Mold Remediation

Mold is undesirable in the {home|house}. It darkens the corners of the {bathroom|toilet}, stains the walls, {grows|develops} in between tiles. It’s a {very|really} unpleasant sight {which|that} feeds and rots damp wood. Mold can {accumulate|collect} and can be {hard|tough} to {remove|eliminate } over time. 

{Aside from|Besides} it being a disgusting sight, different {types|kinds} of {mold|mould } also cause respiratory {diseases|ailments} and is {generally|usually} bad for our health. Mold releases spores that can cause allergic reactions. These allergens may be {invisible|imperceptible} to the eye but can {cause|lead to} {serious|significant} health {problems|issues}. {Hiring|Selecting} a professional {may|could} be {costly|pricey}, {that’s|that is} why it’s important to {know|understand} these Do-It-Yourself Mold Remediation {steps|measures} so {you|that you} can {perform|carry out} the cleaning {by yourself|on your own} in your own {home|house}.

Mold infestation is {a major|an important} {problem|issue} in any household. {Once|As soon as} you discovered the {presence|existence} of {this|the} health-threatening fungi, you {might|may} be tempted to {clean|wash} it up {on|all on} your own. Mold remediation is a {task|job} {that is|that’s} better left in the hands of professionals. However, if the infestation is {pretty|really} small, you can {tackle|handle} it {on|all on} your own.

But before you do {that|this}, {read on|keep reading} to learn about the {basics|fundamentals} of mold cleanup and the {proper|appropriate} {ways|approaches} and techniques to effectively {get rid of|remove} it without compromising your health and safety.

Identify the mold

{Almost|Virtually} every home {experiences|undergoes} mold infestation. The {proper|appropriate} remedy is to get them before they {accumulate|collect} and turn into {big|large} chunks. These molds are harmful to the health of your {family|loved ones} and as you {allow them to|let them} become {bigger|larger}, they become harder and harder to {clean|wash}. 

Black mold removal {can|may} be {performed|achieved} using ordinary cleaning products {that|which} you can {buy|purchase} in the supermarket. Molds can be {easily|readily} identified {as|since} these are {small|little} black spots that {grow|develop} into large colonies. The {key|trick} to mold identification is testing it with bleach. 

Drop a few drops of household bleach {to|into} the mold, and {the ones|those} that disappear easily are {mildew|mould}. You will {usually|often} spot this in damp {areas|locations}. 

There are two {kinds|types} of black molds {namely|specifically}: mildew-mold and {dirt|grime} mold. Mildew mold easily goes {away|off} after pouring bleach on it while {dirt|grime} mold does not. 

Be wary that other {kinds|sorts} of mold are {toxic|poisonous} so {it is|it’s} safer to let professionals handle if {you have|you’ve got} respiratory problems and get allergies {easily|readily}. {Once|As soon as} you have identified the {type|sort} of mold, {it’s|it is} time to gear up for {safety|security}.

Gear up for {protection|security} and observe safety precautions

More than anything {else,|else, even} {when|once} {you are|you’re} dealing with mold, {it is|it’s} {important|crucial} that you protect yourself from its harmful effects. A thin mask {will not|won’t} help. {You will|You’ll} {need|have} to wear clothes {that|which} you {can|could} immediately wash or {better yet|even better}, you can {just|simply} {get rid of|eliminate} after using them. {Remember|Bear in mind} that the mold odor {can|may} be {strong|powerful} especially if the {mold|mould} is thick and clustered. You don’t {want|need} to be smelling that, right?

Mold can stick on your {clothes|clothing} and {may|might} spread to your other {clothes|clothing} if you wash them together with other clothes in the washing machine. So {instead of|rather than} washing it, wear {clothes|clothing} {that|which} you can throw away after you soil them. {You will|You’ll} {need|have} to wear {goggles and gloves|gloves and goggles}. You {need|will need} to protect your eyes from {these|such} particles. {It is|It’s} dangerous for them to reach your eyes and not wearing protective gloves when cleaning {might|may} allow mold to {stick|adhere} to other parts of {your|the} body. May we suggest you {do not|don’t} eat if you {have not|haven’t} showered after general black mold remediation.

