Tag: mold

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.

The attic is a wonderful secret space in a home with a myriad of possibilities.  Most people will use their attic as a storage space for holiday ornaments or baby clothes.  If you are a super do it yourselfer then you may want to turn your attic into a workspace where you can be creative.  In either case you will want to make sure that neither your home nor attic has Black Mold.

Black Mold usually comes from mold being allowed to grow after a water source has fed it.  If you have had any leaks in your roof or an intense bought of high humidity in your home then you want to look into attic Black Mold remediation.  Most folks have exposed insulation in their attic and Black Mold would love to take up residence there.

After a storm you want to go up and check your attic for Black Mold.  Does the attic smell moldy?  Are the black mold spores attaching to the walls and in the insulation, taking over your space and growing?  If you can see the attic Black Mold infestations then you will be able to fix them yourself.  If you are not able to see the attic Black Mold infestations you should call in a professional Mold Remediation Specialist to take a look at your attic.  Mold Remediation Specialists have a way of testing your home to make sure it is free of the poisonous gasses created by Black Mold.

There is no reason not to have a Black Mold free attic.  You want your home to be in good shape and safe for your family.  You do not want attic Black Mold to grow and cause serious illness to your family.  Take care of attic Black Mold quickly and you will not run into any drama.

When you or your family get sick it can be a long time before you feel good again.  You want to rush out to the doctor to get the prescribed medicine so that whatever virus that is living inside of you will be killed off and your immune system will return back to normal.  You also want to be able to figure out the cause of the sickness so that you can get rid of it in your home so that your family will not continue to be sick.  If you are thinking that your family may be sick from Black Mold allergy symptoms then there are several things to look for in your home and in your family.

The first thing you want to do to diagnose Black Mold Allergy is to take a look at the symptoms your family has come down with.  Is your family exhibiting flu-like symptoms, skin irritations, lung infections or fatigue?  These are just some of the many signs of Black Mold allergy attacks.  You do want to seek out medical attention to make sure that your child has a Black Mold allergy and did not just catch the flu from other children at school.  Talk to teachers and parents of your child and you will be doing all the right research to find clues as to whether or not your diagnosis of Black Mold allergy is correct.

The second thing you want to do to diagnose Black Mold allergy symptoms is to take a look at your home.  Was there any recent water damage or spike in humidity?  There is mold everywhere and if the mold spores have had a good dose of water then they could reproduce and create Black Mold in your home.  You may be able to see the Black Mold forming on your walls and then you can simply clean it away with bleach or a disinfectant.  If you can only smell the mold but can not see it you may want to call a Mold Remediation Specialist to come to your home and remove the Black Mold and Black Mold allergy problem from your home.  

Black mold is a form of the fungus Aspergillus Niger and usually affects fruits and vegetables.  Most often black mold affects crops of onions and kills out strains of peanuts and grapes.  Black mold can take root in a strain of potatoes and ruin an entire crop.  Lack mold spores can take hold in maple trees and grow fully when climate conditions are right.  However, there have been cases where black mold health related problems have arisen in horticulture workers.

Black mold health related problems can result in the lung disease Asperillosis.  Black mold heath related symptoms can also turn up in the form of Otomycosis.  Otomycosis is a fungal ear infection which can result in hearing loss, ear canal damage, and severe pain in some cases.  Asperillosis and Otomycosis can both be found in black mold on plants and sometimes in Egyptian tombs where it can fester for years before it is inhaled by humans.

There are some benefits that black mold health will promote for humans.  Black mold is used in factories in the production of enzymes which when fermented will create high fructose corn syrup and can be used to help wine clarity.  You do not want to consume black mold in its raw stat though as it could cause vomiting and high fevers.

Black mold health related issues are rare but certainly something to be watched out for.  If you are in an area where black mold health related problems are something you should be wary of then just look for the signs and avoid them.  You will be able to see black mold growing in plants and fruits and you will know not to eat the said fruit and alert authorities.  Many farmers at farmers markets have inspected their onions and peanuts fully and will not be passing the black mold health related risks on to you.

Mold may not seem like much of a problem.  After all, some molds can even be useful, such as the molds used to make some types of cheeses or penicillin. But did you know that toxic black mold can cause breathing problems, skin irritation, and severe allergies?  If you think your house might have toxic black mold, it’s a good idea to get black mold testing done to prevent the growth of further mold problems.  If you or your children are developing breathing problems or allergies and you can’t figure out why, it might be useful to obtain black mold testing.

Toxic black mold can grow behind your walls, in your air ducts, and in other unseen places from your basement to your attic. It may not be visible, but can cause health problems and structural problems nonetheless. Black mold testing is a way to see if your health problems are being caused by mold or if they’re from some other source. If the problem is severe, you may even have to move out of your house temporarily and allow a mold remediation service to remove the problem before you return. 

Black mold testing may show that you have a less toxic form of mold, in which case it may be safe for you to remove the mold yourself.  You should be aware, however, that where one type of mold is thriving, other kinds can also grow.  Even if your mold is of a less serious variety, the conditions might be right for toxic black mold to grow. Once the black mold testing service has been performed and the mold removed, it’s  a good idea to take precautions such as purchasing a dehumidifier and ensuring that any water leaks or damage are repaired. Take away humidity and you take away mold’s livelihood. Get black mold testing, get mold removed, and take appropriate action to ensure a mold-free home.

When mildew and mold is first detected in our homes, the first instinct is to grab that nearby sponge or expensive spray cleaner and begin a long and sometimes painful regiment of mildew mold removal.  Why is it that we put ourselves through such an exercise for the mildew mold removal process?  Why is mildew and mold so hard to get rid of?  Is there any thing that is more effective for mildew mold removal?

To answer these questions we must first consider what mildew and mold are.  Mildew is a thin black or white growth found on just about any surface that mold can be grown.  Molds are pretty prevalent in the air but mildew needs moisture and favorable temperature conditions in order to grow usually humid summer weather in closed houses.  Mildew is especially prevalent in areas that are damp, poorly lit, warm, and poorly ventilated.  Mildew will cling to cotton, rayon, linen, silk, wool, wood, paper, and leather and if untreated will stain, discolor, rot fabrics and create a musty odor. 

Since mildew mold removal is many times difficult and undetected until it is a problem, it is first recommended that when mildew is found to be present, the source of the moisture is recognized and when applicable, seal any cracks, repair insulations, drafts, and misfitting fixtures to control or eliminate moisture buildup.  Keeping things clean and taking preventative measures such as spraying your showers and tubs after each use will also ease mildew mold removal by providing a less favorable environment for the mildew to thrive upon and less nutrients for it to grow.  Drying out the air will also ease the battle of mildew mold removal.  Remember that cool air will hold less moisture than warm air so air conditioners and humidifiers are great for this task.