Frequently Asked Questions
Are Hellbender Solutions safe?
Safe for everyday use but powerful enough to eradicate mold spores & mycotoxins, Hellbender Solutions are non-toxic, contain no harsh chemicals, solvents or fumes, and are safe for use around children and pets.
Always take appropriate precautions. As with any cleaning product, reactive individuals should wear a mask and gloves when cleaning any item that has been potentially contaminated with mold spores. For recommendations on personal protective equipment and how to safely clean mold contaminated items and areas, check out thetruthaboutmold.com
No product or test is more reliable than your own perceptions. When using Hellbender Products, remember: Do steps 1, 2 and 3…then wait and see! You are your best detector.
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Do you have SDS sheets?
Hellbender Solutions are not defined as hazardous, so an SDS sheet is not required.
Instead, we provide product information sheets as well as use & handling suggestions for mold and chemical sensitive individuals. These suggestions are based upon our own experiences and the feedback provided by customers. As most mold & chemically sensitive people know, “typical” reactions do not necessarily apply to everyone.
Hellbender solutions are designed for use, and are well tolerated by, most sensitive & reactive individuals when the products are used as directed.
What is mold cross contamination, and what’s the big deal?
When it comes to controlling cross contamination, an “across the board” approach is necessary. Everything coming into a clean space must be free of spores and mycotoxins to keep the space mold safe. Combined with practicing mold and chemical awareness and avoidance, Hellbender Solutions enable you to decontaminate and clean most items and to keep your space safe.
Any item that’s been in a place with mycotoxin producing molds is potentially contaminated with neurotoxins that can spread to other items in the new space.
Mold is literally everywhere - including stores, warehouses, homes, offices, etc. Once a person has become sensitized to mold (either through exposure or via another immune sensitization process), their reactions to even trace amounts can become debilitating.
The contamination of objects with spores & mycotoxin can last for years. In fact, researchers have found that many of the “curses” associated with the opening of ancient tombs have actually been caused by mold spores, sealed away for centuries, that caused the illnesses & deaths of the explorers.
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​Why can’t I just use bleach/peroxide/essential oils/soap and water to clean?
Mold spores and mycotoxins present a complicated challenge. They’re tenacious and often able to resist the most dedicated cleaning efforts. The spores are a means of expansion for a mold colony, and the mycotoxins are its “chemical warfare” means of protection. Both are designed for mold’s survival and spread - which means they’ve developed strategies that allow them to persist and to travel far and wide.
Mold never used to be such a big deal. What changed?
Fungi have an incredible ability to adapt to changes in their environment - and our environment has changed dramatically in the last century. The combination of newer construction practices, recirculation of indoor air, the overuse of antimicrobial agents, and an increasingly complex and heavy burden of pollution from modern industrial and agricultural practices has challenged and changed the microbial community. Fungi have adapted accordingly, developing more robust reproduction and defense strategies. Unfortunately, we’re caught in the crossfire.
What about germs?
Bacteria & viruses have developed defenses against medications & disinfectants, giving rise to “super bugs”. Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem.
Unlike mold, which typically can be seen, the spores and mycotoxins it produces are invisible.
Bonding with other airborne molecules, like metal nanoparticles, strengthens their defenses and allows them to remain tightly adhered to surfaces and fibers. That type of interaction also has the unfortunate effect of making them more toxic to us. This may explain the mold we’re dealing with today is different from the mold of 30 years ago.
Hidden mold - tucked into an HVAC duct, lurking underneath a sink, behind the drywall - releases spores and mycotoxins. Both are designed for mold’s survival and spread - which means they’ve developed strategies that allow them to persist and travel far and wide. Drifting along on the slightest currents of air, they can settle on surfaces and hitch a ride.
Think of spores as the scouts sent away from the colony as explorers on a mission to colonize new places. The mycotoxins are their means of chemical communication with other fungi and of warfare against perceived threats.
What makes Hellbender Solutions different?
Hellbender solutions are specifically formulated to address the problem of cross contamination.
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Hb CleanTM & Hb ClearTM are the cornerstone formulas of all Hb cleaning solutions. Each product pair uses a 2 step process - first alkaline, then acidic - to achieve a neutralizing, deep clean. Enzymes and chelators break down and eliminate the molecular bonds that allow spore & mycotoxins to cling so tenaciously to surfaces. Together, they eliminate a broad array of alkaline and acid resistant pathogens and chelate out heavy metal particles - effectively cleaning clothing, surfaces & possessions that were previously impossible to remediate.
As overuse of antimicrobial cleansers has given rise to resistant pathogens, it’s become widely recognized that simply ‘wiping out’ all microbes in our environment is not only impossible, it’s dangerous - because often the bacteria, viruses and fungi that fill the resultant void are those that can do the most harm. Protect! sprays combat that by using stabilized beneficial microbes to help prevent the overgrowth of pathogens.
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Hellbender Solutions seem expensive, can I get free samples to try?
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Unfortunately we cannot provide free samples, as we sell Hellbender Solutions to cover our costs of producing them. However, they pay for themselves in a matter of days just in terms of keeping instead of throwing away and rebuying contaminated items.
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We do offer payment plans through this website, and many of our customers have found a sponsor who helps the purchase solutions for their use!