Step 07: Clean Air

Make sure you are breathing clean air in your home, work and vehicle. We breathe 3000 gallons of air per day so clean air is essential.

Air quality has a significant effect on Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis symptoms, so clean air will support your Healing ALS treatment and create a healthy environment for your ALS disease life expectancy.

The presence of mold and mycotoxins is now a significantly higher health threat than 30 years ago because of the presence of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in Wi-fi, cell phone signals (3G, 4G, 5G), satellite signals and Smart meters. Houses that had safe mold levels 30 years ago are likely no longer safe because of the presence of EMFs. Please see the Electromagnetic field step to for mitigation strategies.

Warning: Air purifiers, Ozone generators and Fogging do NOT replace fixing any active leaks and do NOT replace removing mold contaminated materials from the home such as sheetrock, paneling, flooring and carpeting from old leaks. This can be done by a handyman as long as personal protection procedures and non-contamination procedures are followed and does not need the expense of a mold remediator.

Humidity: For least mold toxicity, the ideal humidity in homes and buildings is around 50 percent (45-55%). Too dry, below 45% can cause mycotoxins to circulate in the air more freely, thus causing more health issues. Too humid will cause mold growth.

Biggest issues of Indoor Air

• Mold and mycotoxins
  • leaks in from bathroom or kitchen plumbing
  • leaks from basements (50% of basement air is breathed in the main part of the house.
  • leaks from dishwashwers
• Off-gassing from:
  • new carpeting, floor treatment, cleaning products
  • pesticides, herbicides, paint and solvents, coming in from yard, basement, garage or nearby golf course.
  • unsealed asbestos or lead paint
• Petroleum from traffic
• Gas Leaks Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide
• Radon

Test Your Home for Toxic Mold. Dust and Petri Dish Tests. Do Both.

Note: 50% of Basement air comes to the main part of the house. If you are not going in the basement, dust test only the living areas of the home.

• The reason to do both is that Dust tests measure the last 3 months of exposure and will pick things up that the Petri dish test will not.
• The Petri dish test is very inexpensive (10 rooms for $30) and will show you the sources of mold in your home.
• The Petri dish test can also be inexpensively done before and after remediation and periodically to see how successful your remediation is.
• Critical: Review this entire step BEFORE doing any remediation in the home.

Dust Tests: HERTSMI or Immunolytics

Why HERTSMI?

• The HERTSMI dust test gives an accurate quantitative value for the 5 most toxic molds to humans for $150 to $160 US.
• The HERSTMI gives a numerical value that you are able to assess the level of mold exposure plus you can track the level over time to make sure that your current exposure is minimized.
• If the HERSTMI increases you can take appropriate measures, and if it decreases, you know your air quality is becoming safer.

*****Order a HERTSMI cloth mycotoxin test from Mycometrics (the most accurate lab we have found). Link to Instructions: Detailed instructions******

• Mold and mycotoxins are present in more than 50% of homes (some estimate 80%) in the United States, and worldwide.
  • The presence of Mold or mycotoxins in your home can prevent you from reversing your ALS symptoms.
  • Mold and mycotoxins used to be much more innocuous decades ago. Since EMF’s such as WiFi, 3G, 4G and now 5G are now in our lives, mold and mycotoxins have become MANY times more toxic to the human body.
  • Mycotoxins are the “poop” of mold. Mold is trying to protect itself from EMFs and creates many times more toxic poop than before.
• Test for mold and mycotoxins in your home
  • If you know you have mold you still want to order a HERTSMI test before and after so you have a good idea of the mold levels in your home.
  • If the test is positive do NOT do mold remediation. You only need to fix active leaks and replace 24 inches around any surfaces that have visible mold. We suggest a handyman for this. This will be 1/20 the cost of a full remediation.
  • *****Order a HERTSMI cloth mycotoxin test from Mycometrics (the most accurate lab we have found). Link to Instructions: Detailed instructions******
  • Collection instructions: Collect from 8-10 places in be sure to get a good amount of dust and a full spectrum of what is present in the home. We are not isolating areas with testing as that is not possible with this kind of testing. This is a history of what the air has had for toxic molds over time.

