Can Black Mold Spores Travel In The Air
Yes. Mold spores are airborne and can attach themselves to peoples skin, clothing, shoes, shopping bags, furniture, carpets, and even pets. Once spores enter your home, they can settle onto any surface and start to multiply. They can also enter your house through open doorways, open windows, and HVAC systems.
Mold spores are microscopic and are virtually found everywhere. They are naturally found in the air we breathe, both indoors and outdoors. Since spores are tiny and lightweight, they become airborne easily, every time we vacuum or walk on the carpets or even sit on our couch.
Seal Moldy Areas After They Dry
- Set out dehumidifiers and new fans to dry the now-cleaned areas for at least three days, then check them by sight and smell for mold.
- Pro tip: If you discover more mold, clean again with bleach for mold remediation.
Dangerous Mold Vs Mildew
The most common type of mold found in homes is mildew. Mildew is a surface mold that grows in warm, damp places like your bathroom and on fabrics and books stored in damp basements. Mildew begins as a gray or white powdery colony. It will turn black or brown if not removed promptly and often looks like soil accumulation. To test if the surface is covered with mildew or just dirt, dab the stain with a cotton swab dipped in household chlorine bleach. If the stain lightens or disappears after two or three minutes, it’s mildew. If not, it’s probably just dirt.
If you detect a musty odor anywhere in your home, then you have a high concentration of mold. It can be coming from a hamper filled with damp towels, from a damp crawlspace under your home, or carpets that have mold growing in the padding. If you smell that odor, it’s definitely time to take action to get rid of the problem.
All mildew is mold, but not all molds are mildew. Mildew can discolor and slowly harm surfaces but there are much more dangerous molds that can damage the structure of your home. If you see a black or green mold that is fuzzy or slimy and the drywall or wood underneath is soft or crumbly, there is irreversible rot, and the mold and the damaged surfaces must be removed immediately.
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Easy Mold Prevention Methods
There are simple steps you can take to reduce the need for future mold removal. First, you want to keep humidity under control. Use a dehumidifier when humidity levels rise in the spring, summer, or fall. Second, you want to keep surfaces dry. Wet foundations, damp crawl spaces, and leaky attics often harbor mold. Repair leaks under sinks and wrap metal pipes in the basement to reduce condensation. Missing caulk and aging roofing can cause leaks that lead to mold growth in the attic or homes interior.
For Help With Mold Removal
If you need help with mold removal, or if youd just like some professional advice before trying to remove it yourself, we suggest consulting with a mold remediation specialist. You can schedule a free in-home consultation with a professional that knows how to properly find and remove mold. You can get some free expert advice and then determine whether or not its a job youre prepared to tackle yourself. There is no charge and no obligation, so theres nothing to lose. Just follow this link to find experienced mold remediation specialists in your area.
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Do Mold Foggers Really Work
Because most mold spores are microscopic, when you find those fuzzy splotches on the wall, you see only a fraction of the mold thats actually there. That means cleaning the visible mold wont always get rid of all the mold. Mold foggers are designed to help with this problem by applying a mold-killing mist to a broad area. While these devices offer some benefits, theyre only a small and optional part of an effective mold remediation plan.
How Mold Fogging Works
A mold fogger produces a mist of antimicrobial and odor-controlling solution designed for mold remediation. This mist evenly coats everything in the area and either kills or encapsulates mold on all types of surfaces. Available in handheld and stationary forms, mold foggers can be used to treat entire rooms, small spaces such as cupboards and cabinets or individual pieces of furniture. They also work outside the house, such as in the garage, car, or storage shed.
Fogging is an effective treatment offered by mold remediation specialists and often manageable with a do-it-yourself kit, but its effects are limited. Most mold fogging solutions kill mold spores, stopping them from spreading and reducing or eliminating musty odors. They cannot, however, clear away actively growing mold or prevent more mold from showing up when the cause of the problem hasnt been solved. Even dead mold spores are allergens and potentially toxic, so fogging alone isnt enough. Its primarily useful as an extra precaution and its never necessary.
Fogging is especially useful in cases where replacing affected material isnt possible or practical. If you find a patch of mold somewhere in your heating and cooling ductwork, fogging after clean-up is more affordable than replacing all the ductwork.
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Mold Reactions: Who’s At Risk
For people sensitive to mold, inhaling or touching mold spores can cause allergic reactions, including sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. People with serious mold allergies may have more severe reactions, including shortness of breath. In people with asthma who are allergic to mold, breathing in spores can also cause asthma attacks.
