Conclusions  (tentative)

bibs for sleeping bags clearing fouled air cleaning sleeping bags cleaning clothes differentiating between sources experimenting quit using sleeping bags?

[1/15/15] The following are tentative conclusions made as part of my current strategy against Mr. Mold.  Some of these conclusions may seem strange or trivial.  However,  in a successful strategy for semi-mold avoidance,  getting a single minor thing wrong can result in failure,  and can be very discouraging.  In my case,  a great deal of time and effort was wasted because these conclusions were not yet possible.  I was just guessing,  and was often wrong.  The following are at least carefully considered conclusions,  often with considerable experience  (that doesn't mean they're correct).
My long-time preference is to sleep in sleeping bags.  My sensitivity to mold has necessitated the protection of the upper end of the bag from developing mold,  both on top and bottom,  as my breath  (and occasionally my  'drooling')  provides the necessary moisture for mold growth.  Experimenting with different materials suitable for this protection,  which I call a  'bib',  has consumed a significant portion of my attention,  time,  and effort in avoiding night-time mold.

[1/24/15] Bibs on my sleeping bags are composed of 2 separate items;  an outer item of clear 'food-grade' plastic which should by itelf not support mold growth,  and which catches my sputum or 'drool' when this happens.  Underlying this plastic is a thin white laminate material composed of smooth vinyl on the outer side  (facing the plastic)  and a polyester backing adhered to the vinyl.  This white material serves to protect the sleeping bag from condensation which would otherwise often accumulate as consequence of the plastic layer.

• The outer bib item is clear  'food-grade'  plastic;  2 different sources of plastic have been used depending on how they fit the particular sleeping bag
  • the larger plastic item is from a 2 1/2 gallon  'slider'  bag made by  'Hefty';  the bag is then cut on 2 sides, producing a piece of plastic about 16 1/2 inches by 28 inches;  this item  (for me) must by cleaned on the side facing me,  or I get a quite offensive chemical smell.  Cleaning consists of first agressively scrubbing the plastic with cleaning liquid using a  'scraper'-faced sponge.  The cleaning liquid is hot water,  with some gentle hand soap in it  (enough to create bubbles),  and 1/2 of a 500 MG Vitamin C tablet,  crushed and well-mixed (counters the chlorine) with the water.  This cleaner is then scrubbed off the plastic with a separate  'scraper'-faced sponge from a separate container of hot water containing only the other 1/2 Vit C tablet.  The plastic is then dried off with a paper towel,  and typically hung to thoroughly dry. To avoid contamination of the plastic items:
    • The sponges are used only for the above purposes
    • A separate piece of plastic sheet is laid down to treat the plastic pieces  (used only for this purpose)
    • All of the paper towels used are then discarded
    • When finished, the sponges are then dried and stored such they won't be used for anything else
      
      
  • A slightly smaller plastic item used occasionally is from a 2 gallon  'Freezer'  bag from 'Ziploc';  also cut on 2 sides to produce a piece of plastic about 16 1/4 inches x 26 inches. This item also needs to be cleaned before using  (cleaned as above)
  • When these plastic items become fouled from drooling and sputum, they are thrown away and replaced. Attempting to clean these items  (by hand)  has proven to be ineffective although the plastic looks clean.  One must be very careful not to contaminate these items with anything from the previous item.
    
    
• The inner item  (next to the sleeping bag)  is a laminate of vinyl and polyester;  white on both sides.  This laminate is commonly used to make babies' bibs,  and is obtained from Etsy.  Though it is advertised as having no chemical smell issues,  I must treat the side facing me to avoid a highly irritating smell.  The material is washed as supplier recommends,  using standard laundry detergent.  This laminate material can be re-washed a number of times as necessary.  Re-washing is expected to be rare,  considering my external plastic protection
• These items are attached to the sleeping bag with safety pins,  'rolling'  the combination of plastic and white laminate over the top lip of the sleeping bag to protect the bag both on the outside and the inside of the upper end

                             to top

[1/23/15] I am experimenting with eliminating or better dealing with sputum or 'drool'.  An experiment to use a paper towel located strategically to catch the liquid was abandoned in the recognition that paper is a primary food for mold,  and with the addition of moisture in my breath,  mold will be quickly growing  (spores are always present).  Consequently,  paper does not belong in my sleeping compartment.  Sleeping on my back produces no  'drool',  but is uncomfortable for long periods of time.

