Removing Mold From Different Rooms
Some rooms are more prone to mold than others. Bathrooms are notorious for mold growth because they harbor damp, humid environments that mold loves. Less frequented rooms such as basements and attics can also suffer from mold, which can go unchecked for a long time before being noticed. Heres how to prevent mold from taking hold in each room of your property.
Use Lysol Disinfectant Spray
You can also use Lysol® Disinfectant Spray to control and prevent the spread of mold and mildew, as well as its nasty odor. Simply pre-clean the surface, hold can 6 to 8 inches from surface and spray for 3 to 4 seconds until covered with mist. Let it stand for 3 minutes before allowing to air dry. Repeat applications at weekly intervals, or simply when mold and mildew growth appears.
Please note: Always use Lysol® products as directed on the label.
With these tips and the help of Lysol®, make sure your bathroom can go back to being a place of calm, rather than a collecting place for germs.
Epa Mold Remediation Guidelines
If you are dealing with a mold problem in your home, EPA mold remediation is necessary in order to completely get rid of the mold spores that are present. The process of home mold remediation is intensive, and it is important that you follow specific cleanup procedures. Failing to follow the proper protocol is a problem, and you want to make sure that you and your family are safe from the health dangers that can occur as a result of mold.
Keep in mind that there are different protocols depending on the type of mold and where it is located in your home. Certain steps need to be taken for each type of building material, so it is a good idea to consult with a mold specialist before moving forward with the mold cleanup.
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What Is White Fuzzy Mold
This is a type of mold with a white, fuzzy appearance caused by the airborne spores of the fungus. The mold is also known as powdery mildew due to its powdery look and texture.
White fuzzy mold usually affects established plants and vegetation. Even in some cases, it can cover the entire plant, including its buds and fruits. It can also spread over the stems and leaves of indoor and outdoor houseplants.
Other common locations that boost the growth of white fuzzy mold include furniture surface areas, clothing and textiles, foods, crawlspaces, and attic sheathing and framing. Allowing this mold to spread in your home can stimulate allergic reactions in emotional people.
Does Bleach Kill Mold
Although the active ingredient in bleach, sodium hypochlorite, is the main ingredient in many mold removal products, there are many reasons to use alternatives to chlorine bleach when killing mold.
One reason is that bleach cannot completely kill mold growing in porous materials. The chlorine in bleach cannot penetrate into porous surfaces such as drywall or wood. The chlorine is left on the surface of porous materials and only the water component of the bleach is absorbed into the material, providing more moisture for the mold to feed on.
Some of the mold on the surface might be killed but the roots of the mold are left intact meaning the mold soon returns, leaving you in a cycle of repeated bleaching. Perhaps this is why some people believe that spraying bleach on mold doesnt affect it but instead just bleaches its color so you can no longer see it.
Another disadvantage of bleach is that it can damage the materials its used on as it is a harsh, corrosive chemical. Chlorine bleach also gives off harsh fumes and it even produces toxic gas when mixed with ammonia. There are safer alternatives such as borax or vinegar which dont produce dangerous fumes or leave behind toxic residue. For these reasons try to avoid using bleach and if you must use it, only use it on non-porous surfaces.
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For Spring Dreamers And Dreaders
It’s that time of the year: spring. You might not be much into the traditional spring cleaning, but it’s getting harder and harder to ignore that ever-growing “To Do” checklist on the refrigerator.
All remnants of winter salt may be off your car, but now suddenly you have a dirty grill to contend with . If you plan on taking that boat out anytime this summer, you might want to clean her first. Your concrete patio? Outdoor furniture? Pool area? How about the kids’ plastic swing set? And don’t forget about all the indoor chores, too. If you’ve been busy working out in the garage or on your lawn, your tub and shower could probably use a little cleaning, too.
With such an exhaustive list of cleaning to do’s, you might think you need to invest in a lot of different cleaning products. The good news? You really only just need one: Purple Power.
How To Remove Mold From Bathroom Walls
Mold in bathroom walls can be tricky to remove because homeowners donât always notice it until it discolors paint. If your home produces a persistent earthy, musty odor, and stains or dampness on the wall, then you may have mold. And if this mold is inside the walls, you will likely have to get professionals to remove it, otherwise, you can follow the same removal process for getting rid of ceiling mold.
