When Do You Need A Restoration Company
If mold continues to grow in your home despite your best efforts, leaving visible traces all over your walls, floors, and ceilings, or there is a damp or musty smell in your home or business, consider enlisting the help of restoration experts. Professional mold remediation specialists have specialized cleaning compounds and tools for remediating microbial growth. Of course, it is recommended you continue learning how to prevent mold in your home prevention, after all, is better than the cure. But should a mold problem arise in your home, you can restore your house to its former glory with some professional help.
Call A Water Damage Restoration Pro
For extensive mold damage, you may need to call in professional help.
These professionals are used to emergency calls, and you should take them up on that as soon as possible. Once they arrive on site, theyll be able to give you an idea of the damage and what needs to be done to ensure your home is livable.
Proper Ventilation And Sunlight:
Open all the doors and windows to allow proper air circulation and sunlight to stream in. Sunlight is perhaps one of the best home remedy for getting rid of molds and mildews, it not only destroys molds but even prevents further fungal growth. Also fix the ventilation of the house, build ventilators in every room and get exhaust fans installed to protect your house from molds. Also install air filter and mold and mildew spore catching filters in your air conditioner to clean the air of any fungi or bacteria.
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Air Conditioning And Heating Vents
You probably prefer your bedroom to be at the optimal temperature for you to get a good nights rest. While using the AC and heating unit are fine , its possible for mold to grow in the vents.
To prevent mold from contaminating your bedroom, you should:
- Use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air
- Dry up any condensation you find on the walls and windows
- Invest in a mold-resistant mattress or, at the very least, a waterproof mattress cover
Tile And Grout Sealing:
Cleaning the tiles and sealing up the grout for good is another effective solution to prevent any fungal infestation. Unfinished kitchen ties and broken bathroom floors often becomes a breeding ground for the fungi colonies and can lead to massive mold and mildew growths. Oftentimes you must have noticed brown or yellow stains on the floor this is due to the fungal growth, clean the tiles regularly and seal them properly for extra protection. You can get some professional help or use natural home remedies such as beeswax or herbal oils to seal the tiles and grout for good.
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Attempt To Remove Standing Water In The Meantime
Not a lovely sight, isn’t it?
Provided the current conditions are not dangerousfor example, the water level is not so high that you cant safely wade through ityou should attempt to remove as much standing water as you can.
If youve got a wet-dry shop vacuum, a water transfer pump, a sump pumpCarson said buckets will work, tooyou should start using any or all of them to remove as much water as possible while you wait for your water damage restoration professional to arrive.
Our favorite wet/dry vacuum is the 12-gallon VacMaster, which has eight different attachments and a detachable motor for easy cleaning.
Any items that have gotten wet should be relocated to a place where they can dry out, though its likely that some things will have to be discarded.
Surprising Tips And Tricks On How To Prevent Mold Growth
Mold is present in more than 50% of U.S. homes, and its not just unsightly. Certain types of mold can lead to severe and life-threatening health conditions. Thats just one reason why homeowners should take precautions with mold. Depending on the extent of the contamination, you could also lose thousands in home renovation expenses. Thankfully, there are some surefire ways to help prevent mold from popping up in your home. If you want to protect your health and your wallet, here are seven tips and tricks to prevent mold that every homeowner should know.
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How To Get Rid Of Mold In The Basement/crawlspace
Removing mold in these areas follows the same procedure as for walls and ceilings. However, in these areas, the cause of the mold might be especially hard to deal with. An overly humid basement or a poorly ventilated attic could become damp and moldy. Resolving the moisture problem that caused the mold is vital.
Remember that soft, porous surfaces contaminated with mold almost certainly need to be thrown away and replaced. Carpets and rugs are nearly impossible to get completely mold-free.
While mold remediation can be a dirty, time-consuming process, it is not impossible for the average homeowner to deal with. Keep in mind that mold spores are everywhere, so you do not need to eradicate every last spore. Removing all visible mold, thoroughly drying the area and resolving whatever caused the moisture to begin with are the key steps in removing mold. A thorough wipe down with a damp cloth and a HEPA vacuum can accomplish most of your mold removal needs.
Take Care Of Your Furniture
Each piece of furniture you have in the room should be specially treated during spring cleaning even if it involves simple vacuuming or deep cleaning.
When you are moving everything to take care of your carpets and floors, keep your furniture out for a little bit longer. Check behind your furniture for mold, and if it is mold-free, clean it with a damp cloth, warm water and mild detergent. You can find special products that you can use for different types of furniture . Before you put your furniture back, just make sure it is completely dry.