One must be very careful not to permit accumulations of material  (like drool)  on the bibs.  A very small amount will support some mold growth,  given that the other conditions necessary  (moisture and temperature)  are perfect for most indoor mold growth.  When this happens,  fresh bibs must be prepared.  Attempting to clean them,  for me,  has been a failure.

[1/25/15] A tentative decision has been made to switch to sleeping mostly on my back,  and variations from that position such that my head is never less than about 45 degrees from the horizontal.  This means that there should never  (almost?)  be saliva/sputum/drool come out of my mouth onto any fabric.  It has just proven too difficult to prevent such emissions if sleeping on my side is permitted.  This will likely mean some mental adjustment time for me as sleeping on my side is a preferred position.  However,  I have found that habits can be broken,  and this one seems important to break.  Sometimes these changes are easier to make than anticipated,  and create new opportunities.

If successful,  this will significantly simplify the process of sleeping at night without generating mold.  It reduces the number of articles one must monitor for mold,  and therefore makes finding the culprit simpler when mold is produced.  My previous concern about discomfort of sleeping on my back can be partially helped by an increase of foam under my tailbone,  which presently sinks to the plywood while sleeping on my back.

This change should reduce the number of bibs on a sleeping bag to a single one on the upper portion of the sleeping bag.  I like this change;  it simplifies things,  and makes experimentation easier.

The above intention to sleep entirely on my back was not working well.  I was too uncomfortable not to change positions during the night.  Consequently,  I am experimenting with using a single piece of food-grade plastic  (1/2 of a regular-sized bib)  as a  'catch-basin'  for my drool/sputum.  I maneuver it to lie under my mouth to catch such moisture,  and will clean it every day,  perhaps.

[2/15/15] The simple suggestion,  found online,  that a person elevate his/her pillow some to allow more efficient airflow through the nostrils seemed helpful in making sleeping on my back more comfortable.  Also,  the addition of foam mostly eliminated a sore tailbone.  So sleeping on my back now seems successful,  and simplifies detecting where toxins from mold or bacteria come from.

My trailer house is divided into separate rooms;  mostly for efficient heating.  One special space is a sleeping compartment built inside my main bedroom.  This compartment allows me to measure and control temperature and humidity during sleeping hours,  and typically confines  'bad air'  to this space when a significant mold event occurs.  Mold events result in the contribution of spores,  and/or secondary toxin remnants and vapors to the air load.  My experience has been that this fouled air must be replaced,  the sooner the better.  If it is done sooner,  a special HEPA vacuuming has seemed unnecessary.

An outside window has been installed at one end of the sleeping window. This window facilitates quick cleanout of fouled air by placing a fan in the window blowing air to the outside.  This permits fresh outside air  (from a separate window)  to be sucked into the other end of the compartment.  This means a satisfactory exchange of air can happen in about 15 minutes,  and can therefore be done during the night if necessary,  for a  'reboot'  of my sleeping quarters.

A fan  (small barrel fan)  mounted in the side of the compartment constantly runs during my sleeping time,  assuring a minimum flow of air through the compartment.  Should a mold event continue for a while,  the remainder of the bedroom will become fouled because of the air movement from this fan.  Air replacement in the rest of the bedroom can be accomplished by using 2 portable fans;  letting one fan push air out an exterior window or door,  and going around the bedroom with the other portable fan,  blowing air toward the first  (exhaust)  fan.  Typically,  another exterior window is opened to let fresh air be sucked into the room as the bad air is exhausted.  Fifteen minutes of this type of activity has proven pretty effective in freshening the air such that the presence of toxins cannot be detected.

[1/25/15] When a sleeping bag has acquired mold and starts producing spores,  my approach is to clean the bag by washing it in a large  'front-entry'  heavy duty washing machine by itself,  using the OxyClean Stain product.  All bibs will have been removed before washing.  Two additional wash cycles using normal laundry detergent will then be used.  The bag will then be dried,  and hung to  'air out';  preferably for several days.  This process has been tried successfully on a heavy sleeping bag.

[1/24/15] It seems that as time has passed in my  'mold-sensitized'  evolution,  I have become more sensitive to mold that is on and in my clothes.  Previously,  either I didn't recognize the symptoms associated with the presence/release of toxins from clothes,  or my immune system was more effective at preventing mold incursions.  Presently,  controlling the level of mold and eliminating dead mold from my clothes is pretty important in my feeling of well-being.