In addition to people with allergies and asthma, others who may be more sensitive to the effects of mold include:
- Infants and children
- People with chronic lung disease
Signs Of Mold On Walls
Mold can grow anywhere along an interior wall. But youre likely to see it near the ceiling or floor, or along the edges of the baseboard trim. Its most common in bathrooms, although it can also affect kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, and other poorly ventilated rooms.
Obvious signs that you have a mold problem in your home include:
- A musty or damp smell.
- Cracked and peeling paint.
- Visible mold growth on your walls or ceiling.
- Allergy symptoms worsened by being indoors.
If you see mold growth on the walls within your home even if its only a small patch you should take action immediately. If you dont remove the mold quickly, it will spread and it can become potentially dangerous to your property and your health.
Studies have shown that exposure to mold can cause allergic reactions and poor health. You may experience symptoms such as a runny nose, irritated eyes, and breathing difficulties . Therefore, its essential to take action as soon as you notice any signs of mold.
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How To Remove Mold From Inside Walls
The inside of your walls is a great environment for mold, but a terrible one for you to find and clean. Often homeowners dont realize there is mold inside their walls until its causing a major problem. Warning signs include an earthy, musty odor in the home, allergy symptoms that clear up when you leave the property, and stains or dampness on the wall itself. If mold does get inside your walls, youll probably need a pro to handle it. At the very least, the drywall has to come down in order to properly access and treat the mold and prevent it from coming back. You can mitigate the damage by looking out for the warning signs, and reducing the humidity in your property.
Retrace Your Past Experiences
A case in point is a young male patient who came to Amen Clinics with complaints of sleep disturbance, anxiety, and brain fog. He was initially seen by one of our psychiatrists and referred to me for further workup. A careful history-taking found that these symptoms all started when he moved back home from college into his parents basement apartment. The whole family seems to have forgotten that the basement flooded on several occasions. Mold diagnostic testing revealed the patient had high levels of mold toxins in his body.
The first step is always to remove oneself from the moldy environment, and then treatment can begin. Treatment for a Toxic Brain typically consists of binding agents and other medications, such as antifungals, and metabolic support supplements. This patient improved with proper treatment and remediation of the mold problem. Here was a patient who didnt need any psychiatric medications he simply needed the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment. What would have been the outcome for this patient without the proper diagnosis? He almost certainly would have been misdiagnosed as having a mental illness and treated with psychiatric medications.
The good news is that there are ways to determine if a patient has been exposed to toxic mold and that there are successful treatments available.
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Why You Need A Professional To Remove Mold
Hiring a professional to clean may seem like an unnecessary expense, but technicians can take care of mold and help prevent it from coming back more effectively and safely than you can do yourself.
First of all, scrubbing mold with ordinary cleaners wont make it go away. Regular cleaning products will leave behind enough mold for it to easily grow back. Professionals have the proper equipment to protect themselves and your home or business from not only the mold, but the chemicals they use to clean it.
You could also accidentally damage your HVAC system if you try to clean mold in air ducts yourself. Professionals know what to look for and how to treat your AC with care. Professional ductwork cleaners have HVAC training, so theyll be familiar with your system and know how to clean it without damaging it. They also use the correct mold growth inhibitor products to prevent it from coming back, and they know how to properly dispose of tools to prevent contaminating other areas.
Learn more about professional duct cleaning services:
Remove Mold From Drywall/painted Walls
Mold can often grow on drywall and painted interior walls, especially in areas where moisture and humidity are a factor, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Walls can also be affected if your roof or exterior walls are infiltrated by water. If the drywall remains wet, mold can begin to grow and penetrate the drywall throughout. When this happens, the drywall must be removed and replaced, as you will not be able to get rid of all mold under these circumstances.
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Black Mold Removal Using Essential Oils
Essential oils have mcade aromatherapy a household word, but these natural compounds can do so much more. Tea tree oil is an insect repellant, antiseptic, and deodorizer and its one of the safest methods for getting rid of black mold. Tea tree oil is a natural fungicide that cleans up mold quickly and it helps prevent mold spores from coming back.
Combine one teaspoon of tea tree oil with one cup of water in a spray bottle and shake vigorously to blend the water and oil. Spray the moldy area, leave it to dry for an hour, and then wipe away with a microfiber cloth or dry towel. Make sure to wear protective gloves, because some people find that essential oils can irritate their skin.
