Tag: mold

The easiest way to control mold inside a building is to prevent it from ever growing in the first place.  Mold is always present in the atmosphere and filtering it totally from entering a building can be an expensive endeavor.  Imagine the loaf of bread you have in your kitchen.  No matter how air tight you try to keep the bag, as long as the food for the mold is present, the mold will eat it.  Mold loves to grow in wet areas so for you to have mold control you’ll want to make sure that any leaks or spills are quickly repaired and cleaned.

In order to control mold you should do frequent inspections of your building to make sure that no problem areas are forming.  Any leaks in the roof or drips from a plumbing pipe are prime locations for mold to start growing.  By carefully making sure that there are no environments that the mold likes to grow in, you can drastically cut down on any mold related problems you suffer.

If you do notice an area of mold growing it’s important to keep the mold under control and prevent it from spreading.  Find out where the source of moisture is as soon as possible and have a repair crew fix the problem.  Once the source of moisture is removed you can tackle the problem of controlling and killing the mold.  If the area is small, under roughly 10 square feet you should be able to take care of the problem.  Larger areas however should be taken care of by mold control professionals.  Killing mold consists of thoroughly scrubbing all of the affected areas with soap and water to remove all of the mold.  Any removable objects with the mold on it should be wrapped in tight plastic and thrown out.  After you remove the mold you may need to repaint the area because of discoloration from the mold.

After the structure of a house has been in contact with a large amount of water, mold repair will be a necessary step before the home can be occupied again. The steps used to correct the problem will vary, depending on the amount of water that the building was exposed to, the area of the mold damage, and the types of materials that were affected. Some of these tasks can be carried out by the homeowner, while others may be more suitable for an experienced contractor.

In small areas of damage, such as the area around a plumbing leak, it is possible for the owner to complete the mold repair. Non-porous surfaces, such as tile or sealed wood can be wiped down with a solution of bleach and water, and that will kill the fungus successfully. Materials that absorb water, such as fiberglass insulation, drywall, and bare wood may require replacement to remove the mold.

When the damage is more extensive, a professional mold repair service is almost always required. The longer the surfaces of the home remains wet, the more likely it is for mold to take root in the structure. Professional services will have the appropriate diagnosis equipment, such as moisture meters, that will quickly, and effectively, find all areas that have been damaged by water intrusion and mold, even behind walls and under flooring.

Once the areas in need of repair are identified, the professionals can quickly start the mold repair process. All water-saturated areas will be stripped down to the framing, with all porous materials discarded. Then special fans and other drying equipment will be used to reduce the home to a reasonable percentage of moisture content. Finally, the professional service can replace all removed materials, and return the building back to original condition. By completing the mold repair process quickly, further damage to the home can be avoided, and this can save money on future repairs.

If you have mold in your home or office, you will need to make sure that you remove it thoroughly.  Mold is a fungus and it is spread through the air and when mold spores land on clothing or animals.  As the spores are carried through the air, they land, and then multiply.  The only way to stop this cycle is to clean mold and prevent it from returning.

Mold thrives in moist areas, so you should pay close attention to areas in your home where water is present.  If you discover mold in these areas, you will want to remove it.  To clean mold you can use household bleach.  Always follow the instructions on the bleach bottle and wear gloves.  A breathing mask (available in home department stores) is a good choice as well.  This will help prevent breathing in any mold spores and becoming sick.  When you clean mold, you should also open a window and make certain that there is plenty of ventilation in the room.  An open window serves two purposes.  First, it will help dry out the environment, preventing the mold from spreading and it will help air out any fumes from bleach.  Bleach is a very powerful substance and should be used with caution.

To prevent mold from returning, you should take steps to locate the moisture and correct the problem.  It will not be beneficial to simply clean mold only to have it return again.  You will need to locate the source of the moisture and either repair it or use some type of water sealant to keep the area dry.  Showers and bathroom areas can be wiped down with a dry towel daily to help prevent mold growth.  Basements should be checked regularly to ensure that there isn’t excessive water present, causing mold to grow.

Mold can be a toxic visitor in your home that you may not even know is there. Home inspections are one way of combating mold and keeping your home clean and healthy for everyone who lives in it.

There are some forms of mold, like toxic black mold, that can be very dangerous to the health of the people inhabiting the home. If mold infestation gets too severe, the home may need to be evacuated for a period of time. It can be detrimental to one’s health to be exposed to certain types of mold for too long. Young children and animals may be more likely to directly ingest mold because they are more likely to put things in their mouths. Homes with pets and children especially benefit from home inspections.

Once a home inspection is done, you must have the mold removed if it has been found, both for your own health and for your house’s structural integrity. There are a number of mold removal companies in areas across the country. Mold removal companies will come into your home and remove the mold from the infested areas. Mold removal companies can charge a variety of prices so it may be a good idea for you to do some research on mold removal companies before choosing one.

