Tag: mold

Mildew is a fungus that grows in areas that are hot and moist, so extremely humid conditions are perfect places for the mildew to grow. Mildew removal is fairly easy if it is only a small area you need to remove it from, for larger areas it may take a little while longer and the process for mildew removal may also vary depending on the surface it is on. The other part of removing mildew is getting rid of that musty scent that mildew has. Mildew will grow in all kinds of places and the walls in your kitchen and bathroom are the most susceptible to this as well as the countertops, sinks, and showers. One of the best ways to clean it off of these areas is with a mixture of water and bleach, and when cleaning mildew off of paint you may want to use an even weaker solution of water and bleach, this will avoid damaging any paint.

A great way to avoid having to deal with mildew removal is by taking the precautions to try and avoid the mildew fungus from growing in the first place. A couple precautions you can take are to be sure the rooms like the kitchen and bathroom have good ventilation systems to help eliminate some of the hot moist air. This is especially important in the bathroom where you take hot showers, since that will build up a lot of moisture on the ceilings and walls, which will then turn into mildew. These are some of the most common places to have to perform a mildew removal job on, and with good ventilation this could be avoided altogether. Another thing to remember is that when you are painting you cannot just paint over mildew, it needs to be cleaned first with the mixture of water and bleach and then a touch of primer would be good as well before the paint. If you were to just try and paint over the mildew it will just grow right through the paint.

Mildew is a type of fungus that thrives off of decomposing organisms.  It needs certain elements to grow, namely oxygen, moisture, and a host (decomposing organisms).  The harmful qualities of mildew make it a threat to public safety.  Scientists classify mold and mildew differently.  Basically, they classify mold as the fungus that grows on non-living organisms as well as living matter, (such as mold growth on fruits) and mildew as the white powdery substance that only grows on plant material. However, many people commonly refer to mold and mildew as the same substance.

No matter what you call it, if you have mold or need to remove mildew, you will need to treat the source of the problem as well as prevent any new growth from occurring.  Both mold and mildew are harmful substances that can cause sickness to plants, animals, and humans.

To begin treating mold, or if you need to remove mildew, you should begin by addressing the source of the problem.  This typically tends to be excessive moisture in certain areas.  Common areas where mold and mildew can become a problem are basements, refrigerators, walls, bathrooms, shower stalls, around faucets, in the corners of floors where water may accumulate, on baseboards, and even on ceilings where there may be water pooling underneath floor boards or under roofs.

 For some mold problems, you will be able to remove them yourself, however if you need to remove mildew permanently, you may need to hire a professional for larger areas.  For example, if you have a large amount of mold growth behind a wall, you should hire a professional to help treat the problem.  A homeowner may have genuine intentions, but lack the skills needed to replace the drywall underneath the wall.  Since certain areas have different climates, you may find that your local building and zoning department has the best information regarding materials that you should use to prevent and remove mildew and mold permanently.

Mildew is a black junk that builds up in your shower and around the faucets. Then there is mold which can build up in your basement or in the walls of your house. When you see mildew and mold it is hard to tell the difference. Therefore you should have a method to cleaning them as soon as they appear. Consider some easy steps in order to create your own mold mildew remover.

It may seem like a difficult task to make your own mold mildew remover, but it is actually a simple process that won’t take you that long at all. The first thing you want to do is pour one cup of bleach into a gallon of water and then mix it well. Then take a bowl and pour a small amount of this mixture into it. 

For small areas you should apply the mixture with a toothbrush and for larger areas you should pour the mixture into a spray bottle for application. It is best to spray down the shower walls, doors and curtains. When it comes to a toothbrush an alternative is a large stiff-bristle brush. After cleaning it is important to rinse the area thoroughly.

After a good scrub you should keep the mixture in a spray bottle in order to do a daily cleaning after a shower. Just spray down the walls, doors and curtains and leave it there until you next shower, you don’t have to worry about rinsing. When you are cleaning your bathroom always remember to open all windows and to turn on a fan in the room. This way you can have plenty of fresh air and ventilation to keep the bleach fumes from building up in the room. You don’t want to inhale the fumes coming off the bleach.

There are many different kinds of household mold and these can infest your home very quickly sometimes, usually this is due to excess moisture such as flood damage. When excess moisture is inside your home it can cause mold spores to grow, which then lets mold out into the air you breathe, and this has been linked to many different health issues. Some of these health issues that might arise from household mold are things like respiratory problems, allergies, dry coughing, scratchy throat and watery eyes, and much more. Some individuals may even have stronger reactions to the household mold and it could make them very sick. There are actually certain types of mold that can cause permanent respiratory problems due to the toxic properties found within the mold spores, this is why it is very important to have a professional examine any mold that may develop.

