Purify the air in your home with hydrosols

Spring is slowly coming to an end, giving way to summer, with its warm and hopefully not too humid days...

When you're allergic to pollen, getting through this season is a relief. !

But if, despite the change of season, your nose is still running, your eyes are still tickling, you are sneezing again and your skin is itchy: these are probably signs of allergies to other things: grasses and/or molds.
Molds are a lesser-known source of allergies than pollens, grasses, and dust mites.

And yet, they pollute our indoor air and can cause respiratory problems... especially in the summer.

Toxic mold in our homes

Molds are microscopic fungi that grow outdoors on decomposing organic matter (earth, dead wood, compost, etc.).
They can also develop in homes : in the soil of indoor plants, on fruits & vegetables, on damp surfaces (joints and walls in bathrooms, kitchens).
They reproduce by releasing spores into the atmosphere (the equivalent of plant pollen) which disperse into the air of the house. Inhaling the spores can cause allergic symptoms (rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, etc.) or toxic effects (headaches, fatigue, joint pain) in people, depending on their individual sensitivities .
Among the allergenic molds, we find in abundance in summer: Alternaria and Cladosporium.

Where are they found?

They are particularly visible on the surface of the soil of indoor plants in the form of white crusts.

What can be done to eliminate them?

The radical solution is to avoid indoor plants at home, but it would be a shame to be forced to do so when you love them. If you don't want to part with your plants, it's recommended to replace their soil at least once a year: this is the famous repotting! This operation takes time and requires a certain amount of space to handle the soil. In addition, mold returns quickly.
We will also ensure that rooms are aired for at least 10 minutes per day, to disperse indoor pollution of any kind.

A caring help with hydrosols

A practical and effective solution is to spray the soil around your plants with an antifungal hydrosol, such as Tea Tree , for example. A simple gesture to adopt without hesitation; safe for the plants and beneficial for the occupants of the house!

Tea tree hydrosol to the rescue

In practice, pour a volume of pure Tea Tree hydrosol into a spray bottle. Spray the entire surface of the soil at the base of the plant. Ideally, do this before periodic watering and let it act for 24 hours before watering. Repeat the operation the following week until the white spots disappear. If the soil is invaded by a lot of mold, it is best to scrape the surface and get rid of it before treating. Then spray with Tea Tree hydrosol to purify the substrate, before adding a layer of fresh potting soil. And if you spot traces of mold on the tile joints in the bathroom or kitchen, spray these surfaces after cleaning them as well. Your home will be sanitized.

Having a bottle of Tea Tree hydrosol in your home medicine cabinet is very useful. Its properties allow for many uses.

They can be used for many everyday ailments:

• Rinsing wounds (even open ones), acne-prone skin
• As a mouthwash: treatment of oral infections (mouth ulcers, gingivitis) & dental rinse
• As a gargle for sore throats (laryngitis, tonsillitis)
• Prevention of mycoses: oral, digestive, vaginal, cutaneous (athlete's foot)

And finally, as this article suggests, it can be used to purify mold that develops in the home (plant soil, joints, walls, etc.).

Tea tree hydrosol has more than one trick up its sleeve!

This article is written by:

Odile Demeuldre

Phytotherapist

"Benevolent plants"