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Improve Air Flow In Your Home
According to the EPA, as temperatures drop, the air is able to hold less moisture. Without good air flow in your home, that excess moisture may appear on your walls, windows and floors. To increase circulation, open doors between rooms, move furniture away from walls, and open doors to closets that may be colder than the rooms theyre in. Let fresh air in to reduce moisture and keep mold at bay.
Most Common Places To Check For Mold In Your Home
If you have allergies or a chronic lung disease like asthma, youre probably very aware of the effect mold can have on your health. But even if you have a healthy immune system and no allergies, mold can cause a variety of health problems coughing, wheezing, and throat, skin, and eye irritation, to name a few. Mold is everywhere and, though you cant fully control your exposure to it outdoors or in public spaces, you can check for mold in common places around your home and take measures to prevent and remove it.
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How To Prevent Mold Growth During The Winter
by Lisa | Feb 10, 2021 | Mold |
Household mold can grow on a variety of surfaces and objects, from walls and windows to clothes, books, and toys. Over time, an unremedied mold issue in your home can damage your property and belongings and pose serious risks to your familys health.
The wet winter season is one of the most common times to discover mold growing in your home. This article guides you through the indoor places youre most likely to find mold in the winter and what you can do to prevent it.
How To Prevent Mold Growth In Your Home
What is mold?
Mold is a general term used to describe a family of fungal growths that form on damp or decaying material. There are several different species of mold that can be found in various climates and regions. In this article, we will focus on indoor mold growth. Although mold is common and may be unavoidable in some circumstances, it is important to prevent or reduce mold if possible.
Mold can damage the structure of a building as well as create health risks for the buildings occupants. The fungus often causes wood deterioration and respiratory issues as the spores circulate in the air within the building.
How does mold grow in homes?
Condensation is the primary cause of mold growth indoors and within walls. Indoor condensation occurs in spaces where warm air makes contact with cooler surfaces, causing the air to form water droplets. Condensation is prevalent around windows and in bathroomscommon areas where mold occurs.
Condensation and mold growth also develop inside walls, which should not be overlooked. Condensation often forms inside walls due to thermal bridging. Thermal bridging is the movement of heat across a localized area in the buildings surrounding envelope. Simply put, its when heat escapes from inside your home to the outside.
Thermal bridging: brass spigot vs. Aquor stainless hydrant
How do you prevent mold growth?
Stainless Aquor House Hydrant V1+ internals
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How To Prevent Mold Growth
The key to preventing mold from growing indoors, especially during the wet winter season, is controlling moisture and keeping your home as clean and well-ventilated as possible. Heres what you should do:
Keep Humidity Low and Air Moving
Mold naturally thrives when there is moisture in the air and on nearby surfaces. Controlling household humidity is one of the best ways you can prevent mold from growing. Thats because, if the air in your home is dry, mold spores are less likely to land in a spot where they have enough moisture to begin to grow.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping the humidity level in your home below 60%. Here are a few ways to lower the humidity level in your indoor spaces:
- Take cooler showers.
- Dont leave wet clothes and towels sitting in laundry baskets.
- Avoid laying fabric mats in areas often exposed to moisture, such as bathrooms and basements.
- Move houseplants to a well-ventilated area.
- Invest in a dehumidifier.
How To Prevent Black Mold Exposure In Your Home
yavdat/ iStock/ Getty Images Plus
Without mold spores, we would not have penicillin, Roquefort cheese, and leaf mold-enhanced soil that benefits gardeners and farmers. However, there are some dangerous moldslike black moldthat invade our homes and workspaces and can cause a number of health issues.
Once black mold has taken hold in a home, it must be eradicated. And, using extreme caution and protective gear, you can remove small areas yourself. However, because it grows so quickly, black mold usually requires a licensed professional to safely remove it from a home.
If the black mold infestation covers 10 or more square feet, a professional should handle the removal. Removing large mold colonies requires exposure to heavy-duty chemicals and permits for the proper disposal of infected building materials. Local public health departments can offer advice on mold testing and refer you to an expert mold remover.
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Take Care Of Your Windows
Take down all drapes and curtains and wash them thoroughly. Make sure you dry them well before you hang them again. If the weather allows it, you can put them back while they are still wet and leave the windows wide open. This will make your entire room smell fresh, but again, you should be careful about the humidity level, as it can bring about mold.