The spores can easily spread in the air so {it is|it’s} {best|ideal} to use proper ventilation in the room while cleaning. These spores {can|may} also stick to the blade, so to {lessen|lower} the work of having to clean {the|out the} fans that {you’ve|you have} used, buy those {cheap|inexpensive} fans {that|which} you {can|could} {simply|just} throw away afterward. {It is|It’s} {better|much better} to be safe than sorry. Sometimes, it’s {better|much better} to spend a little {amount|quantity} of money on hygiene and {good|decent} health. {When it comes|In regards} to the mask that {you are|you’re} wearing, {if|in case} {you have|you’ve got} a thin {mask,|mask, then} you can wear {several|a few} layers of it so {you|that you} {do not|don’t} have to {buy|obtain} the N-95 which {can|could} be a {bit|little} costly. Wearing several layers of the mask should be {sufficient|adequate}.

{Do not|Don’t} remove this in the process of cleaning. Turn off your furnace and air-conditioner when {you are|you’re} dealing with molds. We don’t {want|need} those spores spreading all {over|around} the {room|area} or even the {house|home} and causing some breathing and respiratory {problems|issues}. You {can|could} also seal the door {gaps|openings} to prevent any particles from spreading {to|into} {the other|another} room. Prepare your bleach{, |}brushes, rags, gloves, disinfectants and {everything|all} you need for {the|your} cleaning {process|procedure}.

Mold remediation {process|Procedure}

Now that {you are|you’re} geared up for the {mold|mould} cleaning or black mold removal, we {can|could} commence the cleaning {process|procedure}. First, check for the signs of mold. {Check|Assess} the moldy walls and {open|start} {these up|up these} by using a screwdriver. Don’t {hesitate|be afraid} to cut through the drywall {since|as} {you will|you’ll} be replacing this anyway, or a {professional|specialist} {will|is going to} do the {replacing|replacement} for you. 

{Make|Be} {sure|certain} that you get to the {root cause|origin} of the molds and you {should|ought to} open up the walls to {find|see} them. Scrub the surfaces with a mild {cleaner|cleanser} and do {this|so} thoroughly. After scrubbing, leave the solution for {a little while|some time} to {allow it to|let it} penetrate through the {wood or wall|wall or wood}. While the {mold|mould} cleaner is {setting|putting} in, {you may now|now you can} clean up the wall debris. Use a vacuum cleaner to {get rid of|eliminate} the moldy wall.

{As for|In terms of} the {larger|bigger} {parts|components}, {place|put} these in a sturdy garbage bag. After a {few|couple of} minutes, you {may|might} now wipe the mold cleaners. {Do not|Don’t} wash them. You can wipe them off then you may seal the wood surfaces with a wood primer. This will restore the {wood|timber} or the surface to a better {condition|state}. Once this is {done|finished}, {you may now|now you can} {install|set up} negative air machines to {get rid of|eliminate} any leftover {smell|odor} of the {mold|mould} cleaner and the {mold|mould} itself.

Get the {right|Ideal} cleaning products

First things first – prepare what you need. Basically, you {need|will need} a {reliable|trusted} product in cleaning {mold|mould}. Many household owners {think that|believe} bleach is an effective mold treatment. But contrary to the popular view, it {isn’t|is not}. Bleach is a {strong|powerful} chemical that can {harm|damage} your health. 

{Also|Additionally}, it {does not|doesn’t} {get rid of|eliminate} the mold. It only changes its {color|colour} from black to white or {grey|gray}. After a {few|couple of} weeks of bleaching, {there is|there’s} still a {big|huge} {possibility|probability} that the mold will {come back|return}.

A DIY mold remediation product {that|which} mold specialists usually recommend is borax – a white powder {which|that} you can {purchase|buy} from the {grocery, at|supermarket, in} the detergent or laundry {section|area}. To clean mold using borax, mix the powder in {one|1} gallon of {hot|warm} water. {Apply|Use} the solution on the surface affected by {mold|mould} and {scrub|wash} the area with a rag or brush until the {mold|mould} disappears. {There’s|There is} no need to {rinse|wash} it off {because|since} borax will keep the mold from coming back. 

However, {do not|don’t} use this cleaner on porous surfaces {like|such as} drywall. Such materials absorb water {easily|readily}. This {could|may} aggravate the problem {because as|since} you know – {mold|mould} loves moist environments.

