ATTACK OF THE MOLD (oh no!)

Keri S.

January 22, 2010 - 12:15 AM

There are few things you look for in Eugene when trying to find an apartment. Personally, the priority list went like so: (1) affordability, (2) location close to campus, (3) cleanliness/upkeep of the appartment, (4) bonus features such as a dishwasher and washer/dryer. When I chose my first apartment last year, I lucked out and got most of the items on my list, and have someone managed to survive without a dishwasher or washer/dryer unit. The good news is I pay about half of what most of my friends pay and can walk to class in under ten minutes (five minutes if I power walk).

In the year and half I have lived here, I have had very few issues. Well...there was the time I got fleas two days after living here, the time I woke up to a pile of poop on my stairs and that other time that a creepy meth dealer knocked on my door wanting to come in...but those are stories for another time.

My latest and greatest story involves the invasion of mold into my apartment. Although it was never an issue for the first year, it suddenly has overtaken my apartment with its magical powers. I always think of mold as the stuff that grows on my month old bread (green and stinky), but this kind of mold is taking a new form and playing more of the silent-but-deadly approach. I never really considered it was an issue because I couldn't see the mold-if I can't see it, it can't be there, right? Wrong. To my best guess, the mold is either underneath my carpet or within the walls.

It all started over the summer when I had a mold outbreak. I took all the necessary steps and cleaned the visible mold off my walls and everything went back to normal. When I started living in Eugene for the school year again, I developed this sick-nasty cough that wouldn't go away. Four weeks later I decided to get it checked out and discovered I had pneumonia. After the pneumonia was cleared up, I was instantly diagnosed with a sinus infection. I am a generally healthy person and couldn't understand why I kept getting sick. From the moment I moved in until the moment I went home for winter break, I was having constant respiratory issues. But after 3 weeks of rest and relaxation away from Eugene, my problems were solved.

When I returned at the beginning of this term, I found myself instantly developing the same symptoms as before. Knowing something wasn't right, I headed to the health center where I was diagnosed with a mold allergy.

I decided to contact my property manager to hopefully with me on the problem and to try and eliminate the threat of further mold related sickness. Although as of right now it seems they are willing to work with me to solve this problem (like FINALLY replacing the broken seal on my window that I have been complaining about for six months), I also have some hesitation that they may not be totally convinced of my concerns. My property manager has told me they will investigate the issue, and re-paint my apartment if necessary. I hope this story has a happy ending, because I cannot afford to be sick during midterms once again. If anyone is a mold expert or has experienced a situation before, I welcome any comments on how to address and fix this problem!

I am looking forward to a fun and relaxing weekend. I will be going home to watch the dog while my parents go out of town. Hope to do a lot of research for my BA 453 and SBUS 452 projects and start applying for post-grad jobs! I will also be going to a bridal show with my sister to get ideas as she starts the first steps of planning her wedding.