A problem implied above is that if the mold is killed in the washing but not rinsed out of the garment,  it then gives off secondary toxins when one wears it.  From my experience,  this form of toxin is not as severe as the toxin stored on spores,  but seems to continue being off-gassed from the garment longer than one can stand.  Hence,  my practice now is for a load of wash that is intended to kill mold  (using OxyClean Stain),  that wash is followed up with 2 more regular  (regular detergent)  washings to remove as many mold fragments as possible,  before the drying cycle.  The secondary toxins given off apparently come from decay of dead mold fragments by bacteria.  In the decaying process,  biotoxin that was stored in the cell walls of the mold is released.  My personal term for this form of the toxin is secondary toxin.

Presently,  3 different classes of clothes are used;  each gets different treatment

• clothes for sleeping in my special sleeping compartment
• inside non-work clothes (working on the computer,  cooking,  reading,  watching TV,  etc.)
• outside and inside work clothes

Previously,  only the clothes for the sleeping compartment ever were treated to kill mold.  Now,  the inside non-work clothes also get the same treatment,  or I would be accumulating toxins in my system.  Also,  I would be substantially irritated at the smell/effect.  Recently,  I mostly quit using chlorine-based bleach to kill mold,  and have changed to using OxyClean for a kill.  The idea of not trying to kill mold chemically is appealing,  but I can't afford new clothes all the time,  and to kill and remove the mold seems like the only practical alternative.  Mold simply builds up in my clothing.

Simple washing with standard detergents would be preferred,  as it would be a way of physically  (as opposed to chemically)  controlling mold content.  However,  simple washing does not seem to get enough mold out;  even in thin garments like tee shirts,  some mold remains,  and is then quickly growing and sporulating.  Even with using OxyClean  (apparently effectively),  my present approach is to wear thinner,  layered clothing,  so washing is more effective at killing and removing the mold.

My work clothes are only washed with standard detergent,  and only when they get dirty.  When working,  I move around enough that exposure to spores and secondary toxins don't seem to bother me.  It's when movement stops for 1/2 hour or more that a mold effect is noticed.

[1/26/15] In the beginning stages of a mold attack,  it can be very difficult to tell what the source type is.  Consider,  as an example,  an attack in my special sleeping compartment.  In this example,  for me there are 3 possible sources  (anitgens)  of the attack

• mold spores
• secondary toxins (from decaying mold)  and associated VOC's
• other chemicals

Typically,  when mold begins to sporulate and release its spores into the air,  I feel a burning sensation on the roof of my mouth.  Occasionally,  a tingling in my arms  (and other odd sensations)  even precede the burning  (inflammation?).  If this is an aggressive attack,  the burning sensation will increase rapidly and within 5 - 10 seconds,  one will recognize the toxin source as mold spores.  I typically remove myself from the situation  (or remove the offending fabrics)  as soon as the source is determined to be spores.  Else,  I will quickly develop a headach and fatigue.  I have found menthol-based cough drops to be effecting in reducing the immediate symptoms of these attacks.  It is my experience that the toxins associated with mold spores have more severe effects,  both short and long-term,  than those for secondary toxins  (toxins released from mold cell walls).  I do not know if they have a different chemical formulation.

With secondary toxins and their associated chemicals,  the sensation can be a similar burning,  but for me the sensation covers more of the roof of my mouth,  and usually never becomes as intense as with toxins from spores.  Depending on the fabric,  secondary toxins can continue to be released for hours,  at almost the same rate.  Say one is wearing a flannel shirt that has had the mold in it killed,  and now the mold is deteriorating.  In this case,  the secondary toxins will typically be detected as soon as one puts the shirt on,  and will be sensed,  not as a burning in the mouth,  but as a  'heavy'  sensation;  in the chest and maybe in the head.  If the sensation is much at all,  the shirt will need to be re-washed to remove more of the dead mold.  The mold deterioration does not seem to happen until the shirt is worn,  and body heat gets the bacteria working.  If we are not careful,  we can continue to absorb toxins from such a shirt for at least a half a day,  maybe much longer.  That results in more toxin that I want in my system.  As with the toxins from mold spores,  menthol-based cough drops are effective for me in partially countering the symptoms of secondary toxin/VOC exposure.

The third group identified in the list above is a rather broad group,  and its symptoms and effects on us will likely differ substantially by person.  For myself,  a sensitivity to other chemicals  (widely termed MCS - Multiple Chemical Sensitivity)  was acquired over several years,  and seemingly was related to my use of chlorinated bleach to kill mold.  I was using too much of the bleach  (soaking fabrics for 4 hours or so in strong solutions),  and not rinsing  (by repeated washings)  the bleach/chlorine smell satisfactorily from the fabric after treatment.