Some other safe yet {effective|powerful} products {you|that you} {can|may} use to kill mold are baking soda, vinegar, Tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide, and detergent. If {you’re|you are} using vinegar, simply {put|place} it in a spray bottle. No need to add water. Spray the vinegar {on|onto} the surface and leave it for an hour.

Wear the right {clothing|clothes }

{Make sure|Ensure} {you|that you} are {properly|appropriately} geared before you {start|begin} with your DIY mold cleanup. Wear gloves, goggles, and loose {clothing|clothes} especially if you’re using a {chemical|compound}. After cleaning the mold, dispose of your clothing and gears or {thoroughly|completely} {wash|clean} them. Mold spores can {easily|quickly} spread {within|inside} your {house|home} as they travel through the {air|atmosphere}.

When it comes to black mold removal, {it is|it’s} {better|far better} to ask professionals to {do|perform} it. Black mold is a dangerous {type|sort} of mold and {can|may} have a hazardous effect on your health.

Dry the surface

The {last|final} and most {important part of|significant part } how to {remove|eliminate} {mold|mould} is drying the surface. Take note that moisture is the {main|root} {cause of|reason for} mold build-up. These fungi love the humid, damp {environment|atmosphere}. {Since|Because} {you will|you’ll} be cleaning mold with water, the surface will be {wet|moist} for a {period of time|time period}. Aim to {speed up|accelerate} the drying process by ventilating the {area|region}. Open {doors and windows|windows and doors} if possible and run a dehumidifier. You {can|could} also use air movers to {quickly|rapidly} dry the surface.

Mistakes to Avoid While Mold Cleanup

When doing mold remediation {on|in} your own, {make sure|Be Sure} to avoid the following mistakes:

• {Choosing|Selecting} the wrong mold cleaner. Again, bleach {is not|isn’t} what kills {mold|mould}. Cleaning mold with bleach {is not|isn’t} going to help. The best way to clean mold is {by |}using natural products {like|such as} {the ones|those} mentioned {above|previously}.
• Not {addressing|Fixing} cross-contamination. {Here’s|This is} one important thing you {should|ought to} know. {Once|As soon as} you {start|get started} scrubbing {off |}the mold from the surface, {some|a few} of the spores will {become|get} airborne. This means {that |}your entire home can be exposed to mold infestation. Thus, {it is|it’s} {essential|crucial} to containing the {area|region}. Dispose of all {the|of the} cleaning materials and {clothing|clothes} you used to {prevent|reduce} cross-contamination.
• Not {eliminating|removing} the moisture {source|supply}. {No matter how|However} hard you {clean|wash} the parts of your {home|house} infested {by|with} mold, it will just keep coming back until you {address|cover} the moisture {problems|issues}. After the cleanup, {speak with|talk to} a mold remediation {professional|specialist} to {determine|ascertain} the causes of water {problems|issues} or leaks in your {house|home}. 

{Just|Much} like most homeowners, {you are|you’re} {eager|willing} to learn how to remediate mold {on your own|by yourself}. It’s a {good|fantastic} thing and {knowing|understanding} the must-dos and must-haves to clean mold is {what|exactly what} you {need|will need} to be successful in this {project|undertaking}. 

{Additionally|Furthermore}, learning what kills mold spores {effectively|efficiently} is {a must|essential}. You certainly don’t {want|need} to spend a {lot|whole lot} of money on cleaners {that|which} don’t work.

Nonetheless, if {you are|you’re} unsure about the {entire|whole} mold mitigation {process|procedure}, or the mold infestation in your {home|house} is too big to {handle|manage}, it is {recommended|strongly recommended} that you work with professionals. 

{They are|They’re} the best people to work on it, having not only the knowledge and training but also the {tools|resources} and equipment to effectively {get rid of|eliminate} mold.

Now, see where this has taken us? Mold remediation is {quite|rather} a {complicated|complex} {process|procedure}. It will {take up|occupy} time. {It is|It’s} {best|ideal} to {prevent|stop} the occurrence of the {mold|mould} by using {proper|appropriate} humidifiers and maintaining good ventilation in each of the rooms (especially {basement|cellar } and crawl space) of your {houses|homes}. {Also|Additionally}, clean up the mold {as soon as|once} you spot them so {you|that you} {do not|don’t} {end|wind} up doing a {bigger|larger} job. Got a mold problem and {want|wish} to know more? Don’t {hesitate|be afraid} to call us!