Using warm water, damp cloth and mild dishwashing liquid, scrub each window with a brush and rinse thoroughly. By doing this, you will remove any dirt and mildew from your windows. In case you see dark spots on your windows and suspect a mold problem, now is the perfect moment to call professionals to test if it is mold or not. Window condensation often causes mold to grow in your home.
Dont forget to wash both the interior side of your windows as well as the exterior one and windowsills. The best way to prevent mold in your home is to keep your windows open as often as possible, as mold isnt a fan of fresh air.
Preventing Mold Through Heating
It makes sense that people want to save on heating cost, but one of the best mold prevention techniques is keeping your heating on.
If you seriously want to avoid mold in your home then avoid rooms cooling completely. Experts recommend that the ideal temperature for living rooms is 20°C, 23°C for the bathroom and childrens rooms, and 16C for the bedroom and kitchen. It is recommended that you never let the temperature of your home fall below 14°C.
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Prevent Mold By Eliminating Excess Moisture
Controlling moisture in your home is essential. This means finding and fixing any sources of moisture, be it broken pipes, leaking toilets, cracked foundation or high humidity.
Relative humidity is a measure of the amount of moisture in the air relative to the maximum amount the air can hold at that temperature.
In a healthy home, relative humidity should be between 30% and 50%. Any higher and you probably have a moisture problem, not to mention, a mold problem.
Ideal Conditions For Mold & Mildew
High heat , humidity , and a food source create the ideal environment for mold and mildew to thrive. Thats why June-August promote mold growth more than any other months. Warm temperatures and high humidity set the stage for mold and mildew.
There are a variety of molds found in the home including Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium and many more. The toxic black mold associated with sick house syndrome is probably Stachybortrys chartarum. for a list of common household mold types. Regardless of the mold type you have, it is important to remove it from any living spaces, including offices, and garages.
The good news is that there are a variety of ways to fight mold or to keep it from developing in your home entirely. Weve compiled a list of easy, proactive methods for keeping your home dry and your air free of mold and other airborne toxins.
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How To Remove Mold From Wood
In areas like the kitchen, where there’s higher humidity from cooking or running the dishwasher, you may find mold on your wood cabinets if there is poor ventilation. Mold can also grow on wood furniture and paneling if it’s humid and the air circulation is low. To remove mold from wood cabinets, paneling, or furniture, follow the steps below:
- Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter , vacuum the loose spores with the soft brush attachment.
- Then, mix a few drops of dish detergent, like Dawn Platinum, with a gallon of water and use a rag to apply the solution. Wet the surface to remove the mold but do not saturate it.
- Follow-up with a cloth dipped in clear water, wring it out well, and wipe the surface dry. Don’t let the wood stay wet for too long as it could damage the finish.
Five Ways To Prevent Mold Growth In Your Home
Mold is an inconvenient and often dangerous issue many homeowners face, but did you know there are ways you can fend off the problem? Here are some ways to prevent mold growth in your home.
1. Keep your home dry.Moisture can make its way into your home very easily, and finding a way to get rid of this moisture is an important step in preventing mold growth in your home. Make sure youre checking areas that may frequently collect water or condensation. Refrigerators, water tanks, windows, crawl spaces, and even your household plants are all popular places for water to collect and mold to grow. Its important to quickly dry any moisture you find in these areas and perform proper maintenance to ensure no further moisture is able to settle.
2. Watch your homes humidity level.Humidity is a breeding ground for mold. Because humidity often causes condensation, moisture is able to manifest in your home, and the dampness takes much longer to dry due to the wet air. Exposing your indoor air to rainy and excessively humid weather can cause a spike in mold growth, along with HVAC systems that artificially heat and cool your home. Watch for things like condensation and puddles in areas like windows, walls, and doors caused by humid air settling into your home. You can also go the extra step and invest in a humidity monitor to ensure humidity levels are low enough to prevent mold growth in your home.
Mold in Apartment
Humidity at a windowin wintertime
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How To Remove 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 and clothing. However, if mildew has developed due to dampness and is caught early, it can easily be removed from most machine-washable fabrics.
It is very difficult to remove mold from upholstered items because the spores may have deeply penetrated the item and the piece of furniture is likely not colorfast for use with a bleach disinfectant. If the spot is small, try a mold removal product that is formulated for fabric and follow the label’s instructions carefully. You can also try these types of products to spot clean fabric lamp shades or window treatments affected by mold, but they are not machine-washable. Read the label to make sure the product will work on your type of fabric and do not use a vacuum to clean any moldy item.