Why Immunolytics?

• Immunolytics is less expensive: $90 versus $150
• It tests for hundreds of mold species instead of 5.
• Like HERTSMI, you can test several rooms on a single Swiffer dust cloth.
• Note: It does not give quantitative number like HERTSMI does

Petri Dish Location Testing for Mold to find the Source

Warning: Refrigerate Agar plates as soon as you receive them

• Testing with Agar Plates for $27
  • Since Agar plate (Petri dish) testing is so inexpensive, most mold experts suggest doing this test no matter what the dust test shows.
  • If your HERTSMI or ERMI test is negative, to make absolutely sure you have no mold inside order the following additional test.
  • If your HERTSMI or ERMI test is positive, the Agar plates will help you assess which rooms are the most toxic and where potential leaks are located.
  • Instructions for Agar Plates:
    • Here are the Agar Plate Testing Instructions: AGAR MOLD TESTING.docx
    • Malt Extract Agar Plates – Evviva Sciences – Great for Mushrooms, Molds, Fungus – 10 Prepoured MEA Petri Dishes – Also Great for Science Fair Projects!: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
    • Make sure when the test kit arrives you put it in the refrigerator immediately and conduct the test as early as possible after arrival to ensure the agar plates are good.

4. After you receive the test results:

• If HERTSMI test returns negative or is less than 4, consider expanding to ERMI which tests for more fungal microbes. (HERTMI tests for the 5 most common species of microbes). Mycrometrics will give you an upgrade to ERMI within 30 days with the sample you provided.
• If the ERMI is negative consider testing with Agar dishes (see 8. below).
• If HERSTMI is positive, then look for active leaks:
  • Visible discoloration
  • Dampness
  • Look in the room(s) where the Agar Plates show the most colonies.
  • FLIR Cameras can be rented or purchased (see below)
• If your HERTSMI is 4 or above, and you cannot find leaks.
  • we suggest getting Hi-Tech 101 machine(s). We have tested about 20 other mold machines (ultra HEPA, hydroxyl and others) that do NOT work.
  • Purchasing a HiTech machine will be less expensive and more effective than remediation. There is a 10% discount on the HealingALS.org website under Products. If you have trouble ordering or the discount please text 914-582-3194 or email info@healingals.org
• If you have leaks
  • run the HiTech before and during the repair process to minimize mold exposure.
  • After the leaks are fixed, run the machines a few days, then clean all surfaces to remove all dust.
  • After running the machine for 6 weeks do a post HERTSMI test to make sure mold levels are down.
• Test your home, work and car (3 testing kits). If you can only afford 1 test, start with your home. The cost is $150 per HERTSMI test if you use a dry unscented swiffer cloth in a ziplock bag, $160 if you order the kit).
• IMPORTANT: Mycotoxins are one of the most common environmental toxins in the home and work environment. Just because you can’t smell it, doesn’t mean it is not there. Even brand new houses, condominiums and apartments can be full of mycotoxins.

More about Air Purifiers

Many Air purifiers filter mold and they do not filter mycotoxins. No matter how small they say they filter, trying to catch a mycotoxin with a filter is like trying to catch a baseball with a basketball hoop.

• Eliminate Toxins from the air in your home: mycotoxins, VOC’s, bacteria, viruses, petroleum and any organic material
  • There is one machine that we know for sure eliminates mycotoxins (HiTech has definitive independent testing) and two others that should eliminate mycotoxins from the air (the second two we do not have definitive testing on). They are listed below.
    • HiTech Air Solutions. This is the air purifier we have found is the most effective and the best price. HiTechAirSolutions.com. Order Model 101. Each machine covers approximately 1500 square feet. Choose Healing ALS as Salesperson and Use Promo Code HealingALS for a 10% discount. If you have questions, please contact info@healingals.org.
    • Odorox has the same technology but it is more expensive and our community has not independently tested the before and after HERTSMI with this machine.
    • OdorStop Hydroxyl Generator has a similar technology to the other two devices but our community has not done before and after testing with this machine.
    • Triad Aer claims to have similar technology. Preliminary testing shows it has some promise at a close proximity but is not cleaning toxic mold at a distance. There have been 8 reports where the Triad Aer was not effective either from symptoms or from before and after testing.
    • Air Doctor and other Ultra HEPA filters do NOT eliminate mycotoxins and may even make environments worse by catching the mold and blowing mycotoxins around.
    • Molekule and Vornado were tested in an independent lab at 10 feet away and do not significantly reduce mold and mycotoxins.