Some mold removal companies may be more popular and therefore may be booked when you need them. To be serviced by these companies you may be required to wait for a period of time. In some cases this is not acceptable and the mold removal must be done right away. Many mold removal companies will do their best to accommodate you and your needs to get your mold removed as quickly as possible. You can find a variety of companies that will inspect your home for things such as mold infestation just by looking in you local phone book. Some types of mold may require special protection, so be sure to get professional advice before you attempt large-scale mold removal by yourself.

Slime mold, on a certain scientific sort of level, is absolutely fascinating. However, on another level, the practical, day-to-day living in your home, garden or lawn level, the interest is pretty firmly centered on how to get rid of it.

What makes slime mold so interesting on a scientific level is the way it blurs the line between plant and animal. Once classified as a fungus, slime mold has a life cycle that moves through a phase in which it is more animal like – that’s when it is growing and eating – before moving to the phase in which it reproduces. During the reproductive phase, it is more akin to a plant.

However, intellectual interest in this fascinating organism can wane when it is invading your lawn, garden, or – in some cases – your home. Then the matter becomes one of how to get rid of it. Slime mold flourishes in moist, damp, shady areas, and comes in a variety of colors, some startlingly bright, others a bit less dramatic.

Fortunately, for the most part, there’s no need to break out the strong, harsh chemicals to deal with a slime mold outbreak. Eliminating slime mold is a fairly simple process. It wants to be where it is wet, so all you really have to do is change to conditions – dry it out.

Scraping or shoveling up the slime mold, allowing it to dry out and then disposing of it will take care of the immediate slime mold problem. To prevent further outbreaks, you’ll have to investigate the possibilities involved in drying out the area that the slime mold appeared in, such as better drainage.

Slime mold is a fairly simple problem to deal with in most cases, one that doesn’t usually require the use of harsh chemicals to resolve. If it’s the result of an unusual amount of rain, then just drying up and disposing of the slime mold will probably be all you need to do. If the slime mold is a more frequent issue, then making the area it grows in a bit drier and free of decomposing plant matter will most likely resolve the matter.

Toxic Mold exposure can result in lung infections, skin infections, flu-like symptoms and chronic fatigue.  If you want to prevent theses conditions from affecting your family then you need to make sure there is no toxic mold in your home.  Toxic mold exposure is not only from mold spores that you can see but can come from mold spores that are hidden in your walls. 

If you have Toxic Mold exposure that you can see then it will be very easy for you to get rid of it.  You will need to quarantine off the room where the mold is growing, dry it out and wipe away all of the mold.  You can use a disinfectant cleanser or bleach to kill off the mold spores.  You may also want to run an air purifier to trap any airborne spores from getting into your lungs.  If you have Toxic Mold exposure that you can not see then you will want to call in a Mold Remediation Analyst and a Mold Remediation Specialist to make sure the mold is removed from your home.

To prevent Toxic Mold exposure you will want to keep a close eye on your home.  If you ever have a flood or increase in humidity in your home you want to watch for water damage.  Water that has built up in your home will provide the best breeding ground for mold spores.  You can simply prevent Toxic Mold exposure by keeping your home dry.

Toxic Mold exposure can be prevented by keeping an eye on your home and having regular mold inspections.  Keeping your family safe should be your number one priority in your home.  Keeping Toxic Mold away is relatively easy and will help prevent poor medical conditions with your family.

Mold can enter a home very quickly, and can spread even more rapidly once it’s been established.  If you find yourself with a mold problem, remember that there are effective mold cleaning methods available to you that should not only kill the mold, but allow you to remove it completely from your home.  The first thing you should do when performing a mold cleaning is check and stop all leakage or wet areas in the home.  Since mold thrives on moisture, you should locate the source of the problem and then try to stop it.  Dehumidifiers can be a big help in this process.  Next you’ll want to keep the mold spores from spreading to other areas of the home, so seal off the perimeter in order to prevent that from happening.  Otherwise, the mold may move through the air into other rooms without you realizing it. 

During the mold cleaning process, try not to stir up too much dust if possible.  This can push the mold into cracks or through holes and allow it to settle down and spread in new areas.  Also, protect yourself from breathing it in by wearing a mask and gloves.  It is also recommended that footwear stay sealed and covered, otherwise the mold may be transferred to flooring from your shoes.  Once you’ve finished the mold cleaning, simply dispose of the mask and any other protective covering.  Some items you can use during the mold cleaning include strong disinfectants, bleach, and other potent detergents.  All of these should kill any mold spores that are thriving.  Once you remove the mold, try to get it out of the home though a window if possible so you do not transport it throughout the house in case there are any surviving spores.  The key to a successful mold cleaning is making sure that all spores are dead, and that the problem has been identified and can be prevented in the future.

