Types Of Common Household Mold
The good news is that not all molds, even the ones that appear to be black in color, are dangerous. There are three categories of common molds found in households that can have health effects:
- Allergenic molds that can be safely removed by using disinfecting products
- Pathogenic molds that can be controlled with disinfectants
- Toxic molds that require professional treatment and disposal of all affected materials
What has become known as the serious black mold is Stachybotrys chartarum, a colony with a dark green or black slimy surface. Black mold looks like black stains or dots growing in irregular circular patterns. It is most often found in homes or buildings that have been exposed to excessive amounts of water and humidity for an extended period of time, especially after a flood. S. chartarum produces trichothecenes, a type of mycotoxin. Exposure to S. chartarum could potentially lead to a wide range of respiratory health effects, though this has not yet been proven.
If you discover extensive mold growth, it is a good idea to have a professional mold removal company come in to test and identify the type of mold present. Your local public health department can offer advice on mold testing and refer you to a mold remediation company. The U.S. Department of Environmental Protection recommends the professional removal of mold colonies that cover more than 10 square feet .
How To Get Rid Of Mold From Every Home Surface
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Moldit’s a word that strikes fear into the hearts of homeowners everywhere, and for good reason. Mold can cause health problems and damage your property. But, no need to worry: we’re here to teach you how to get rid of mold from every surface in your home. We’ll start with the most common places where mold appears, and then move on to more specific surfaces. So read on, and learn how to keep your home healthy and mold-free.
Above all, remember the golden rule when it comes to cleaning: the faster you can attack the mess, the better. Don’t wait for mold to become unbearable before you get to scrubbing. It’s best to address mold issues the second you notice them.
How To Get Bubbles Out Of Resin Mold
A small amount of baby powder can work to reduce bubbles in resin. If you are using colored resin, you can even choose a powder that matches the color of the resin you are using. Use a delicate paintbrush to dust in the powder, then tap out any extra before pouring.
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Get Rid Of Musty Smell
It is for the better to keep your house refreshed and sweet-smelling. Your home is your refuge and a place to relax too. When your house is smelly, you cant relax or spend quality time inside your home.
Several factors can cause musty odors. They can range from molds, cigarette smoke, and pet odors. You can prevent all of these by using deep cleaners, having proper ventilation, and using air fresheners.
If you dont have an HVAC system or an air purifier, opt for a cheaper solution. Buy the crown choice air freshener, a natural solution for your smelly problem. Refreshing the air comes with just purchasing a spray bottle. Keeping our tips in mind will let you enjoy a sweet-smelling home.
Mold and mildew can be easily prevented by doing a simple cleaning duty. Drying all areas and repairing leaks can avoid issues about molds and musty smells.
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Symptoms Of Mold Exposure
While many are harmless, certain molds can harm your health by producing allergens or even toxins. Typical symptoms of mold exposure include sneezing, runny nose, congestion, rashes and irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and even lungs. If you have asthma, mold can potentially trigger an asthma attack.
Also Check: What Are The Effects Of Breathing Black Mold
How To Prevent Mold From Coming Back
Luckily, there are some best practices that have proven to prevent mold from making its way back into your home:
- Identify all areas of moisture. Correct them. Check-in areas like basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and attics. Is there a leak? Whats the issue? Solve it.
- Completely dry out any wet materials. Whether wet clothes, floorboards, carpets, or furniture remove any wet materials from the home until theyre fully dry.
- Use proper ventilation to keep moisture out. Check that your AC unit is working well and not collecting moisture. The better ventilation you have, the less chance there is of returning mold.
- Use strong building materials that are resistant to mold. When possible, avoid papered materials like drywall and sheetrock.
- Maintain indoor humidity of 30-60 percent. A dehumidifier can help here.
Can Black Mold Grow On Cement
Can black mold grow on concrete? Black mold cannot grow on concrete. It grows on almost all organic materials particularly those containing cellulose such wood, wallpaper, drywall, carpet, adhesives, fabric, and cotton insulation. Any faint discolorations, regardless of color, may suggest a serious mold problem.
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A Basement In Frequent Use:
Living in a basement apartment is great, but they can sometimes be vulnerable to mold. Maybe you dont live in your basement, but youve converted the space into a playroom for the kids. One thing to remember is that any furniture, play-things or other items could easily become damp and moldy particularly if theyre next to walls.
