Finally, getting to settle down in the den after a long day of work, when something catches your eye. A swath of green and brown spots speckles one of the room’s corners and your fears are realized. Mold Growth. Even just a mention of the word is enough to turn some people off entirely. But you shouldn’t let it scare you. We can help. Down below, we’ve gone ahead and provided you with some helpful tips to tackle your mold problem.
Mold Facts
First, we should understand exactly what mold is and why it grows. Brace yourself for this revelation, but mold is everywhere. No matter if you’re indoors or out, mold spores are afloat along the air and can cause some serious issues once they make their way into your home. Mold can rapidly spread and produce additional spores in what seems like a never-ending cycle. Once the spores are released, they’re on their way, catching a ride through air, dust, and moisture onto the surfaces of your home and its contents.
If your home has been compromised, then mold can also cause a few lingering side effects. These symptoms can range from mild to more severe especially in those susceptible to allergies or asthma. A short list of symptoms has been provided:
- Skin and eye irritation;
- Headaches and lethargy;
- Wheezing, coughing, and sneezing;
- Shortness of breath;
- Allergic reactions such as hives or rash;
- Asthma symptom aggravation;
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis;
- and more.
More Mold Symptoms
Not only a health risk but mold is too a serious risk to the structural integrity of your abode. If left untouched, then mold can affect::
- Drywall and other porous materials;
- The roof, gutters, and crawl spaces;
- Your ventilation, heating, and air condition system;
- Your home’s foundation;
- Furnishings and much more.
DIY Mold Removal
The above symptoms are cause alone for a swift and efficient mold remediation job. However, it is highly recommended you enlist a mold removal professional to take care of the issue for you. Leaving you’re mold remediation needs left in the capable hands of a local cleaning service allows peace of mind as they’re going to get the job done right the first time through. These agencies possess the tools and training needed to perform the task correctly. Though, if you’re adamant about completing the job yourself, then please follow the guidelines below.
You’ll Need Protection
If you plan to wage a war on mold terrorism, then you’ll be needing the right equipment. Acquiring protective goggles for your eyes, a HEPA filter face mask for your nose and mouth, and proper long sleeves and pants will be essential. If you happen to have the money, then the purchase of a Tyvek bodysuit is the best way to go. You’ll also need a good pair of gloves in your effort to avoid skin contact.
Seal Up the Area
It may be best to seal off the room where you’ve located the mold to reduce the risk of spread. Minimizing dust should be your first task as mold spores can attach themselves to the particles. This allows them to ride along the air to different locations throughout your home. Next, seal the room off with plastic sheets, taping them to the doorways, vents, and other openings to prevent spores from escaping.
Mold Removal
While removing the dry mold, you’ll likely stir up a bit of spores and send them into the air. To minimize this occurrence, you’ll need to lightly moisten the mold. While the mold is dry, the spores can easily escape when tampered. By wetting the mold, you’ll reduce the chances of this happening.
Some of the items below happen to be common household items that you can use to rid yourself of mold.
- Vinegar is a safer alternative to bleach. Bleach is actually not recommended at all. Use white distilled vinegar to kill 82% of all known household mold species;
- Mixing a ¼ tablespoon of baking soda with a spray bottle full of water is another great way to beat back that mold. Using this alongside vinegar allows you to kill the additional variations of mold that vinegar could not. The baking soda will also remove any residual moisture and acts as a deodorizer as well;
- You can enlist the use of a 50/50 ammonia to water mixture to aid in your mold removal project. Though, ammonia is only good for surface mold, and not mold infesting porous materials;
- Borax is a natural mold inhibitor so it’s another great option;
- The use of hydrogen peroxide is also a great mold killer. It can be used to remove mold from most materials. Be cautious when using it on fabrics as it can leave a bleach-like stain behind.
Residual Spore Cleaning
After the surface mold has been removed then you’ll want to take action against a recurrence. Once the previously mold infested area is completely dry, take a HEPA-filtered vacuum the entire room. This step removes all residual spores and mold from the area.
Cleaning the Valuables
Once the mold is removed from the surface of nonporous materials then you’ll be able to use them. Your porous materials affected by mold may not be as lucky. The choice falls on you if you feel it’s beneficial to keep these particular valuables. It depends on the severity of the mold infestation and how important the item is to you. Low-value items that have no chance of repair can be disposed of and eventually replaced.
Place all moldy items and the contents of the HEPA vacuum filter in resealable plastic bags. Make your way outside with the bags passing through as minimal rooms as possible. If it’s easier to dispose of the bags through a window to get them outside, then do so. The less chance the mold has to reach other areas of the home the safer.
Ensure that you perform a cleaning service in each room prior to moving on to another. Each step above you be repeated for each area affected until the entire home is rid of mold.
Enlist a Professional
As mentioned above, hiring a professional cleaner is the smarter decision. This is even truer should you suspect mold in the home but are unable to locate it. Make sure that your home is in need of a pretest prior to actually purchasing one. If the mold in the house is visible, then chances are slim you’ll need one. Don’t allow a mold remediation contractor to swindle you into spending needless money. At this point, you’ll just need to have the visible mold removed and hiring a professional is your best bet.
In order to secure a safe environment, all mold in your home will need to be removed. The experts will handle to problem efficiently and effectively. The time and effort needed to put into a project like this can be exhausting. By allowing a professional cleaner to come in and take care of the mold removal for you will allow you to rest easy knowing it’s in capable hands.