Warning: OZONE versus AIR PURIFIER

• Warning: no people, plants nor pets should be in the home.
• Ozone can damage anything made of plastic or rubber, including electrical sheathing
• If plastics are damaged can cause additional toxic exposure
• Please research thoroughly before using ozone.
• After considering all of the above, Running an ozone generator monthly is an option to keep air clean.

FOGGING versus AIR PURIFIER

• Fogging is an option if done monthly
• After each fogging you need to thoroughly clean all surfaces, otherwise the contaminated dust can become airborne again.
• Please read article below.

by Heather Plude

CitriSafe uses mostly citrus seed extracts, soap, and water and is generally considered low-toxicity, but the key point is that all fogging works in a similar way. It temporarily knocks particles out of the air so they settle onto surfaces. That does not remove contamination from the home, so if a thorough HEPA cleaning and wipe down isn’t done afterward, those particles can easily become airborne again with normal activity and air movement.

Also, if there’s any moisture issue (especially in floors or subflooring), adding fogging moisture into that environment doesn’t address the source and can complicate an already active mold and microbial problem.

Real healing homes are still about finding the moisture source, removing all visibly contaminated materials plus an appropriate buffer beyond what you can see, and correcting the conditions that allowed growth in the first place. In most cases that level of work can be done by a skilled homeowner or handyman with proper protective equipment and guidance. It doesn’t always require an expensive specialist if the situation is straightforward.

We did our own remediation, my husband does the work and I provide the plan. We traveled to many homes and guided them on their remediations. I can’t spend time in moldy places so I don’t get involved in the actual work. I have guided hundreds of people over the phone in finding and correcting mold and moisture problems.

This is where what I do differs from what remediator’s do and why it’s more effective. Hi-tech works. We know it works so once the source is removed, and after that physical cleanup and while the space is still open, that’s where I use Hi Tech before reconstruction, as a final environmental step to address anything residual that isn’t visible. Then the wall or surface is closed back up. Maintenance after that is minimal compared to repeated fogging cycles.

Eliminate Toxins in Your Vehicle

• You can put the Hi Tech Air Solutions 101 overnight in your vehicle to eliminate these toxins.

Mold Remediation Companies versus Handyman

Humidity

• Humidity: For least mold toxicity, the ideal humidity in homes and buildings is around 50 percent (45-55%). Too dry, below 45% can cause mycotoxins to circulate in the air more freely, thus causing more health issues. Too humid will cause mold growth.
• Those in climates of high humidity, may need to run a humidifier in the winter and a dehumidifier in the summer to maintain a humidity level of around 50%.
• If you currently spend time in the basement, consider moving to the main floor.

Maintaining Your Air Purifier

• The Hi Tech can be used for years and can be left running 24 hours per day and you may stay in the house because they off-gas hydrocarbons. A few people are sensitive to the hydrocarbons. In this case, simply run the machine during the day in the bedroom and and night in the living room
• Change the filter every 90 days – a replacement kit comes with enoughRemedy any leaksfilters for a year
• Change the reactor pads and bulbs at least once per year.

When you first start running the Hi Tech

• If there is a burning smell, it means the machine is killing the mold. This is temporary and will be gone within a few days to a few weeks.
• You can put the machine in front of your couch, with the cushions off, you can place papers or open books nearby to de-mold all personal items.
• If you live on a busy street or live near a gas station, you likely have petroleum toxins in your home, and will likely need a special type of air filter.
• If you live near a farm, they likely use pesticides and you will likely need a special type of air filter.
• Warning: Make sure the indoor air in your home has CO2, CO, radon monitors. Occasionally people have small gas leaks and this can affect your breathing and your health.
• What is the difference between HiTech hydroxyl machines and an Ultra HEPA filter machine?
  