Clean Walls Clean Home
If you notice signs of mold growth on the walls of your home, youll need to take action before it spreads. It has the potential to cause health issues and structural problems to your property.
The most important thing to do is to fix the source of the problem to prevent mold growth. Then, depending on the size of the affected area, you can either clean the mold yourself or hire a professional.
Removing small patches of mold yourself is fairly easy. You can use readily available products such as borax, vinegar, baking soda, tea tree oil, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide. But, if mold covers a substantial area of a wall, you should seek expert help immediately.
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Mistakes To Avoid While Mold Cleanup
When doing mold remediation on your own, make sure to avoid the following mistakes:
- Choosing the wrong mold cleaner. Again, bleach is not what kills mold. Cleaning mold with bleach is not going to help. The best way to clean mold is by using natural products like the ones mentioned above.
- Not addressing cross-contamination. Heres one important thing you should know. Once you start scrubbing off the mold from the surface, some of the spores will become airborne. This means that your entire home can be exposed to mold infestation. Thus, it is essential to containing the area. Dispose of all the cleaning materials and clothing you used to prevent cross-contamination.
- Not eliminating the moisture source. No matter how hard you clean the parts of your home infested by mold, it will just keep coming back until you address the moisture problems. After the cleanup, speak with a mold remediation professional to determine the causes of water problems or leaks in your house.
Car Cleaning And Mold Safety
Wear skin, eye, and breathing protection. The mold in your car might not look dangerous, but its impossible to tell the effects it can have without testing.
If youre using chemicals to scrub or clean the inside of your vehicle, be sure that you are disposing of any leftover materials in a way that is recommended by the manufacturer. Its also important to make sure that youre using a cleaner that is safe for the materials that make up your cars interior.
If the mold has spread to other items inside your car, such as clothing, its best to wash or dispose of the items before using or storing them elsewhere.
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When You See Mold Remember That First Call Is The Right Call For Mold Removal Services
When you see mold, your first instinct may be to roll up your sleeves and do the job yourself. However, doing so can put you and your family at risk! Not only could you spread the mold, but you may not be treating the underlying issuethis means that mold is likely to return or spread.
Dont take chances when it comes to your health or the well-being of your family. Contact us for an estimate today.
How To Get Rid Of Mold Naturally
After reading up on some different natural remedies for killing mold, I came up with a simple 3-step system to remove black mold naturally. You just need four ingredients :
- Vinegar + Tea Tree Oil: I start by combining distilled vinegar, a naturally antimicrobial substance, and tea tree oil in a spray bottle. Give it a little shake and spray the mixture directly on the moldy area. Let it sit for 30 minutes. The vinegar will kill the mold with its acid, while tea tree oil is naturally anti-fungal and one of the best natural mold killers.
- Baking Soda: Then I take some baking soda and add it to slightly warm water in a spray bottle. Shake the mixture well until the baking soda has dissolved. And then spray this mixture on top of the moldy area. Let it dry on the moldso dont touch it for at least half an hour. In addition to killing mold, baking soda will absorb moisture to help keep mold away.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: Finally, take some hydrogen peroxide, an anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial solution, and pour it into a glass. Dip a clean toothbrush into the peroxide and scrub the moldy area with the toothbrush, rinsing and dipping the toothbrush as you go.
One of my favorite places to shop online for home supplies is Thrive Market. If you have a Thrive membership, you can order the ingredients you need for this recipe like tea tree oil on their site.
On average, Thrive members save an average of $32 per order! So its well worth the membership cost.
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Removing Mold From Fabric
If your home has been flooded and mold and bacteria have been left to grow for many days, it may be impossible to salvage fabric items. However, if mildew has developed due to dampness and is caught early, it can easily be removed from most fabrics.
Begin by taking the items outside to brush away as much surface mold as possible and to prevent spreading the mold spores inside your home. If the fabric is washable, use the hottest water recommended on the care label and add a disinfectant. If stains remain, create a solution of oxygen bleach and water and allow the clothes to soak for at least eight hours. Oxygen bleach can be used safely on any washable fabric.
For fabrics that are dry clean only, brush away the mildew outside and then head to a professional cleaner. Identify and point out the stains most fabrics can be successfully restored.
Cleanup Information For You And Your Family
Guide to Mold Cleanup After DisastersGuidance from CDC, EPA, FEMA, HUD, and NIH on safe mold clean-up after a natural disaster
If its hot & humid outside, too much air conditioning can lead to condensation on surfaces and this excess moisture can lead to mold growth.
What Public Health Organizations and Users Need to Know.
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