In some cases, when mold attaches itself to drywall, itâs best to take down the entire wall or a section of it to prevent spores from multiplying, especially if the wall is damp. If your drywall feels soft, itâs almost impossible to salvage. Then itâs no longer a question of how to clean mold in bathroom walls, but rather when to replace the section of wall.
If you have mold on wallpaper, then you should spray the area and immediately scrub it with a clean cloth or brush to remove the surface layer of mold. Lightly respray the area afterward, wait for ten minutes and then wipe it clean. Let it dry overnight without rinsing to kill lingering mold.
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We Have A Problem With A Room In Our Basement It Is Uninsulated And Has A Moldy Smell The Odor Is Worse In The Winter Months My Son Likes To Sleep In The Room
Youll want to focus on two items increasing the temperature and the air flow. Addressing these issues will lower the humidity and the mold growth/musty odor.
Purchase a relative humidity gauge and install it in the basement. Your goal is to keep the RH below 50%. Increase the heat as necessary to lower the RH until youve reached 50%.
The easiest way to increase the ventilation is to run a bathroom exhaust fan. If theres an existing fan in the basement, run it at least 12 hours per day in the winter months.
Its also important to verify whether the basement is suffering from vapor emissions through the concrete slab. This occurs when water vapor moves up through the slab and into the room above. If the basement is carpeted, the moisture can become trapped and lead to mold growth. See our page on basement mold for more info.
How To Get Rid Of Mold In Attics
Attics are prone to mold either because of leaks from roofs or window seals, or because poor ventilation is allowing condensation to build up. Therefore treating those problems is always the most important step you can take to avoid getting mold in your attic, or to prevent it from coming back. Once youre sure your attic is watertight and ventilated, discard any stored items that are contaminated, or remove them for cleaning and restoration. Seal off the attic during cleaning and use a wet vacuum to clean as much visible mold as possible. Treat walls, floor, and exposed timbers with a mold removal spray to kill mold quickly and effectively, and install a fan or dehumidifier to dry the attic once the treatment is complete.
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How To Clean Stucco The Right Way
In terms of building materials, stucco remains a popular choice among many property owners today. Stucco can improve the exterior appearance of any property while simultaneously acting as an insulator. It is also eco-friendly, consisting of limestone, concrete, and sand.
Due to its textured surface, though, stucco can accumulate large amounts of dirt, grime, mold, and algae. Over time, these pollutants can not only age the appearance of a property, but they can also cause long-term damage. Thus, you must pay attention to your stucco surface and clean it properly. Ideally, stucco surfaces should be cleaned two to three times a year.
How do you clean exterior stucco? Here is your step-by-step guide on how to clean stucco exterior:
Final Words Of Wisdom
Tiger stripes can be an eyesore to a newly cleaned home. Its not something most people notice until the rest of the home is cleaned. But once you notice, you cant look away! Luckily Wise Wash knows how to get them back to white safely and without hassle to the homeowner.
If youre in the Wilmington, NC area and dont have the time or the will to clean them yourself, please give Wise Wash a call at 910-789-2273 or send us a message. We take pride in our knowledge and quality of work, and wed be glad to provide a free quote to get it done right the first time.
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Different Types Of Mold
Molds come in many different forms in fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are probably tens of thousands of types of molds, if not more. Molds play an important role in breaking down leaves, plants and trees. While many molds are harmless, harmful types in enclosed places can lead to respiratory distress, manifesting itself in symptoms that include stuffy noses and wheezing. The effects will be more intense for those who are allergic to that mold or have asthma. Molds responsible for breaking down natural materials, like wood and leaves, can damage the structure of your home. Everyone has an aversion to that.
Lets take a look at a few different types of mold that you might commonly encounter in various areas of your home.
What Causes White Mold
Like other molds, white mold grows due to high moisture levels combined with the presence of a food source, and the right temperature. Common food sources for white mold include wood, drywall, carpeting, laminate, insulation and any other organic, carbon-rich material.
The best temperatures in which mold grows is between 2 and 40 degrees Celsius.
As white mold spreads, it eats away at the material it is growing on. If this happens to be drywall or wooden beams, white mold can lead to both cosmetic and structural damage of your home.