  • The HiTech (tested by our group) is the only machine we know of that will eliminate mold and mycotoxins from surfaces. There are many hydroxyl machines that definitely do not work, others might work, but our group has not tested them. They will eliminate any organic toxins, in other words, any toxins with a carbon atom. It will not eliminate chemical toxins.
  • The Ultra HEPA filter machines will eliminate particles including mold in the air, but the filter is too large to eliminate mycotoxins, which are much smaller.
• Eliminate petroleum, new carpet smell, pesticides, and other toxins from the air
  • Use the HiTech or Odorox machines
  • You can run an ozone machine in your home to eliminate these toxins. You and any of your animals must LEAVE your home when the ozone machine is running, since ozone byproducts are toxic. Feel free to run once per month or once per 3 or 6 months as needed
  • Here is a link to an ozone machine:Promolife – Ozone Therapy and Natural Health
  • In addition to the HiTech machines, you may also get an UltraHEPA air filter if the HiTech does not completely eliminate any odors after a month of use.
• Watch 2 Mold Sunday Recordings:
  • Part 1 March 20, 2022: https://vimeo.com/690367078/2b1f830da2
  • Part 2 April 3, 2022: https://vimeo.com/698015512/65ae721cad

Petroleum, Bacteria and Viruses

Chemicals

Do a Radon Test

• Do not skip this step. Radon is very common in many areas. It is extremely toxic to the human body. Many PALS have discovered this toxin in their homes. Radon can prevent you from stopping and reversing ALS progression
• Here is one you can order: https://a.co/d/iI0kOoH

Check for Understanding and Completion of Step 6:

• ____I understand this step may take several weeks or months to complete.
• ____I have ordered a HERTSMI test from mycometrics.com
• ____I have received the results and emailed it to heatherplude@gmail.com for a FREE interpretation she offers to Healing ALS 47 Steps participants.
• ____ My home has a HERTSMI of 0 OR I have purchased a HiTech machine (we KNOW that the HiTech eliminates mycotoxins. We have tested other hydroxyl generating machines that were not powerful enough to eliminate the mycotoxins and get the HERTSMI down to 0 or 1.
• ____ I understand that Ultra HEPA filters such as Air Doctor do NOT eliminate mycotoxins. They are good for the larger mold particles, dust and many other items and can be used in addition to a hydroxyl generating machine but not replace it.
• _____ I understand that the carbon atom is
• _____ I or a family member have checked for active leaks in my basement, attic and crawlspace and if any were there I have corrected the issue.
• _____ I have purchased a radon test
• _____ I have the results of my radon test and my home is safe.
• _____ I have looked at other potential pollutants in my area such as petrochemicals from traffic or nearby gas stations or refineries, pesticides from farms. If these toxins have a carbon atom (mycotoxins, cigarette smoke, petroleum, some pesticides) the hydroxl machines will work. If they are chemical the need a different filter which I have researched and for right now I am confident I am controlling the things I can control.
• _____If there are too many things in my environment I cannot control, longer term I have considered moving to a cleaner environment.

If you have checked all boxes, Congratulations! You have completed Step 6!

