Should I Use A Mold Fogger
A mold fogger or mold bomb is best suited for when the mold spores are congregating in your home in places you cannot reach such as a ceiling or floor spaces or unreachable gaps.
A mold fogger will permeate the air and get to the mold spore you otherwise could not get and reduce them spreading through the home.
Mold Removal: Professional Qualifications The Process And Costs
We know mold removal can be a daunting task. Where should you begin? And how can you get it done right at a reasonable price?
Well, the truth is that mold removal isnt as complicated as its often made out to be. The right mold professional can guide you through the process while charging a reasonable price.
Any mold professional should be able to explain your mold removal project in plain English. If a contractor is unable to explain the basic processes and steps of mold remediation and mold removal in laymans terms, be very wary!
If someone tries to confuse you about the process and scare you into hiring them, walk away and say, Thanks, but no thanks.
**Note: For the purpose of this article, Mold Removal, Mold Remediation, Mold Abatement, and Mold Mitigation are interchangeable terms that essentially mean fixing a mold problem in a structure.
Why You Need A Mitigation And Restoration Company
Removing mold is challenging. It requires specific equipment and very specific training and certification in order to do the job properly. If not treated properly, mold can be toxic and a potential health hazard.
For these reasons, its important to get help from a trusted mitigation and restoration company with well-trained staff and the proper equipment. If you need help with mold damage to your property, UNGERMAN is your one-source solution.
Read Also: What Is Toxic Mold In Homes
Best For Property Managers: Puroclean
PuroClean
Why We Chose it: PuroClean works along with property managers to create mold mitigation and emergency plans tailored to their properties in more than 40 states.
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Works hand-in-hand with property managers and insurance brokers
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Not available in all 50 states
PuroClean was established in 2001 and provides restoration services to both individuals and businesses. Less than 20 years later, it has grown to more than 300 locations in the U.S. and Canada and serves any type of residential and commercial unit, as well as property management companies.
PuroClean will eliminate mold and odors and will clean up and sanitize any affected areas, including walls, furniture, and personal belongings. In addition, the company will create a containment plan to eliminate the spread of mold using HEPA vacuums and air filtration systems. The company performs restoration services to ensure your property gets back to its original state.
PuroClean creates personalized mitigation plans and will provide you with a detailed report that includes any cost estimates and pictures of the process and work completed for insurance purposes. You can request pricing for mold remediation services at your local office or you can contact the PuroClean customer service team to schedule an appointment.
How To Remove Mold And Mildew From Walls Clothes And More
Mold and mildew thrive in moist conditions. That means musty-smelling growth can be found just as easily on damp clothing as it can on carpets and upholstered furniture.
To help avoid this situation, TODAY Home asked some cleaning pros about how to get mold out of fabric, how to remove mildew from fabric, how to remove mildew smell and how to get rid of mildew and mold from other surfaces in your home.
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Is It Mold Or Mildew
Mold and mildew are both types of fungi that thrive in humid conditions with poor ventilation. The most common causes of mold and mildew on walls are condensation, humidity and water leaks.
Mildew is gray or white in appearance with a powdery texture. It can be found lying on flat surfaces in moist areas. As mildew is a surface mold, it wont damage your propertys structure .
Mold is a fungus that spreads from airborne spores. It is usually black, yellow, or green and has a fuzzy or slimy texture. Mold can cause structural issues in your home, as well as health issues.
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.
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Mold Removal Services Near You
If you see signs of mold in your home, orif you recently had water damage, dont hesitate to give our team a call. We use advanced tools and processes to detect any mold that may be present in your home. Our team uses specialized chemicals for mold removal services. Mold may be everywhere in nature, but it doesnt belong in your house.
How To Test For Mold
If homeowners suspect some dark spots on their walls are mold, or a musty smell is giving them fits, they can test for the presence of mold in their home. Most big-box home improvement stores have mold test kits available, and they usually cost between $20 and $45.
While instructions may vary, the process of testing for mold generally involves wiping a cotton swab across the suspected surface, placing it in a petri dish and then watching for mold growth. If mold grows, the sample contained mold. If not, the dark spot is likely just dirty.