The presence of offensive chemicals separate from those from mold spores and secondary toxins,  etc. are often detected by smell,  though the initial symptom for me is very similar to that for secondary toxins.  I sense a burning in the roof of my mouth,  and this sensation slowly expands thoroughout my mouth and commonly into my throat.  It can continue and affect my teeth and gums.  Often,  chemicals will have an associated odor,  though often the odor is not recognizable;  just unique and irritating.  For me,  once I get away from the source,  the recovery is quick;  there seems to be no toxin established in my system to modify my body chemistry.  I have found that antacid tablets are effective in helping counteract these symptoms.  Continuing to permit the offensive exposure to the chemical can make me nauseous,  congested,  and give me a headache.  In this case,  symptoms can be harsh,  and one really does not know what the long-term effects are,  even if the symptoms quickly go away.

[1/24/15] Experimenting with things hopefully leads us to some conclusions,  though those conclusions may be tentative and may become obsolete.  But the process of experimentation is an important one in developing a successful strategy in a mold-sensitive situation.  In this situation, we are dealing with a powerful entity that we can't see,  that has been an effective enemy for all of human existence,  and whose primary function is to disrupt all organic life and reduce it to dust (humans included).  We could use knowledgable medical help that most of us are not getting.

Our experiments won't be quite like those we are commonly aware of in science.  Mold's effect on us is much too complex for this approach.  We need a higher-level approach;  we need practical answers that appear to be correct.  If they turn out to be wrong,  we'll adjust as we go.  But we need the best answers we can get;  and quick.  We need the process that gives us the best possible chance at a good answer;  giving us confidence that the process will get us there.  And that it will help us develop that successful strategy that we need against our mold sensitization.

Excess complexity is actually part of the problem for the medical community in dealing with mold allergies or mold sensitization.  The problem cannot be solved such that the answer applies to all who have become sensitized.  This because there are so many different molds,  and each person's reaction is different.  To find a universal solution is pretty much impossible.  That is why your doctor may advise you  "You are on your own"  when told about your mold sensitization problem.  This is not an insensitive doctor;  he/she is being honest.

So we break the problem down to our individual levels.  I have to find what works only for me,  based on the specific mold(s) to which I have become sensitized,  and under my specific living conditions.

[1/21/15] Here is an example of one kind of experimentation;  a personal example that will illustrate the process.  This happened just 2 1/2 hours before this writing,  so it is fresh in my mind.  At about 2:06 am,  a sense of a mold attack started coming;  a very slight burning sensation in the roof of my mouth,  slowly increasing in intensity.  The first attack came and went;  at least the sensation quit.  Then it came again in the same form,  and I felt that  "There is a mold source here;  what is it?"

A paper towel had been placed under my head such that it would catch any  'drooling',  and it was noted during the night that I did have some minor drooling and that the paper towel had caught it.  So this paper towel was my first suspect,  and it was thrown out of the sleeping compartment.  A fresh paper towel took its place.  I then lay back down,  confident that I had found the mold source.  The mental explanation came that the paper towel didn't even have to wait for my sputum/drool to begin growing mold.  The paper towel was perfect mold food in itself,  coming from trees,  and being composed of cellulose.  All the paper towel needed was the moisture in my breath,  which it got when I first lay down to sleep.  This was an obvious answer;  why hadn't I thought of this before?  I just need to change paper towels when getting up about half-way through my sleep.

Except that now I'm getting the same mold effect again;  just as before.  The mold source is something else.  Perhaps the drool got onto my top pillow (a gallon ziploc bag filled with fabric).  So I threw the top pillow out,  not confident that this was the answer.  'My'  mold just doesn't develop that fast.  But it is easy to try.

Well,  that wasn't it.  The mold effect came back within about 5 minutes,  just as before.  Now,  I take a menthol-based cough drop to stunt the effect of the spores/toxins.  I will still feel a new attack as an increased burning sensation in the roof of my mouth.

Next possiblity to try is my tee shirt;  made of 100% polyester,  and having the collar cut out so all of the garment is quite thin and easy to get clean.  So,  the existing tee shirt was replaced with a fresh identical one.  The old tee was placed in the wash basket,  covering it with a piece of nylon to keep any continuation of spores out of the air.  The tee shirt being replaced has been worn for at least a week  (at night only);  it is believable that this is the source of mold.