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How To Kill Mold With Tea Tree Oil
How Can I Remove Mold
Soap and detergents can remove mold stains but do not actually kill mold, and any mold that is left behind can quickly regrow.
Regular cleaning with a bleach-based products when used as directed can effectively kill mold as well as mildew. You should clean visible mold on nonporous surfaces with an EPA-registered bleach-based product.
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Mold Removal With Bleach
Bleach can kill virtually every species of indoor mold that it comes into contact with, along with its spores, leaving a surface sanitized and resistant to future mold growth.
Unfortunately, however, Unfortunately, however, using bleach is only effective if the mold is growing on non-porous materials such as tiles, bathtubs, glass and countertops. Bleach cannot penetrate into porous materials and so it does not come into contact with mold growing beneath the surface of materials such as wood and drywall. Using bleach on these materials will kill the mold above the surface but the roots within the material will remain and the mold will soon return
Removing Mold And Mildew From Vinyl Siding
To kill mold and mildew on vinyl siding, apply a mold and mildew remover, such as Wet & Forget Outdoor.
You can also use bleach to treat mold and mildew on vinyl siding by adding one quart of household bleach to each gallon of the cleaning solution above, then:
CAUTION: Wear rubber gloves, long sleeve shirt, long pants, and goggles when working with strong chemical cleaners such as TSP and bleach. Follow the instructions on cleaning products carefully. Do not mix bleach with cleaners that contain ammonia, vinegar, or any cleaner that says it should not be mixed with bleach, since it can cause a chemical reaction and release poisonous chlorine gas.
Good luck with your project,
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Tea Tree Oil Is Also Extremely Effective
Getting rid of black mold with tea tree oil is an extremely effective method. Tea tree is an essential oil that is safe for people and pets. It is more expensive than vinegar, but a few teaspoons go a long way. I’ve used it successfully on a small area of the rug and a moldy shower curtain.
It does have a distinct smell but don’t worry the smell will dissipate over time. Since it has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, aside from killing all types of mold, tea tree oil can be useful for treating lice, dandruff, athlete’s foot, and many other conditions. It is a good idea to buy a small bottle and keep in your house. Remember, a little goes a long way.
TIP: Make sure you buy real tea tree oil, made from the Melaleuca alternifolia.
Removing Mold In The Kitchen
Spotted mold in your kitchen? Scrub any hard surfaces with one of the solutions mentioned above, taking care to thoroughly rinse any food prep areas after. You may need to replace porous surfaces, such as wooden cabinets, that are contaminated.
To prevent mold and practice adequate kitchen maintenance, open your windows to improve ventilation and run the hood vent when cooking and cleaning. Wipe water from hard surfaces, and fix leaky faucets as soon as possible. Always make sure your tableware and serving dishes are dry before storing them to keep mold from proliferating in cabinets. Scrub mold from surfaces as soon as it appears, then be sure to dry the area to prevent it from spreading.
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When The Epa Advises Consulting With A Mold Removal Specialist
- If mold covers a surface area greater than 10 square feet.
- If mold was caused by contaminated water .
- If mold has gotten into the HVAC system.
- If you have health issues that can be affected by additional exposure .
Of course, you should consult a specialist any time you have questions about the best way to proceed with a mold cleanup task. Most mold removal specialists offer free consultations, so they will visit your home, assess the situation, and advise you at no cost to you. To find a list of local mold removal specialists offering free consultations, call Healthy Air Mold Remediation 985-868-1870
Inspect The Stucco Surface
The first thing you must do is to check the stucco surface for any signs of damage. Look for cracks, gaps, or any other openings.
Washing without inspecting the stucco surface first might cause water to enter through the cracks. When this happens, mold and mildew can start to grow. As many know, mold and mildew thrive on moisture. In some cases, this can even lead to water damage within your walls.
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Spray Mold Remover Onto The Seats
With all your cleaning materials assembled, start with spraying your mold remover onto your seats. To get as much coverage as possible, you want to spray into any gaps and seams, since mold likes to form in those areas as well.
From there, let the cleaner sit for some time. Usually, about five minutes will be all you need, but you can allow it to soak for longer if you think you have particularly stubborn stains. You can also follow your mold remover’s recommended instructions to get the best results. This time will allow the cleaner to break down the mold and mildew in a way that will make it easier to clean.