Once mold grows, the homeowner can send the test kit to the manufacturers lab. There, the manufacturer will test the mold to identify its type, helping the homeowner determine whether theyd like to hire a pro for the job or handle it themselves.
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Do I Need To Get Medical Treatment
In many cases, exposure to toxic mold doesnt require medical treatment. If you experience cold-like symptoms after exposure to potentially toxic mold, these symptoms will likely fade on their own with no long-term effects once you remove yourself from the environment with the mold.
Generally speaking, your overall risk of long-term health effects related to mold exposure is fairly low. That said, experts still have more to learn about the possible health effects of mold exposure.
For this reason, its still important to avoid long-term exposure to potentially toxic mold and promptly address signs of mold in spaces you spend time in.
Reaching out to a healthcare professional may be a good option if you:
- have a compromised immune system due to another health condition
- have significant trouble breathing
- live with cystic fibrosis
As for a mold detox? Contrary to some beliefs, theres typically no need to go on a cleanse or detox in order to heal your body after exposure to mold.
Heres why: When functioning optimally, your body constantly detoxes itself and its very efficient at this task.
Black Mold Definition :
A black or green substance that is usually slimy in texture, is what is most commonly referred to as “toxic mold”. Black mold is scientifically referred to as Strachybotrys atra or Strachybotrys chartarum, an asexually reproducing fungus that usually colonizes on materials rich in cellulose. Porous organic compounds like wood, paper, and fabric are all prone to black mold infestation. Black mold contains over 50 unique species and is widespread in distribution and can usually be found in areas of the home prone to moisture.
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Is White Mold More Dangerous Than Black Mold
White mold is often erroneously confused with efflorescence. This is a crystalline growth that has an almost fluffy appearance. However, this does not pose the level of health threats that white mold does. White mold is typically thought of as mildew. A lot of people believe that only black mold is toxic. However, white molds can be toxic too.
Let The Air Circulate
Air movement is quite effective in removing moisture. When the outside air is dryer than the interior air, ventilation allows the dry air to enter, absorb excess moisture, and then be transported outside. When natural breezes are insufficient, electric fans installed in a window, fixed into a wall, or vented to the attic can be used to move air from the house.
During prolonged wet weather, poorly ventilated closets become damp and musty, and anything stored in them are prone to mildew. Try opening the closet doors or adding a fan to promote air circulation. Furthermore, hang the garments loosely to allow air to circulate them.
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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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How To Effective Remove Mold In Your Home Or Business
There are several products that can be utilized to kill and remove mold. Some effective products that kill mold are:
- Grapefruit seed extract
While these types of products can be effective in killing mold, they are only efficient when you recognize the first signs of mold growth and manage to prevent its development. In addition to eliminating the mold you see, you must also eliminate the source of the moisture that allowed its appearance in the first place. For many people, while doing it yourself may be an option to remove the mold it is often done incompletely providing only a temporary solution to your mold problem.
It is always best to hire a professional mold remediation company when you see mold but, if the mold in your home is not toxic and the area of mold growth is small then you can try to perform the mold remediation on your own.
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How Much Do Mold Removal Companies Usually Charge
The price of mold removal services varies based on the type of service you need and the magnitude of the spread and if any reconstruction services are needed. Mold inspections and tests can cost up to a few hundred dollars, with the price increasing if mold removal is required. For mold removal and restoration, the cost increases from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.
Woman Looking At Mold On Wall
Side View Of A Shocked Young Woman Looking At Mold On Wall
Shutterstock/Andrey_Popov
If mold is present in your home, you might begin to notice a damp, musty odor in a specific area. Its commonly found in bathrooms, basements and kitchens. If you notice a musty odor, you should check for damp walls, carpet, flooring and any other spaces that may be breeding grounds for mold. The key is to treat a mold problem immediately, before the infestation becomes worse or causes permanent damage.
Learn the most common areas for mold in your house, and take steps to safeguard against mold growth.
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How To Remove Mold From Shower Curtains And Liners
- If your shower curtain or liner is plastic, a mold and mildew spray thats safe for plastic, like Clorox Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover, can be used to get rid of mold. Simply spray on, wait until the stains disappear and rinse off.
