an autoimmune condition. One of the first places that Michael checks for mold is in toilet tanks. Other water-based appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and coffee makers are common breeding grounds for mold. When was the last time that you checked your HVAC system filter? We all love having heating and cooling in our homes, but it’s a major way for mold to spread.

Finding The Right Solution For You
A lot of people turn to bleach when they see mold in their home, but Michael recommends using botanical products and hydrogen peroxide instead. If you want to go deeper, Michael details a couple of different sampling strategies that a good mold inspector would use and explains what to look for in a professional remediator. He talks about the next steps and shares why it’s so important to find a bespoke solution that matches your budget and end goal.

In This Episode
Emily asks Michael, “where should someone start if maybe they’re suspecting water damage and mold is a factor in this bigger picture of having an autoimmune condition?” [ 1:52 ]

Recommendations for HVAC air filters. [ 9:58 ]

How to Clean Mold. [ 13:55 ]

Science behind the dust test. [ 21:43 ]

Emily asks Michael, “How would you find a good remediator? What kind of questions would you ask?” [ 27:37 ]

Emily asks Michael a couple of rapid fire questions, including his top air filter recommendation, how he feels about humidifiers, and if HEPA vacuums are a necessary household item. [ 39:53 ]

Michael shares his final thoughts and message to anyone struggling with mold exposure. [ 47:16 ]

Quotes
Just relying on visuals and smell is not always enough to really determine what’s going on.[ 20:13 ]

There’s nothing that you can just spray and pray. You have to remove the carbon footprint that’s left behind by whatever you’re trying to remove. [33:48]

Timestamps:
00:00 - Mold grows within 24 hours of water damage
05:00 - What to look for when you’re doing a visual inspection of your home
09:00 - Hidden mold in your HVAC and HVAC filters to filter mold
14:45 - Can I use bleach to kill mold
21:53 - Not all molds smell or give off an odor
24:10 - The differences between the dust test and ERMI test
38:00 - Should I fog my home after mold remediation
45:40 - Best air filter for mold
52:00 - How to clean mold in my home

Resources Mentioned:
Intellipure Super V Ultrafine Whole House Air Cleaner: https://www.themoldmedic.com/product/...

Michael Rubino Info:
Instagram:   / themichaelrubino  
TikTok:   / themichaelrubino  
Website: https://www.themoldmedic.com/
Change The Air Foundation: https://changetheairfoundation.org/

Follow Dr Emily Kiberd:
Thyroid Strong Website: https://dremilykiberd.com/
Instagram:   / dremilykiberd  
Facebook:   / thyroidstrong  
Twitter:   / dremilykiberd  
TikTok:   / dremilykiberd  

Blog related to mold: https://www.dremilykiberd.com/how-to-...

If you’re looking to lose weight with Hashimoto’s: https://www.dremilykiberd.com/weight/

If you’re looking to beat the Hashimoto’s fatigue: https://www.dremilykiberd.com/fatigue/

If you want to learn more about 3 things NOT TO DO in your workout if you have Hashimoto’s and WHAT TO DO instead: https://www.dremilykiberd.com/strong