Mold appears in almost every house. If there’s mold in your home, the important thing to do is to stop it before it spreads and harms your household. Here are some tips to safely remove household mold:
Reduce Moisture
Decrease the moisture level in your home. Since mold needs water or moisture to form, this is the most crucial step in controlling mold growth. Dry out the affected room or your entire house using a fan or dehumidifier. If you discover a leaky pipe or other moisture/water problem in your home, fix it as soon as possible to control and prevent mold growth in the future.
Look for Mold
Many types of mold love dark places so they can easily grow in hidden areas in your home, such as behind drywall or wallpapers, under the carpet padding, or in ceiling tiles. You are very likely to have a mold problem in these areas if your home has been seriously flooded. In this case you will have to tear out the water-damaged material or surface to reveal the mold growth.
Remove Moldy Porous Materials
Porous items can hold mold spores and become a persistent source of food for mold. Therefore, any porous item that has been wet or damp for more than a couple of days or has visible mold should be thrown away. It’s probably too late to remove household mold from these items. Such items include carpet, carpet padding, flooring material, ceiling tiles, mattresses, rugs, upholstery, wallpaper, insulation, clothing, soft plastic and paper.
Moldy drywall should also be removed since it is impossible to remove household mold from drywall just by cleaning the surface. Once the drywall has been removed, let the exposed materials and studs dry completely.
You can clean the studs with a bleach solution or with a product that has quaternary ammonium compounds or aluminum hydroxide.
Always wear protective gear when cleaning and remember to dry the area completely after you’ve finished the wet work.
Mold on Wood Floors
Wooden floors displaying visible mold should be sanded down. However, do not attempt this task, because you can easily inhale toxic mold spores during sanding. Call a trained mold removal professional for this job.
Mold on Cleanable Materials
Some surfaces that get moldy can be cleaned, such as concrete, hard tiles, hard plastic, metal, and glazed ceramics. To remove household mold from these surfaces, wash them with detergent using hot water and a stiff brush.
If you decide to use bleach and other disinfectants, remember never to mix ammonia and bleach because the combination of chemicals will produce toxic fumes. Always dilute bleach in water before using (1:10 ratio) and wear protective gear.
Need Cleaning Help?
While you can easily remove household mold from small areas with basic cleaning products, always call a professional to deal with extensive mold growth. TalkLocal can quickly find mold experts to help you. Contact us now!
