Tag: mold

Once a mold problem is noticed in a dwelling or working environment the first question that comes to mind is how to clean mold.  However, the answer to the question of  how to clean mold is not a simple one line answer, but rather a list of checks one must make in order to assure the question ‘how to clean mold’ is answered thoroughly and in turn, the moldy space is mold free and safe.

The first point of interest when asking how to clean mold is proper safety and attire.  Because mold is a living organism that produces chemicals harmful to humans it is important to remember to protect yourself.  In order to do this, when cleaning mold one should wear a respirator mask to filter the air, a pair of rubber gloves to keep from coming in contact with the mold, and a pair of goggles in order to avoid any contact to they eyes.  After the safety precautions are done, one can than begin preparing to further answer the question ‘how to clean mold’.  

Now it is important to remember that mold damages the items that it grows on, and therefore not all items will be cleanable.  This applies particularly to porous or fabric surfaces such as ceiling tiles and rugs.  These damaged porous items may need to be thrown out or given over to professional care to assure the mold is cleaned up.  To begin, find the damaged area and scrub the mold off with detergent and water, than dry the area completely.  Now locate the leaky fixture or wall that is allowing the water to seep into the area and fix this problem.  This will prevent the mold from returning. 

Finally, our last step in how to clean mold would be cosmetic.  After having assured that all the mold is cleaned up, and the area completely dry repaint or caulk these areas.  Now we have answered the question ‘how to clean mold’.

Nearly anything can begin to have mold growth over time under the right conditions.  This than leaves the question ‘how to remove mold?’ foremost in a person’s mind.  However when asking yourself how to remove mold it is important to consider what the mold has grown on, in order to take the correct path of action.  If you are asking how to remove mold on fabric, there are a list of solutions to try. 

The simplest answer to how to remove mold on a fabric is to simply brush off all visible mold and place the item in direct hot sunlight.  However this method is not sure fire, nor is it always possible.  Another solution to moldy fabrics is dry cleaning, and still another is presoaking then bleaching.  But it is fair to say many mold problems will not be on the fabric of garments. 

This, then makes us ask once again how to remove mold from a different surface, and the most common of these surfaces is shower and bathtub walls, along with tile ling and grout.  This solution is an easy one; 1 part bleach 10 parts water.  Simply mix the solution and scrub down the surface wearing rubber gloves.  Allow the area to dry completely and make sure you have removed all the mold.  

Finally, when asking how to remove mold it is important to remember surfaces that are not easily cleaned, but frequently develop mold growth.  These surfaces include upholstery, mattresses, and rugs and demand another solution to the question ‘how to remove mold’.  These surfaces should be cleaned using as little water as possible.  Remove as much mold as you can than shampoo lightly with any upholstery cleaner.  After you have done this spray with a fungicide spray and allow drying completely, in sunlight if possible.

Everyone has at some point in time, gone into their bathroom or garage and has seen the ugly presence of mold on their walls or shower curtains.  They take out the mold cleaner and start scrubbing, wondering how the mold got into their home in the first place.   Mold starts off as tiny spore that are organically produced in nature  and are used to break down old foliage, trees, and dirt.  Once the airborne spores traveling to a home via the wind, and land on a wet or moist surface, mold begins to grow and will spread quiet rapidly under the correct circumstances.

Mold can cause some serious health problems so it is important to get mold cleaner and remove the mold in the quickest, and safest manor possible.  The health problems that can arise from mold growing in the home include, but are not limited to: respiratory injections and problems such as asthma, nasal congestion, mood swings leading to depression, headaches, and even irritable bowel syndrome.

While mold is common and can grow to the point where a typical mold cleaner will not do the trick and a professional has to be   called so that the removal process can be done safely and with the least amount of damage to the home.

Some ways to prevent mold from growing include spraying the mold  with a mold cleaner as soon as it starts to grow,  keeping the home dry and cleaning up any water that spills onto the floor so that the moisture doesn’t have time to seep into the floor, and to ventilate high moisture rooms such as the bathroom or kitchen.  When these precautions are taken, mold growth can be severely limited and can usually be cleaned with a mold cleaner or other mold removing process.  Many homes get mold, the important thing is to remove the mold as soon as possible with a mold cleaner or by a professional so that it does not spread and cause health risks to your family.

In order to have a good quality of life in your home you need to make sure that your home is not making you sick.  There are mold spores everywhere and under the right circumstances the mold can reproduce and become a widespread infestation in your home.  Mold can begin to leak toxic liquid or gas resulting in mycotoxins which can become lethal to humans and animals.  You may not always be able to see the growth of mold in your home, but if you have toxic mold living with you then you will be able to see the effects reflected in the health of your family.