How To Prevent Mold Growth In The First Place
According to the Environmental Protection Agency , There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. Even if you clean the mold, it will still come back if the room is humid and poorly ventilated or there is excess moisture from a leak, even a small one. Humidity levels should never exceed 50% to control mold growth.
That means prevention is the only permanent remedy for mold. After you’ve repaired the leaks and gotten rid of any moisture problems, moving forward, create an environment where mold cant grow with these tips:
- Add a dehumidifier or two to your home. Its best to keep indoor humidity levels between 30-50% to stop build-up make sure to buy one thats sized for the area you are treating.
- Open bathroom doors and windows or turn on the exhaust fan during and after showering to let moisture escape.
- Leave your shower curtain or liner spread open after showering to help keep it dry.
- Vent moisture generating sources, such as bathrooms and clothes dryers, to the outside.
- Avoid storing items in damp rooms, which may mean keepinglinens, books, or furniture our of your basement or attic.
- Seal bathroom grout lines every year if you have tiling. This will help waterproof your walls and floors.
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Make Sure Your House Is Properly Ventilated
Condensation can build up from everyday activities like drying your clothes inside, cooking and showering.
This can cause mould if your house isn’t properly ventilated.
Karl said: “Ensure that your home is adequately ventilated and check for obvious problems such as leaky pipes or blocked gutters which could be adding to the problem.”
He also recommends that if you have a loft hatch, consider leaving it open to allow warm air to reach your water tank if it’s stored in your attic.
How To Get Rid Of Mold In Your Home For A Healthier Environment And Better Indoor Air Quality
Mold looks bad and is a potential source of health problems. How can you tackle it in your home and make it a healthier place?
Nobody likes encountering the black stuff that builds up between tiles, dark stains on floors and ceilings, or nasty orange growths around taps or plug-holes. These are the tell-tale signs that your home has indoor mold.
Build-ups of this kind look unsightly, and they can also be a threat to your familys health, particularly if members of your household suffer from asthma or allergies.
But what exactly is mold, what problems can it cause and, most importantly, how can you tackle it and prevent it from returning to your home? We detail some of the key facts about mold removal and mold remediation below, as well at taking a closer look at mold in your home and health.
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Moisten And Then Bag Moldy Materials
You have to open up the wall to get at the mold growing inside. Since you need to repair the wall anyway, dont hesitate to cut the drywall back beyond the obvious damage to find all the mold and let the wall dry out.
- To avoid cutting electrical wires, poke a hole through the damaged section and locate the wires first.
- Turn off the power to the outlets before you cut.
- Mist the moldy drywall and insulation with the pump sprayer to avoid spreading mold spores.
- Double-bag moldy material in heavy-duty plastic bags and tie them shut.
If the moisture damage has been neglected or gone unnoticed for long, youre likely to find rot.
- Where possible, remove and replace soft, spongy studs and wall sheathing.
- Where removal is difficult, treat the affected areas with a wood preservative after cleaning the wood and allowing it to dry. Then double up rotted members with pressure-treated wood.
Family Handyman
Complete the initial cleanup by vacuuming up the debris.
- Vacuum up moldy debris with a standard wet/dry vacuum.
- Pro tip: Buy an extra length of hose and run it out the window so you can keep the vacuum outside to avoid further spore spread.
Family Handyman
How To Spot Mold Indoors
Knowing how to identify mold in indoor spaces is another important step toward ruling out causes of unexplained respiratory symptoms and taking steps to address them.
Key signs include:
- discoloration in damp, warm, and dark areas of your home, such as bathrooms, closets, laundry rooms, or kitchens
- mold growth in areas where water may pool up or condense, such as your bathroom ceiling, cupboards under sinks, and drywall near water sources
- staining that seeps out of a wall or keeps coming back when you try to clean it
If you have a compromised immune system or preexisting respiratory condition, you may have a higher chance of experiencing a mold-related health condition.
Read Also: How To Search For Mold In Your Home
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How To Get Rid Of Musty Smell In Your Home
A musty smell in your home is frequently a sign of mold or mildew growth. There are many natural solutions that can help you to get rid of musty smell such as baking soda or white vinegar that can help absorb musty smells in the air and trap excess moisture and there are also great commercial products. Your first step in dealing with this type of odor in your home is always to identify the location and source of the water or moisture so you can stop the flow and dry up excess moisture.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Black Mold Exposure
If you find black mold on your property, theres no need to panic. But black mold presents more health risks to sensitive groups like those with respiratory conditions or immune conditions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control , black mold spores can generate cold- or flu-like symptoms such as:
- Shortness of breath
So while black mold probably wont kill you, it can make you feel sick and should be removed as soon as possible.