The most common places for household mold to grow in are in areas where there is excess moisture, and the bathroom can be a great breeding ground for mold, especially in the shower in a bathroom where there is sometimes little ventilation. Also if your carpet or furniture were ever to get soaked the chances are pretty high that mold spores will develop before the carpet or furniture could dry and this is why many people will just throw them out and replace them. It may be expensive to replace them if your insurance does not cover it, but it may end costing a lot more in doctor bills if you or other members of your family become exposed to a dangerous household mold. Everyone is going to have a mold problem at some point unless you stay on top of getting rid of it immediately, and the places you want to keep an eye on are damp poorly ventilated areas like the crevices around your tub and possibly many other areas around your tub. Other places could be underneath your sinks or anywhere you may have a leak in the ceiling, and basements are another place where mold likes to grow.

Many homes, especially older homes are often subject to a mold in house situation. Moisture and dark places allows mold to grow and cause many problems besides the obvious unpleasant look to a moldy wall. Some of the health concerns that can come from mold in home are respiratory problems such as asthma and infections, eye irritations such as burning sensation or red eyes, perpetual coughing, throat and nose irritation, rashes, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle and joint aches, and food intolerance or food allergies. These are some but definitely not all of the problems that can come from mold in home or in the garage.

While many people observe mold in the home, not many people know why it is there. The truth is that there is mold everywhere because it is part of the natural environment. When mold is found outside, it breaks down organic matter like trees and leave, but mold in home is much more dangerous and can cause a variety of annoying problems for people who come in contact with it. Mold usually begins to grow when the tiny spores become in contact with wet surfaces in the home, usually beginning is places such as the garage or the attic.

Mold in homes can be cleaned by preferably by a professional, but could be cleaned by the home owner, so long as they take proper precautions.  The first step of cleaning up mold in house is to clean and remove all of the spots infected with mold.  Then next step is to dry all of the areas where there is mold in home and put all of the infected materials into a bag to through out.  It is important to where a mask when removing mold to prevent inhalation of the mold.  Also, if the molded area seems rather large, for example, if the area of mold in home is larger than a 10 square foot radius, it is important to have a professional remove the mold so that serious home damage does not occur.

Mold is a specific organism that is classified as a member of the fungi family.  As a fungus, mold absorbs nutrients from dead and decaying matter.  Mold grows by spreading out branch like threads that are used to absorb decaying matter. However, mold can spread via the air or by attaching itself to another object and spreading.  Though mold can spread and grow anywhere it lands, there is one nutrient that is vital to ensuring that mold thrives, moisture.  Mold must have moisture as well as oxygen to grow, thrive, and spread.  Without moisture, mold will die.  Understanding the situations that are conducive to mold growth is essential if you want to effectively kill mold.

It is very important to kill mold and to prevent it from growing and spreading.   Though mold may serve a purpose in the environment, by helping to decomposed organic material, it poses a serious health benefit to humans as well as animals.  People who live in homes that have mold often experience a number of symptoms ranging from allergies to severe sickness.  Some of the symptoms of mold include rashes, coughing, allergies, fevers, running noses, sneezing, and in some people, the effects are more severe.  For someone with asthma, mold can cause a number of complications that can have serious health consequences.  There is no doubt about it, if mold is present in your house, you must effectively kill mold and prevent its regrowth.

To ensure that you kill mold effectively, you need to remove the moisture.  Finding the source of the moisture and treating it will ensure that the mold does not regrow.  Once you treat the moisture problem, you can kill mold effectively by using household bleach.  Bleach is a very powerful cleaner and will ensure that the mold is removed effectively.  Always use bleach according to the instructions, where gloves when treating mold areas, where a dust mask to prevent breathing in spores, and work in a well ventilated area.

Mold can grow in almost any dark and damp area, whether it is in someone’s basement, dark corners of a home, or even in places like the kitchen where you may not expect it.  It is important then, to be aware of various mold symptoms that can affect your health and well being.  Some people are more sensitive to mold than others, and may experience mold symptoms such as severe allergies.  These symptoms may help to discover mold before it spreads too far.  Persistent itchy and watery eyes and nose, constant sneezing, burning in the throat and/or chest, and difficulty breathing are just a few mold symptoms too look out for if you think you are allergic.  Of course, mold can be worse than just causing an allergic reaction.  Toxic mold can be dangerous, and these mold symptoms are much more severe and a lot more serious.