Toxic mold removal is essential if you want to stay in your home after you have discovered you are having mold problems.  Some signs that you are in need of toxic mold removal are found when your family begins to get sick.  Some people with weakened immune systems will show the affects of mold faster then well folks will.  If you have family members with asthma or on steroidal medication then theses are the folks that will become ill from mycotoxins first.  Chronic fatigue, respiratory problems, flu-like symptoms and skin infections are all signs that you have a mold problem in your home.

The problem of residential mold contamination is quite prevalent these days, with so many homes tightly sealed for energy efficiency. Airtight homes seal in more moisture, which can feed the growth of mold, allowing its spores to attach to surfaces and thrive. The byproducts of mold growth can cause a variety of health problems, ranging in severity from runny nose, sneezing, and cough to severe breathing trouble and bleeding in the lungs. Mold cleaners are available in a variety of forms to remove this danger from your home, ranging from do it yourself chemical treatments to professional mold cleaners.

Do it yourself mold cleaners are available from a variety of home improvement stores, and can be used to resolve small areas of infection. However, mold removal should never be done by homeowners with mold sensitivities or allergies and protective apparel should be worn when tackling this problem to avoid inhaling mold spores that can be released into the air as the area is scrubbed. A dust filtering mask is necessary, and rubber gloves are recommended to help prevent skin irritation. Many mold cleaners are very effective, containing fungicidal ingredients to remove existing mold and help prevent recurrences in the area.

If mold growth has spread over a large area in your home, or is in an inaccessible area such as under flooring or inside walls, professional mold cleaners may be your best bet to solve your problem. Mold can become deeply rooted in these areas, growing into wood and wallboard. A mold removal expert with experience in these matters can assess the damage to determine whether materials such as wallboard and wood flooring can be cleaned effectively or must be replaced.

Regardless of the method you choose to resolve your problem, household mold should be removed as quickly as possible. Mold can grow very rapidly, producing ever higher concentrations of mold spores in the air your family breathes. Addressing the problem immediately with effective mold cleaners is the key to protecting your family against the risk of mold related illness and allergies.

Black mold is one of the most devastating types of mold to infect both a home and human beings.  It has been known to cause illness and even death in certain people, and it spreads very rapidly, sometimes taking over the entire home.  There are several warning signs that everyone should pay attention to in order to be warned about a possible black mold infestation.  First and foremost, people living in areas of the country with high humidity should pay special attention and look for black mold.  If the interior of your home has high humidity levels, this can be a breeding ground for the mold.  Basements that are dark and damp are also places where the mold likes to grow, so be sure to check it often and treat these areas if possible for mold growth.  Any kind of pipe leaks or water dripping in areas of the house are also warning signs that black mold can grow there, so be sure to investigate at least every 6 months or so for these drips and leaks.

Black mold starts off very small, which makes it more difficult to notice, however this mold also spreads extremely quickly and has a dark color that is hard to miss.  If you begin to notice musty or mildew like smells, it’s important to find out what is causing them and where they’re coming from, as black mold has this scent.  You may also notice that you or your family members are becoming more prone to colds that last longer than usual.  This could be an indication that there is black mold in your home.  It’s important to know the warning signs of black mold so you can prevent it from affecting you and your loved ones.  Catching it early and eliminating it as soon as possible is the best defense against this unhealthy invader.

Some types of mold are toxic, and some are just a nuisance. If you have mold, it’s important to figure out which kind you have.  Harmless mold is merely unsightly and annoying; it can be quickly cleaned with a diluted bleach solution.  If it grows back, that means that the problem is more than just a surface issue. You may need to remove part of the wall where the mold is growing in order to address the problem at its source.

However, before you do this (or have a contractor do this) it’s a good idea to see if the mold is toxic black mold or another harmful variety.  (A mold can be any color and still cause health problems, since there are many varieties of mold and just as many individual reactions to mold.) Before disturbing the mold further, a mold test can determine if toxic black mold is present, or if another mold variety is there.  Since mold danger increases as spores spread throughout the air, a big toxic black mold problem or other mold issue will need to be well-contained so that the air quality  in other parts of the house isn’t harmed.

A mold test done by a mold inspection professional can offer a good idea of the type and degree of mold present. This may take a while, but in the meantime you can ensure that conditions in your house don’t favor mold. Use a dehumidifier to make life unpleasant for mold, since toxic black mold thrives on moisture.  If the mold test reveals a serious problem, you many need to temporarily evacuate your house while it’s cleaned up by a professional.   Like asbestos removal, mold remediation is best left to a professional rather than to a homeowner.  Increased exposure to toxic black mold spores can cause serious health problems, and any person (professional or otherwise) should wear adequate protective gear while working with it.