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Getting Rid Of Black Mold With Bleach
A dilute bleach solution is a good way to remove any mold growing on white surfaces and non-porous, such as countertops and tiles in a kitchen or bathroom find out what is the best kitchen backsplash material to discover which are most mold resistant.
But take care when using, wearing gloves and a mask to protect yourself from the toxic fumes that bleach gives off.
If an initial scrub with bleach doesn’t remove much of the mold, you can take a tip from professional cleaners and soak the affected area with bleach.
‘Our cleaning professionals are instructed to soak patches of mold with bleach for at least 15 minutes before wiping the bleach away,’ says Justin Carpenter, the founder of Modern Maids .
For badly affected areas, you could also soak some cotton cloths in bleach and leave them on the affected area overnight. Be sure that the surface will not be damaged by the bleach if it’s left that long by testing an unseen patch first.
How To Treat Mold With Lemons
Lemons are a natural deodorizer, antiseptic, bleach, stain remover, and cleaner and they can also remove black mold. The high concentration of acid in lemons breaks down mold, making it easy to remove, and leaves behind a disinfected surface. Along with that wonderful citrus aroma!
Juice three-to-five lemons into a cup and pour over the moldy area. Let it sit for five minutes and then wipe the surface with a damp towel. You can reapply and scrub the surface to get rid of tough mold stains.
These natural remedies are great non-toxic alternatives to chemical-based black mold removers, and many of them are also effective against mildew. They are safe for your family and safe for the environment and are frequently less expensive than commercial brands. To learn more about the basics of mold removal, check out this guide from EPA.gov.
From removing mold to weekly housekeeping, The Maids can help you tackle dirt and grime with our full range of cleaning services.
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S To Getting Rid Of Mold
The spores of mold require a substrate, warmth, darkness, oxygen, and moisture to grow. Moisture is the real catalyst however and can stem from a leaking tap or simply a high level of humidity.
Some may find that their house smells musty in summer as humidity levels rise. The trick is to reverse these ideal conditions to combat the growth of mold in your home.
Getting Rid Of Mold With Grapefruit Seed Extract
Grapefruit seed extract is an effective natural mold killer. It has almost no odor and you can buy it from most health food stores. The citric acid from the grapefruit attacks the mold. It also disinfects the area and deodorizes the area.
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Decide If You Can Get Rid Of Black Mold Yourself
Whether you can do a DIY clean-up of black mold, or need to employ a damp and mold professional, will depend on the size of your problem.
Advice on tackling mold from the United Stages Environmental Protection Agency is to consider doing the job yourself if the area affected is less than 10 square feet.
You may want to consult a professional if you have health problems, if you think your home’s heating, ventilation or air-conditioning system may be contaminated with mold, or if the black mold covers an extensive area.
What To Do If You Have Hidden Mold
If you can see mold, the solution is easy. Simply have it identified so you know whether its a toxic mold or not and then safely remove the mold.
But sometimes you simply cant find it by ordinary means, even when you nearly tear your whole house apart.
Sometimes, the only mold in your home is hidden in places you cant easily look. It can hide in attic insulation, in the wall cavity between drywall sheets, or between a finished basement ceiling and the floor upstairs.
There is a way to tell. If your home has a musty odor or anyone with allergies to mold seem to have more symptoms in your home, you can suspect you have mold growth somewhere even if you cant see it.
But, before you spend any money tearing down your house apart to find it, why not find out for sure? You can perform a preliminary air test that could tell if you have hidden mold growth.
Order our air quality mold test kit to know for sure whether that musty odor is mold or something else. Its an easy, inexpensive way to find out whether you need to investigate further for mold or not.
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Risks Of Not Removing Mold
Exposure to mold occurs when it is inhaled. Mold spores are so small that they evade the protective mechanisms found in the nose and upper respiratory tract.
Some molds are allergens, and others are not. Those molds that are allergens can cause asthma, especially in children. The incidents of allergies and asthma have doubled in the last decade. This has been linked to an increase in airborne molds in homes with tight building envelopes.
Symptoms of mold sickness:
