With the east coast of Australia being hit with torrential rain over the past few weeks, health experts have warned about the dangers of Mould growing in humid conditions.

Health coach and organic wholefoods businesswoman Soulla Chamberlain, from Sydney, has experienced the effects ‘deadly’ black mould firsthand.

In January 2016 Ms Chamberlain started suffering from respiratory issues – including chronic sinusitis and an irritable cough – and two months later found thick mould growing in her wardrobe.

On her blog, she detailed how to keep your home and closet mould-free during humid and damp weather, such as by keeping the area well ventilated and make use of air conditioners or dehumidifiers.  

Registered nurse and anti-ageing specialist from The Wellness Group, Madeline Calfas, said mould can enter homes through a variety of pathways and grows in damp environments usually effected by water damage. 

Scientists warn against using bleach when removing mould as the harsh chemicals  simply masks the black spores, and recommend vinegar instead.

Professional cleaners also recommended using vinegar, eucalyptus and bi-carb soda, advised keeping the air-conditioning on at a cool temperature, and suggested using gloves and a face masks for safety while removing mould. 

One of the most productive ways of removing thick strands of mould on hard surfaces is with a solution of vinegar and water. 

You simply take 80 per cent vinegar and 20 per cent water and put it into three buckets.

Dip a microfibre cloth into the first bucket and clean a patch of mould, then rinse the cloth in the second bucket.

Rinse again in the third and repeat until all the mould is cleaned off.

But if the mould is too thick it must be removed by professionals.

Ms Chamberlain told FEMAIL she maintains impeccable health all year round and was stumped as to what was causing her to feel sick for two months. 

‘It was so strange and kept going back to my naturopath to see if she could determine what was wrong, but nothing helped,’ she said, adding how she thought it was due to stress and sleep deprivation.

‘I started going to bed the same time as my kids to get ten hours of sleep a night – but the more I slept, the sicker I became, leading to sleeping more often which created a cycle.’

It wasn’t until her two children started feeling sick that she decided to inspect the bedroom and found the massive growth of mould in a section of her wardrobe that was rarely opened. 

‘I was horrified – absolutely everything was covered in an inch of furry mould!’ she said. 

The wardrobe was filled with toiletry bags, black tie dresses, heels, leather jackets and jewellery, all of which had become covered in mould. 

Ms Chamberlain wondered whether the mould was causing the health problems, and her naturopath confirmed mould and chronic sinusitis go ‘hand in hand’.

The wardrobe was two metres away from the bed and impacted Ms Chamberlain and her children’s lungs after breathing in the toxins, causing the respiratory issues.

There were no signs of mould on the carpet, ceiling or walls and no other part of the house was affected.

Ms Chamberlain’s house in the eastern suburbs of Sydney is situated on a slope and is often impacted by flowing water on the side of the house when it rains.

Sydney itself is known for its humid environment and residents often make use of dehumidifiers and air purifiers to clean the air and prevent dampness.

But after realising the mould was causing the family’s health to decline, Ms Chamberlain made the fatal error of attempting to remove the mould herself with a cloth and eucalyptus oil – treating it like common household dust.

‘I didn’t know what to do so I tried to clean it but didn’t realise this was a huge mistake!’ she said.

‘I had no idea that mould needs to be cleaned in a very particular way; I sent black mould spores flying all throughout my house.

‘I felt lightheaded, and my symptoms got markedly worse.’ 

Admitting she was ‘flying blind’ and wasn’t sure whether she needed to move houses, she called a Building Biologist who arrived at her home with testing equipment for both the house and people.

Professional advice insisted she cleaned everything in the house and slept elsewhere until the issue was resolved.

‘We quarantined ourselves upstairs away from the master bedroom downstairs and I slept on a fold-out bed in my daughter’s room,’ she said. 

Ms Calfas, added how both chronic and long-term exposure to mould can have devastating effects on someone’s health by breathing in mould spores.

‘In the short term it can affect everything ranging from a constant runny nose, sinusitis, allergies, headaches, vision problems, sore throats, difficulty concentrating and rashes to name a few,’ she said.

‘Long term exposure can have an effect on bones and joints (you could develop fibromyalgia), thyroid issues, fertility issues, problems with your liver, even Legionnaire’s Disease.’

People who experience illness due to mould exposure are also at risk of developing an illness known as CIRS – Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. 

Thankfully Ms Chamberlain’s symptoms subsided after two weeks of avoiding her bedroom, which is a rare occurrence for those who have suffered from mould poisoning.

She said her health quickly bounced back as she maintained a healthy organic wholefoods diet and nourishes her body with enough nutrients, water, exercise and sleep – tapping into the eight foundations of health.

As she wasn’t exposed to the mould for a long period of time and had a strong ‘detoxification pathways’, Ms Chamberlain did not develop CIRS or any further long-term issues.

Several factors lead to the growth of the mould, including poor ventilation, poor drainage, dampness, leak in the roof, rainwater trickling down behind the walls adjacent to the master bedroom and moisture in the floors and walls.

After blogging about her experience, a man from France recommended the Young Living Thieves Essential Oil, which has been university tested to naturally kill mould from the body through a powerful combination of clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus radiata and rosemary.

She used the Thieves oils to rid the toxins from her body and the rest of her house, which she still uses today. 

To purchase Young Living products you need an existing Young Living account holder to connect you.

For further information contact Soulla Chamberlain by connecting on Instagram to arranging a wholesale account online.

After being inundated with messages through her blog from others who have also found mould in their home, she and Building Biologist Kelly Abeleven created a four-step mould protocol to educate people of what to do if in a similar situation.

First the source of the mould needs to be determined, which is often in an area of high humidity and moisture.

Then the area needs to be remediated in a particular way to remove the mould – which needs to be done by a qualified professional such as a building biologist. 

Next, create an ongoing dry environment by making use of de-humidifiers, air purifiers, ceiling fans and opening doors and windows

Finally, always ensure to detoxify the body from mould by using natural products, such as the Young Living Thieves essential oil, and consulting a GP or naturopath to push out all the toxins from the body.