CLICK HERE FOR STEP SIX VIDEO SESSION RECORDING

1. Mold and mycotoxins are present in more than 50% of homes in the United States, and worldwide.
   1. The presence of Mold or mycotoxins in your home can prevent you from reversing your ALS symptoms.
   2. Mold and mycotoxins used to be much more innocuous decades ago. Since EMF’s such as WiFi, 3G, 4G and now 5G are now in our lives, mold and mycotoxins have become MANY times more toxic to the human body.
   3. Mycotoxins are the “poop” of mold. Mold is trying to protect itself from EMFs and creates many times more toxic poop than before.
2. If you live on a busy street or live near a gas station, you likely have petroleum toxins in your home, and will likely need a special type of air filter.
3. If you live near a farm, they likely use pesticides and you will likely need a special type of air filter.
4. Test for mold and mycotoxins in your home
   1. Order a HERTSMI cloth mycotoxin test from mycometrics.com.
   2. Test your home, work and car (3 testing kits). If you can only afford 1 test, start with your home. The cost is $160 per test.
   3. Mycotoxins are one of the most common environmental toxins in the home and work environment. Just because you can’t smell it, doesn’t mean it is not there. Even brand new houses, condominiums and apartments can be full of mycotoxins.
   4. If the HERTSMI test is negative (tests for the 5 most common molds), to make absolutely sure you have no mold inside order the following additional test.
      1. Malt Extract Agar Plates – Evviva Sciences – Great for Mushrooms, Molds, Fungus – 10 Prepoured MEA Petri Dishes – Also Great for Science Fair Projects!: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
      2. Make sure when the test kit arrives you put it in the refrigerator immediately and conduct the test as early as possible after arrival to ensure the agar plates are good.
      3. Here are the Mold Testing Instructions: MOLD TESTING.docx
5. Eliminate Toxins from the air in your home: mycotoxins, VOC’s, bacteria, viruses, petroleum and any organic material
   1. There are three machines that should eliminate mycotoxins from the air and they are listed below. Air Doctor and other Ultra HEPA filters do NOT eliminate mycotoxins from surfaces.
      1. HiTech machine. This is the one we have found is the most effective and the best price. HiTechAirSolutions.com. Order Model 101. Each machine covers approximately 1400 square feet. Choose Heather Plude as Salesperson and Use Promo Code HealingALS for a 10% discount. If you have questions, please contact heatherplude@gmail.com.
      2. Odorox has the same technology but it is more expensive and our community has not independently tested the before and after HERTSMI with this machine.
      3. OdorStop Hydroxyl Generator has a similar technology to the other two devices but our community has not done before and after testing with this machine.
   2. You can put these machines overnight in your car to eliminate these toxins.
   3. These machines can be used for years and can be left running 24 hours per day and you may stay in the house because they off-gas hydrocarbons. A few people are sensitive to the hydrocarbons. In this case, simply run the machine during the day in the bedroom and and night in the living room
   4. Change the filters in these machines at least once per year.
   5. When you first start running these machines, if there is a burning smell, it means the machine is killing the mold. This is temporary and will be gone within a few days to a few weeks.
   6. You can put the machine in front of your couch, with the cushions off, you can place papers or open books nearby to de-mold all personal items.
6. Remedy any leaks in basement, attic or crawlspace or anywhere in the house
   1. Use a Flir camera to find any leaks.
   2. Link to Flir camera:
7. Do a Radon Test
   1. Do not skip this step. Radon is very common in many areas. It is extremely toxic to the human body. Many PALS have discovered this toxin in their homes. Radon can prevent you from stopping and reversing ALS progression
   2. Here is one you can order: https://a.co/d/iI0kOoH
8. What is the difference between Hydroxyl machines and an Ultra HEPA filter machine?
   
   1. The Hydroxl generating machines such as the HiTech and the Odorox machines are the only ones that will eliminate mold and mycotoxins from surfaces. They will eliminate any organic toxins, in other words, any toxins with a carbon atom. It will not eliminate chemical toxins.
   2. The Ultra HEPA filter machines will eliminate particles including mold in the air, but the filter is too large to eliminate mycotoxins, which are much smaller.
9. Eliminate petroleum, new carpet smell, pesticides, and other toxins from the air
   1. Use the HiTech or Odorox machines
   2. You can run an ozone machine in your home to eliminate these toxins. You and any of your animals must LEAVE your home when the ozone machine is running, since ozone byproducts are toxic. Feel free to run once per month or once per 3 or 6 months as needed
   3. Here is a link to an ozone machine:Promolife – Ozone Therapy and Natural Health
   4. In addition to the HiTech or Odorox machines, you may also get an UltraHEPA air filter if the HiTech or Odorox does not completely eliminate any odors after a month of use.

Watch Two Sunday Recordings On Mold:

Part 1 March 20, 2022:

Heather mentions in this video that she DID use ammonia for cleaning and laundry before she KNEW BETTER!
DO NOT USE AMMONIA! It is toxic and when she detoxed in the sauna she was sweating ammonia!
You have to detox all toxins you put in your body, so don’t add new ones!