If you have several cold-like symptoms and have been recently working around a mold-breeding environment you may be experiencing the symptoms of toxic mold. Oftentimes these symptoms are misread as feeling under the weather or catching a cold when they are in fact related to mold exposure. It is best to know the symptoms of toxic mold so you can recognize when you are dealing with ailments from exposure to mold and avoid situations that would make the symptoms worse. Some of the symptoms are less severe, like a sinus headache or dizziness but sometimes the symptoms get as serious as bleeding in the lungs.

One of the early signs of a health problem related to toxic mold is a headache. If you have been working in a basement area for a long period of time for example you might find yourself feeling dizzy or have pain or pressure in the sinus area behind the eyes. These are both symptoms of toxic mold and if you notice these symptoms you should contact your doctor and take care to avoid situations which require further exposure to the area or structure where you were originally affected by the mold. Although it may seem like common sense, the symptoms can become worse with increased exposure.

The more serious symptoms that can result from this increased exposure are bleeding of the lungs and an increased risk of tuberculosis. Thankfully if you know the symptoms and can recognize their effect symptoms like these can be treated quickly or avoided all together. The most important thing is to look out for symptoms of toxic mold early and not confuse those symptoms for other possible ailments. Keep in mind that mold of all kinds usually occurs in moist and warm areas and thus these kind of areas are the most likely to cause any symptoms of toxic mold. Staying informed about the symptoms and monitoring your personal health are some of the easiest personal prevention solutions.

Cleanup or Throw Away

Mold cleanup can be accomplished if the mold is thriving on a hard non-porous material such as ceramic tile.  If however, you find mold on carpet or ceiling tiles you may have to dispose of and replace the item.  Wood items can survive a mold cleanup if the problem is caught early on. Mold damages and rots wood so the longer the exposure the more extensive the damage.  Valuable or sentimental pieces that are exposed to mold growth for a long period of time should be taken to a restoration expert for any chance of salvage. 

Cleanup Techniques

Hard non-porous surfaces should be scrubbed with detergent and water, and then dried completely.  Chemicals are not generally recommended for mold cleanup or prevention because a minute level of mold spores will remain anyway, just waiting for the right conditions to grow again.  Correcting a moisture problem, such as a dripping pipe, by repairing it immediately and regular scrubbing should be enough to control household mold. There may be instances when a professional will recommend a chemical solution to cleanup large infected areas of mold.

Unseen Mold

Some mold may be partially or completely hidden from view.  You may only smell a sour odor or see a slight water stain outline to tell you something is not right.  The mold maybe growing inside the wall, just under the wallpaper on the sheetrock or both.  In cases such as this a professional is required.  Mold cleanup of this type can be extensive and can be dangerous to people with allergies.  The spores can be blown into the air if the mold cleanup is not done properly.

Some mold maybe found growing in windowsills under a leaking window.  The leaking maybe slow and go unnoticed for some time, causing the wood to rot and the paint to chip.  Fix these types of problems as soon as they are noticed to stop mold from growing in these places.

During the past two decades, the health problems associated with mold have been getting a great deal more media attention, increasing awareness of the potential health risks of mold. While mold is very common, there are certain strains that can be more problematic than others, particularly for the very young and the very old, making it important to familiarize yourself with toxic mold symptoms. That way, there’s a good chance that medical intervention can prevent lasting health problems.

The inhalation of mold spores is often the source of health problems and conditions related to mold. Thus, it is not surprising that many toxic mold symptoms have to do with the respiratory system. These symptoms include asthma, sinus headaches and nasal congestion, pulmonary hemorrhage, and chronic cough. An assortment of flu-like symptoms and an increased risk of tuberculosis have also been reported as being associated with exposure to toxic mold.

There are a variety of other symptoms that are also associated with exposure to mold. These toxic mold symptoms include fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, such as memory loss, hearing problems, skin rashes and other skin problems, and frequent or constant sore throat. Some studies have indicated that long-term cognitive problems can result.

Treating health problems relating to mold exposure can be complex and challenging. It is far easier to do your best to prevent them by getting rid of the mold. The basic way to get rid of mold is to clean the affected area with bleach and make the necessary changes to reduce or eliminate the moisture, whether condensation or an actual leak, that creates a hospitable environment for mold to grow.

If you are experiencing what could be toxic mold symptoms, it may be a good idea to do a thorough inspection of your home, checking for mold, and to seek medical attention. Toxic mold has been associated with a range of health problems, and some studies indicate that certain types of damage from toxic mold can have lasting effects on health and overall well-being.