- Another option: Wash your plastic liner in the washing machine on the delicate cycle with warm water, laundry detergent and bleach. If the shower curtain is fabric, its best to wash it on the warmest setting possible according to the care instructions.
How To Remove Mold Outside The House
External mold is just as serious as mold inside the home. Youll want to remove mold from the outside of your house, on siding or on your deck, as soon as possible. External mold can do significant damage to exterior surfaces over time, eating away at wood, stucco and other materials. In addition, exterior mold can easily work its way into the house if left unchecked.
- Don gloves and eye protection and liberally spray a 1-to-10 solution of bleach and water on the surface.
- Scrub tough stains with a stiff bristle brush dipped in the solution.
- Let sit for 10 to 20 minutes and rinse with a garden hose.
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What Are Mold And Mildew
Mold is generally included all the species of microscopic fungi that grow in different remote places. These are in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae and have the tendency to thrive and grow on any organic matter like clothing, paper, ceiling, leather, homes, etc that have leakage problems. Places where moisture stays for a while giving room for such species to be a part of the environment. People often confuse mold with mildew which might be associated with mold as a separate entity of itself as well.
Mildew can be referred to as a type of mold or fungus which is usually addressed for the growth of mold, especially with flat growth. This is how it can be frequently confused with mold spores.
How Do I Get Rid Of Mold
It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don’t fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.
It’s important to remember:
For more information:
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When To Hire A Pro
Price alone shouldnt be your only consideration in mold remediation. DIY mold removal may not take care of the underlying problem and only focus on the spots you already know about. You might also clean mold growth in a way that still leaves toxic traces behind.
Hiring an expert costs more but comes with a wide range of benefits, such as the following:
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A comprehensive inspection that detects traces of growth throughout the home
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A long-term solution that fixes not just the symptoms but the underlying issue
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Expertise and advice in how to avoid future problems
To ensure these benefits, find the right pro. Contact a mold removal pro to schedule an inspection and plan for the remediation.
Cleaning Up Small And Medium Mould Problems
Bleach is not necessary to clean up mould.
You can clean up small areas of mould if you follow the proper procedures and use the right protective equipment. Unless the mould growth is on smooth surfaces such as bathroom tiles, surface cleaning will not eliminate the problem.
In most cases you can clean up medium areas of mould if you follow the proper procedures and use the right protective equipment. Materials damaged by mould must be physically removed and disposed of under safe conditions. However, it is important to seek professional assistance if there is a large mould problem or if mould comes back after cleaning.
Susceptible individuals such as pregnant women, infants, children, the elderly, and occupants with asthma, allergies or other health problems should not be in or near the area where the mould is being cleaned up.
Minimum protective gear needed:
- a disposable N95 mask and
- household disposable gloves.
You can purchase an N95 mask from a hardware store. Make sure that the label says “N95”. Other masks are designed to provide limited protection against dust and are not suitable for protecting against mould exposure. Make sure that the mask is properly fitted and you can breathe through the mask.
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Mold Removal: How To Remove Mold Safely From Your Home
Black mold removal
Mold removal is the process of removing visible mold growth from a building. Once mold grows in a building, mold removal is a must in order to maintain the health of the occupants and also to ensure protection of the things where these molds grow. Mold removal provides peace of mind to people that they are safe from allergies and illness caused by molds. Before mold removal the cause of the mold growth must be identified and corrected, otherwise mold growth would re-occur. Mold removal can be simple or complicated depending on where the mold has infested, level of contamination, and type of building. If you see that the affected area is 10 more square feet then it calls to seek for professional mold removal services. Whether you are performing basement mold removal, bathroom mold removal, attic mold removal or black mold removal the key is to ensure the mold is properly contained during removal so that it does not spread to non-contaminated areas of the building.
If you detect signs of mold in your home, the normal thing to do is call in professionals to perform mold removal services. However, with the help of a mold inspector and adequate preparation, you can take care of minor infestations yourself.
A mold will determine if the situation can be a do-it-yourself project. Otherwise, it may be most helpful to seek expert mold removal services for the best results.
