Toxic Mold, also known as black mold, can be found in almost any home. Whenever there is a dark and moist place mold can thrive. Regardless, if you find it in your bathroom, attic, basement or in the walls it needs to be killed as it can cause serious health issues. Here are some tips to help you locate and kill mold and black mold.
Under your kitchen sink is a common place for mold to grow. The moisture and occasional drip from your pipes creates the moisture that is necessary for it to grow. Mold loves dark places and humidity. It grows well under these conditions. Go check your basement, bathroom, attic or any other place that is dark and humid for mold.
Does your home have a musty smell? That might be mold. Sometimes it gets in your air ducts and can only be noticed when you are running your heat or air conditioner. People very sensitive to mold will be able to smell it in your home if it exists. Do you see any yellowing or brownish stains on your ceiling or dry wall? This could be mold as well. Paint that is cracking or peeling may also be some sort of mold growth.
Dd you find mold? It needs to be killed. Your first objective is to find where the moisture or water is coming in. Is there a water leak in your basement or roof? This needs to be fixed otherwise mold will be a continual problem. Close off the room where you found the mold with plastic and tape. This will prevent mold spores from spreading through the home. Cover up the air conditioner vents so the spores don’t travel through them.
When cleaning mold make sure you cover all of your skin with clothes that can be thrown away. Wear rubber gloves, breathing masks and eye protection. You don’t want to inhale the mold spores. Also, spores can attach to your clothes so make sure you seal them up in a bag before going through the uninfected areas of your home. While cleaning the mold make sure you follow the instructions of the cleaning product.
Is the job too big for you to handle? If so, hire a professional mold remediation company. They are experts and will generally do a better job than you will. Often times people use a rule of thumb of 10 x 10. If the black mold covers more than this size then you probably need to bring in an expert.
Finally, you need to prevent mold from growing in the future. Fix any water intrusion or moisture problems. Mold requires this to really thrive so if you remove it then you won’t have a problem. Control your humidity levels with your air conditioner and a humidistat. Don’t let humidity go above 55%. Plenty of air flow, sunshine and low humidity will keep mold in check.
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Tags: black mold, black mold removal, cleaning mold, home, house, how to get rid of mold, mod remediation, mold, Mold Removal, toxic mold, water damage, water damage restoration