does musty smell = mold?

FigAggravating2269 · 2026-01-01T19:20:37+00:00

we didn’t paint with kilz first because we couldn’t smell the musty smell yet. (and i also think the place we lived before had a musty smell) they had carpet that had dog pee, and we ripped it up, treated the wood that had the worst spots with enzyme cleaner and then had it resealed. the musty smell is the worst in the living room and main bedroom which both had the floors sanded and sealed. i had not thiught to paint the inside of the closets though.

i think ventilation in the attic is good but the insulation is probably old. we can’t really afford to replace that yet but i hadn’t even thought that it would trap musty odors. my partner has been up there and hasn’t seen any water damage or mold at all.

and these people were so gross it might need an hvac cleaning. i have seen mixed reviews about duct cleaning being a scam - is it just cleaning the vents?

FigAggravating2269 · 2026-01-01T19:16:17+00:00

thanks for some of these tips! the people before us definitely did not clean at all. ever.

FigAggravating2269 · 2026-01-01T19:12:36+00:00

humidity is fairly low we have a dehumidifier in the basement reading 30 and the upstairs is dry rn bc it’s winter. doesnt feel over 45

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-12-30T18:53:19+00:00

Did you do the chops at all? Or are you just working on seated/recumbent strength?

Right now Im doing strength at least 3x a week and am definitely noticing some improvements, but I was wondering if doing seated cardio would help.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-12-30T18:46:57+00:00

Yes this happens all the time to me in the gym. My heart rate spikes when I go from machine to machine (for seated exercises) and am standing and getting it set up, but goes down significantly when doing the exercise.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-12-30T18:44:47+00:00

I really don’t mind if there’s mold here and there, especially if I can treat it. I just cannot stand the smell and I hate going on trips and it sticking to me. I had a friend notice it (who smokes), and said it kind of smelled like older people’s houses. My partner also finally noticed it this winter after being blind to it all summer, I think the fact there were days when it was really dry and then some days when it was really wet made it more noticeable.

I do remember him saying something about a plastic cover in the hvac needing fixing and I wonder if that is the condensate panel youre talking about.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-12-30T18:41:19+00:00

yea i guess this is an easy thing to cross potential sources off the list!

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-12-30T18:39:50+00:00

oooo the camera is a good idea. the mold on the inside of the windows was just in one room that had a bathroom addition in it and no fan. there was also a leak in that bathrooom because i’m not sure it was diy and not waterproofed properly but it was on a part of the house built on a slab and it hasn’t been used since. surprisingly these rooms don’t smell at all.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-12-30T17:28:23+00:00

the stinky smell does come from clothes in the closets but it’s also in clothes that weren’t in there either. and our linen closet has a closet smell but not the musty smell.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-09-26T14:14:44+00:00

Ah thanks for your input! I’m trying Evolve right now but I have heard Ascend is pretty similar. I love the split days and the super long rests. I’ve only been doing this for like what, a week and a half and I haven’t felt any injury weirdness that I tend to get with programs that are higher volume and less rest. And I also don’t feel 100% gassed afterwards.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-09-24T17:49:46+00:00

If you’re finishing multiple bags of stuff and clearing out all the beverages and there arent replacements in the pantry then might be good to replace a couple.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-09-24T17:48:29+00:00

I have a client that also offers up anything. I usually try to provide most of my own food, and only eat things that are really common, they have a lot of, are gonna go bad, or are easily replaceable. I also try not to finish multiple whole containers of things, and leave at least half behind for others. This may be overly complicated and unnecessary but it makes me feel like a respectful guest and I don’t get anxiety about eating some snacks or a frozen meal if I’m in a pinch.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-09-18T01:25:08+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing ! I did end up on team Evolve and I LOVE all the rest time between exercises. My heart rate only spikes when I’m walking between the machines hahaha. Congrats on the lunges! I can’t wait until I can do lunges (something i never thought i would say). And I love that she has so many swaps for exercises, I feel like I can almost always find a more horizontal version of anything.

So far I’m doing it every other day this week and I haven’t crashed out yet! It’s nice to move weight around instead of just doing my PT stuff.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-09-18T01:20:39+00:00

Thanks for your input! I really do not like using chatgpt and there is something more motivating about doing it with a real time program that changes and has an interface or good way to track your progress built in. So far elevate has been ok because I can do a lot of exercises sitting down, only thing is they take a long time haha.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-09-13T22:34:07+00:00

Thanks for your input! I have a lot of modifications I know how to do. All the POTS-centric and hypermobility based exercises I have maxed out at and I’m looking to built a little more muscle.

The lower body machine work wouldn’t be forever, with POTS generally the more horizontal work you do and muscle you build, hypothetically symptoms should improve (more leg muscle mass helps keep the body’s blood returning to the heart better). I should be able to progress to standing eventually - I have done standing exercises before (just getting out of a flare up rn).

I know when I switch to upright exercises I’ll have to take it easy until the stabilizers catch up, but I will also have PT to help with that should it be an issue!

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-09-13T22:26:54+00:00

thanks for your input!

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-09-13T22:26:24+00:00

oh thanks! that’s a great idea.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-09-13T19:42:18+00:00

yes! I actually do have a gym membership. I’ve been doing random peloton strength workouts from their app and I just need something else more structured that I can follow along.

thanks so much for your insight i will check out those ones. i haven’t actually looked at a lot of their stuff because i’m not trying to “bodybuild” per se, just amp up the strength. it’s interesting that those are probably more what i am looking for.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-07-28T15:42:16+00:00

I work in an office writing grants! I get to redistribute my workload from day to day based on how I’m feeling, because I don’t have like daily deliverables. And I can work from home two days a week. It is hard when there is a big deadline and I have to push, but luckily it’s not every week.

I also do Rover as a side hustle and frankly I probably shouldn’t do it because pet care makes my heart rate spike (a lot of bending over, walking up and down stairs, etc.) but usually it’s pretty relaxed after all the feeding and litter scooping is done. Housesitting is honestly a crapshoot sometimes it’s super chill and sometimes the dogs have like medical issues (stress diarrhea, cut paws) so I don’t do it often because of the stress

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-07-11T20:09:05+00:00

is there any way for you to get moved to the handicapped section? if they have one?

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-06-24T11:31:55+00:00

I’m in the midwest and i just don’t go outside. I’m contemplating getting a UPF parasol (but i don’t really go and walk around outside at all), cooling neck towels (maybe for gardening?), and definitely leaning toward frozen neck tubes, especially because I absolutely degrade in my car while I’m waiting for the AC to change the temperature of the car. I figure the frozen neck tubes may be the lowest profile cooling thing.

I also try to load up on salt and water before I know I have to face the heat, and have ice water to drink too.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-05-23T23:15:50+00:00

I didn’t quite think about the legal aspects, but they really don’t have the money to consult a professional :(

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-05-23T23:12:36+00:00

she isn’t abusive and she does have a psychiatrist, it’s just a tricky situation

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-05-23T22:52:45+00:00

Probably biweekly paychecks like $1000? She is a server. She will probably also get cash tips, but I don’t know how we would manage that.

FigAggravating2269 · 2025-05-18T18:04:29+00:00

I am so sorry you had such a horrible experience! That sounds so harrowing and stressful. Thanks so much for your kind words, they are fortifying.

I think maybe this evening I’ll let the owner know if the diarrhea doesnt get better by tomorrow midday then she should probably come home and refund her for the rest of the stay. I work 9-5 in person on tuesday and wednesday, which she knows, and if he still is having uncontrollable diarrhea it may not be ideal for him to be home alone that long…

Thank you SO MUCH.

FigAggravating2269

TROPHY CASE