It’s important to fix all leaks in a home as soon as their presence is detected.  Ignoring them damages property and makes a mess but it also leads to the growth of a toxic form of mold that can cause allergic reactions that can lead to severe respiratory distress.

It’s impossible to develop an environment that is 100% free of mold.  They’re, quite literally, everywhere and won’t cause harm in most cases.  The problem occurs when growing conditions are favorable and the mold colony reaches a size that contaminates the environment.

One such infestation is called black mold because it stains walls, ceilings, floors, and everything else it grows on black.  It’s highly toxic and ridding it from a home calls for the help of black mold removal technicians.

Black mold removal is never successful or safe when done by oneself.  In fact, it’s such a highly specialized service that the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has special guidelines, regulations, and procedures for anyone attempting to do so.
Black mold removal, often referred to as remediation, is a four-step procedure that requires special training and specialized equipment.  The goal is to not merely remove the damaged building materials and clean up the structure.  These things must be done in a way that doesn’t further contaminate the environment and leaves little chance of regrowth.

Black mold removal procedures also require special handling and disposal of the contaminated materials removed from a home.  Regulations vary according to local government statutes but the professional remediation specialists know how to do this safely and legally.

Many black mold infestations are not caused by mechanical failures but are caused instead by acts of nature such as flood, rain, and storm damage.  The presence of black mold colonization may not show up immediately but it is almost certain to be in the beginning stages.

Should your home suffer such damages, the obvious repairs may be costly.  Nevertheless, it could be a wise idea to call a black mold removal specialist when the repairs are made, even if no presence is yet detected.

It may take months before colonization becomes apparent.  By then the job required of the black mold removal specialists is bigger and, accordingly, much more costly.

If you have a black mold problem it’s best to eradicate it early so you avoid health problems down the line. Cleaning black mold isn’t difficult if you know the steps to take. The first step is to understand the cause of the mold so you can remove the environmental conditions that affect mold growth. A warm and moist environment is often at the root of the mold so reducing the moisture and the temperature eliminates further growth. Although cleaning black mold isn’t difficult if you don’t remove the source of mold growth the problem will come back.

The second step is to make sure the mold doesn’t spread to other areas. Since mold spores can become airborne this can be tricky. There are different ways to prevent the mold from spreading, but it is generally agreed that preventing possibly contaminated air from flowing to other rooms is the best course of action. Close off air passageways between rooms and you’ll make sure that the problem doesn’t spread to other areas while you are actively removing it. Since black mold is such a major health threat you definitely don’t want to deal with it recurring in other areas of your home, so take care to make sure the possibly airborne mold doesn’t circulate outside of the room being cleaned.

Finally the last step is too actually removing the mold itself with soap and a cloth. Make sure to also disinfect the area to make sure all mold is eliminated. Make sure the area is not left wet as this maybe cause a recurrence in the mold growth. Eliminating all mold can be an arduous task, but you’ll be happy to have removed the health risk from your home. It is well worth the effort. Don’t let cleaning black mold fall to the bottom of your to-do list, take care of it early and take precautions when doing so.

Black mold or toxic mold can form in your home after water damage or a period of intense humidity.  In order to make sure that your family and pets stay safe when they are home you will want to go through the steps of removing black mold as soon as possible.  Since mold is very easily spread and can make people very sick you want to make sure that you are as careful as possible during this process so that you do not have a reappearance of mold and so that you do not become sick as you are cleaning.

The first step to removing black mold is to make sure the space infested with the mold has had time to completely dry.  If you want to clean a room that still has standing water in it then you will need to pump the water out of the room, get fans to air out the room and possibly get a dehumidifier as well to make sure the room is dry before you begin work. 

When you are about to begin cleaning you want to make sure that you properly seal off the room.  When removing black mold from a room you should duct tape plastic sheets over the entryway to any of the other rooms.  It is also a good idea to ask any family members to evacuate the house during the decontamination process.  You should take precautions yourself and wear a mask or ventilator over your mouth and a suit that completely covers your body so that the mold does not make you sick.

Clean all affected surfaces with soapy water, bleach or a disinfectant cleanser.  If the mold has dried to the area you are about to clean then you should mist it lightly with water as that will help you in removing the black mold and stop the black mold from spreading.  During the cleaning process you may want to run an air purifier in the home so that any airborne contaminates are trapped. 

After the cleaning process make sure that you remove all the mold laden materials properly.  It is best to get any trash related to the cleaning out through the nearest window or door without trying to move it through the house.  If you have cleaned effectively you will not see the mold problem reoccur in the future.