Back to bed,  and lie in the same position to see if the mold attack continues.  It does.  The tee shirt wasn't the problem.  Maybe it's the nylon  'shell'  (actually a coat)  that is worn over the polyester tee,  both for warmth and for protection of the sleeping bag from sweating moisture that might seep through the tee shirt.  So I get back up and place the  (possibly)  offending nylon shell outside on the porch to chill out.  Then I put on a  'backup' nylon shell,  and go back to bed.  I refresh my cough drop since I'm starting to have had about all the mold attack I can stand.

I lie there for about 15 minutes,  waiting for a recurrence of the mold attack.  It doesn't come.  Except that now it seems to be starting again.  Just an increase in burning,  at which time it occurs to me  "Damn! Maybe its the sleeping bag itself".  That is probably the next logical possibility.  Except that the burning now subsides and I reason that the air has become an inconsistent mixture of bad air and good air,  circulated by the filtering machine which is constantly running in my sleeping compartment.

So the apparent mold source is the nylon shell,  which will be re-washed,  and re-worn.  It's a believable mold source,  and removing it seemed to solve the problem.  We'll probably find out tomorrow night.  Time to get up,  and I've had enough mold exposure for one time.

A final thought.  We have a tendency to forget about all the spores/secondary toxins/VOC's,  etc. that are emitted by the mold source,  but that do not enter our nostrils and cause a mold attack.  All of these offending particles or gases keep accumulating in the air as our experiment goes on.

And a note:  this particular experiment had to come to an end,  whether it lead to a solution or not,  because:                             to top

• The accumulated spores/secondary toxins/VOC's,  etc. from a continuing mold event will tend to foul up the experiment;  i.e.,  will lead us to wrong conclusions
• Each recurrence of the mold attack  (as we eliminate possible offending items)  takes a hit on our body
  • we want to limit the amount of toxins we permit into our system;  at some level,  they may further damage our immune system
  • we become less able to detect what is actually happening;  we become dull;  we become numb

A very similar experiment will likely happen again within several days to continue the search for dependable fabrics and treatments in this  semi-"mold avoidance"  strategy.
A sleeping bag seems now to be a distinct mistake for a mold-sensitive person sleeping in the winter season.  This because even if both sleeping bag  'cover'  and  'content'  is polyester-based  (resistant to mold growth),  over a little time  (say a month)  the content will become contaminated with particles which will support mold growth  (dust mites,  skin cells,  ant and spider remains,  etc.).  Mold will then grow colonies in this material,  entwining its hyphae thoughout the insulation material,  and producing biotoxins via spores.

When mold growth and toxin production begin to bother,  washing the sleeping bag in a normal laundry detergent will rid the bag of some of the mold,  leaving some mold tentacles entiwined and still alive.  Not all of the dirty stuff will be eliminated either.  Consequently,  the remains of the mold colony will quickly revive,  and return to producing spores and toxins.

If,  instead of washing with a normal laundry detergent,  one uses a  'bleach'  or something like OxyClean to kill the mold,  all of the mold may well be killed.  However,  not all of the dead mold fragments can seemingly be washed/rinsed from the sleeping bag material.  Some of the entwining mold hyphae will remain.  Bacteria will then digest this dead mold material,  releasing biotoxins stored in mold hyphae cell walls.  These toxic materials  (including VOC's and biotoxin fragments in aerosol form)  are not only toxic to one's body as is,  but also seem  (in my experience)  to be used by the bacteria to permit it to get by one's immune system,  just as did your special version of mold.  So now you have both mold  (when it recovers)  and bacteria resident in the sleeping bag producing biotoxins which can evade your immune system.

Additionally,  if one purchases a sleeping bag manufactured in China or South America  (much cheaper but otherwise quite good quality),  one risks gaining new forms of bacteria and mold gaining entry to the bag during the manufacturing  (or other)  process.

Rather than using a sleeping bag in winter months,  one should sleep in a heated compartment,  and use sheets/blankets thin enough to be cleaned entirely of mold during normal washing,  and which can be inspected visually  (the color white helps)  to detect offending microbes,  and monitor their development. A tentative conclusion. If, when experiencing significant intake of biotoxins, you also experience your body crying out for water; reward it with water; just about all it wants. This (a tentative conclusion) is likely a good sign that your body is recognizing the foreign invaders, and is manufacturing membranes for the encapsulation of these toxins, to be then passed on to the kidneys (a generalization) for eventual disposal. Your recovery from attendant headaches and pain will follow the supplying of water to the body and its immune system process for successfully dealing with biotoxins.