Part 2 April 3, 2022:

2024: Click Here to View the Recording of Step 6

2023: Click Here to View the Recording of Step 6

Check for Understanding and Completion of Step 6:

1. ____I understand this step may take several weeks or months to complete.
2. ____I have ordered a HERTSMI test from mycometrics.com
3. ____I have received the results and emailed it to heatherplude@gmail.com for a FREE interpretation she offers to Healing ALS 47 Steps participants.
4. ____ My home has a HERTSMI of 0 or I have purchased a hydroxyl generating machine.
5. ____ I understand that Ultra HEPA filters such as Air Doctor do NOT eliminate mycotoxins. They are good for the larger mold particles, dust and many other items and can be used in addition to a hydroxyl generating machine but not replace it.
6. _____ I understand that the carbon atom is
7. _____ I or a family member have checked for active leaks in my basement, attic and crawlspace and if any were there I have corrected the issue.
8. _____ I have purchased a radon test
9. _____ I have the results of my radon test and my home is safe.
10. _____ I have looked at other potential pollutants in my area such as petrochemicals from traffic or nearby gas stations or refineries, pesticides from farms. If these toxins have a carbon atom (mycotoxins, cigarette smoke, petroleum, some pesticides) the hydroxl machines will work. If they are chemical the need a different filter which I have researched and for right now I am confident I am controlling the things I can control.
11. _____If there are too many things in my environment I cannot control, longer term I have considered moving to a cleaner environment.

If you have checked all boxes, Congratulations! You have completed Step 6!

References:

1. Vardoulakis S, Giagloglou E, Steinle S, Davis A, Sleeuwenhoek A, Galea KS, Dixon K, Crawford JO.
   Indoor Exposure to Selected Air Pollutants in the Home Environment: A Systematic Review. Int J
   Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Dec 2;17(23):8972. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17238972. PMID:
   33276576; PMCID: PMC7729884.
   From <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7729884/>
2. Buonanno, G., Kumar, P. Household air pollution and health: rethinking indoor exposure in the
   places we call home. Sci Rep 15, 37184 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-20056-z
   From <https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-20056-z#citeas>
3. Robertson NM, Qiu A, Raju S, McCormack MC, Koehler K. Cleaning indoor air-what works
   for respiratory health: An updated literature review and recommendations. J Allergy Clin
   Immunol. 2024 Oct;154(4):847-860. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.08.011. Epub 2024 Aug 22.
   PMID: 39181455.
   From <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39181455/>
4. Jared Radbel, Meghan E. Rebuli, Howard Kipen, Emily Brigham. Indoor air pollution and airway
   health, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Volume 154, Issue 4, 2024, Pages 835-846,
   ISSN 0091-6749, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2024.08.013.
   From <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674924008637>
5. Yoda Y, Tamura K, Adachi S, Otani N, Nakayama SF, Shima M. Effects of the Use of Air Purifier on
   Indoor Environment and Respiratory System among Healthy Adults. Int J Environ Res Public
   Health. 2020 May 23;17(10):3687. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103687. PMID: 32456250; PMCID:
   PMC7277583.
   From <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7277583/>
6. Zulauf N, Dröge J, Klingelhöfer D, Braun M, Oremek GM, Groneberg DA. Indoor Air Pollution in
   Cars: An Update on Novel Insights. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Jul 9;16(13):2441. doi:
   10.3390/ijerph16132441. PMID: 31323996; PMCID: PMC6650813.
   From <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6650813/>
7. Yang H-H, Park I-J, Kim C-R, Lee H-W, Kim H-H. Vehicle Indoor Air Quality Due to External
   Pollutant Ingress While Driving. Atmosphere. 2025; 16(11):1238.
   https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16111238
   From <https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/11/1238>
8. Xu B, Chen X, Xiong J. Air quality inside motor vehicles’ cabins: A review. Indoor and Built
   Environment. 2016;27(4):452-465. doi:10.1177/1420326X16679217
   From <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1420326X16679217>

The information we share is for educational purposes and should not be treated as medical advice.

© Copyright Healing Advocates Registry and Ministry