Here Come the Rains

I knew that as soon as I blogged about the dry autumn, it would change! And here come the rains...
The rainy season in Los Angeles is interesting, in that we have a “rainy season.” As opposed to pretty much the whole rest of the country, where it rains pretty much whenever it wants to, Los Angeles stands alone as one of the few places in the United States where there is a long dry season followed by a short wet one in the winter.
For allergy sufferers, this has several implications, depending on your particular allergy. For those suffering from dust allergies, the long dry months are particularly difficult. However, it is the rainy season, with its accompanying dampness, that affects those suffering from mold.

If you'll notice the Local Pollen Count, it's not even raining. And yet the mold levels have begun to rise in comparison to where they were last week.

Mold is an interesting thing. Brought on by the dampness of a rainy day, the next day's breeze blows it all over the place. Since our homes and offices are fairly airtight, mold blows in when we open the door, and sets up residence.
So what's so bad about mold? Well, nothing—if you're not sensitive to it. On the other hand, inhaling mold spores can cause coughing and allergic asthma to those who are sensitive to it.
What can you do about mold? Pretty much the ONLY thing you can do about mold—aside from clearing your allergy to it—is to keep humidity levels low. You can obtain a dehumidifier (not common in LA but de rigueur in Houston, Texas, where mold grows on the backs of couches and inside pianos in damp houses). And you can be happy that it's only a short season that will end soon...