It’s but natural for our homes to gather dust and grime every single day, and all we must do to deal with the accumulated dirt is to clean it up by sweeping, vacuuming, or mopping on a regular basis.
However, when there is excess moisture in your home, mold is likely to form. For mold removal, you’re going to need more than just a broom, a mop, or a vacuum cleaner to get rid of it.
The problem with mold
Mold breaks down dead leaves, plants, and trees outdoors, and that makes it an important part of our ecosystem. However, when they grow and spread inside our homes, mold is undoubtedly a nuisance.
A type of fungus found in places where there is a lot of moisture present, mold can form in any damp area in your home. The walls and floors of bathrooms with poor ventilation are favorite spots, and so are shower curtains. Mold also form frequently on basement floors, especially near water heaters and sump pumps. When there are leaks in your plumbing or even your ceiling, expect mold to grow and spread there.
To say that mold is unsightly would be an understatement. Mold, which can be black, white, purple, green, or orange, can appear as slimy spots, slick films, and fuzzy patches, effectively ruining the way a home looks.
Even worse is the fact that mold smells. A musty smell is usually one of the signs that your home is being invaded by mold. And if the smell is strong but can’t see any mold, then you have a bigger problem, because it’s possible you are already hosting a mold colony behind your walls and ceilings.
Mold can make you sick
When your nose is picking up the musty smell that comes with mold growth, then you are likely inhaling the mold spores that have already been released into the air. While mold spores are usually harmless in small amounts, people who inhale mold spores in greater quantities and have a sensitivity to mold could experience health problems.
Allergic reactions like sneezing, red eyes, skin rash, coughing, and runny nose are common in people who come into contact with mold spores. For those with serious mold allergies, the reaction could be more severe, and that may include shortness of breath. The inhalation of mold spores may also cause asthma attacks.
DIY mold removal
There are a number of ways that you can deal with mold growth yourself.
One of the safest natural materials to use when removing mold is vinegar. A mild, non-toxic acid, vinegar is capable of killing more than 80% of mold species. All you have to do is pour some vinegar into a spray bottle, spray it onto the moldy surface, and let it sit there for about an hour. Use water to wipe the area clean. Repeat every few days to make sure it stays free of mold.
Other materials that you can use to get rid of mold include bleach, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, borax, and detergent water.
When to call mold professionals
DIY mold cleaning, however, is only good for small spots of mold growth. When you find mold spores growing on drywall, studs, and subflooring, and the growth covers more than 10 square feet, you are going to need more than vinegar or bleach to get rid of it. For a mold problem of this magnitude, it would be best to leave it to the pros.
Don’t even try to deal with a huge mold infestation yourself because you could get seriously sick. For severe mold problems, getting the services of mold removal professionals is the only way.
With their training and equipment, mold removal experts can methodically banish mold from your home for good. They don’t just clean the mold up; they also trace the source of the dampness and fix it. They replace the parts damaged by the mold growth as well. You can be sure that when they’re done, you won’t have to deal with mold in your home for a long time.