Some warning signs that dangerous mold may be lurking about include: nose bleeds, feeling dizzy quite often, skin rashes, coughing up blood, and unusual memory loss.  If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, it is imperative that someone check for signs of mold.  Of course, there are things you can do to not only kill and remove the mold, but also prevent it from reoccurring.  Education is the best weapon against mold, and the more you know, the more you can share with others who may be experiencing this pesky fungus.  Knowing what environments mold likes to grow in can help prevent it from happening.  Mold symptoms can range from mild to extreme, but no one wants to feel constantly sick in an environment they frequent often, so removal of mold is an absolute must.  Consult a professional if you have any doubts about the location or eradication of mold in your home or office.

If you’ve ever had a mold infestation in your house, you know just how expensive it can be to hire someone to kill the mold.  That’s because killing mold is very difficult and it often can come back to regrow in the same location.  Leaving mold to fester in your house will only make the situation work and will put you and your family at risk.  Most molds can cause allergy type symptoms however there are also toxic species out there which can cause very serious illness and death if inhaled.

Mold loves to be in a dark and wet area.  When killing mold, the first step should be to eliminate the food source.  Water must be being supplied from somewhere within the house, or through a leak in the roof.  Water pipes are a likely culprit for supplying the necessary water for mold to grow.  Even if there isn’t a leak in the pipes, condensation on the outside of the pipes due to a temperature difference can be the source of the problem.  A condensation problem is probably the easiest water problem to fix and can be repaired by just adding some insulation to the outside of the pipe.

Now that you’ve eliminated the source of water, it’s time to kill the mold and clean it.  Bleach does do a good job of killing mold however it doesn’t remove the dead mold, which can be just as hazardous as live mold.  What you’ll want to use to remove the mold is good old soap and water with a brush.  Keep scrubbing at the wall to remove all of the mold.  You’ll want to wear a mask and keep the area well ventilated to help reduce your exposure to the mold.  Once the mold is removed dry the area very thoroughly and then repaint the wall as the wall is probably discolored from the mold and all of the scrubbing you did to remove the mold.

Does your child have a cold that won’t go away? Did you recently move and your teenager, who never had allergies before, is coughing and sneezing all over the house? Do you feel mysteriously fatigued or have trouble breathing? Your house may contain airborne mold. Toxic mold health problems are not to be trifled with, so if you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to discuss them with your doctor.

If you think that your house might be causing unsafe toxic mold health issues, you might also consider having a professional mold inspection that will reveal the variety of mold that is in your house.  It is important to know that some molds are harmless, even if they have an ugly appearance.  Some of the worst molds are actually pale or pinkish, and they  might not be as noticeable as a dark mold.  A mold inspection can tell you if your mold reactions are from toxic mold health problems, or if the mold variety is a harmless one. Not all mold is trouble, although it is always unsightly.   If your mold turns out to be harmless, you can save expenses on mold remediation, and your doctor will know to examine other causes for your health problems.

Symptoms of toxic mold health problems include rashes, eye irritation, respiratory problems, chronic fatigue, and irritable bowel syndrome.  Since these symptoms may follow from a variety of illnesses, it is crucial to determine if toxic mold health problems are to be blamed or not.  You can conduct a visual inspection of your home yourself.  Check areas where humidity is likely to be present (such as basements and bathrooms) because mold needs humidity to grow.  Be sure to examine these areas for pale molds as well as the more noticeable dark molds.   If mold is determined to be present and a family member seems to be having a strong reaction, or has an immune deficiency problem, it might be a good idea to move that person to a hotel until the mold is removed.

Cleaning your home is something you do on a daily basis.  Each day we make our beds, wipe the bathroom sink clean after brushing and wash up our breakfast dishes.  Once a week we vacuum and do laundry.  We stay on top of the cleanliness of our home.  How often do we perform basement mold cleaning?  You do not need to do this as often as washing dishes but we should do basement mold cleaning at least once a week.

If you have a basement then you should go on monthly basement mold cleaning duty.  Check any areas of the basement where water could accumulate and sit.  Check around the oil tank, the heating unit, the pipes to the bathroom and kitchen and around the windows.  Look for an accumulation of mold spores building up in the crevices.  If you find mold on your basement mold cleaning tour then you should get rid of it as soon as possible.

To perform basement mold removal you should arm yourself with the proper gear.  You should have disinfectant cleanser, a face mask, an air purifier and several disposable rags.  If you think the basement mold cleaning project is too big for you then call in a Mold Remediation Specialist.  At any rate you want to get rid of the mold before it can spread to your valuable stored possessions or to the rest of the house.

If you do a precise basement mold cleaning once a month you should not have any problems. If you have had a flood or standing water in the basement then you will want to run a basement mold cleaning session more often to make sure there are no mold issues.  Start at the bottom of your home and work up consistently keeping a clean mold free front against germ invasions in your home.