For all intents and purposes, mold is a four-letter word in the truest sense, and it’s literally way more damaging than any other four-letter word other people could throw your way.
When you discover that your house has mold, it’s but normal to feel a sense of dread. After all, mold can have an adverse effect not only on your house but the physical health of everyone in the household as well.
At the first sign of mold, you must do what you can to remove it, especially when its levels are still manageable. However, when the mold has already spread behind the walls and now infests a significant portion of your house, it’s probably time to call in mold remediation professionals.
Removing mold DIY-style
If the mold is isolated to an area no bigger than 10 square feet, then you might want to consider removing the mold yourself. And if you’re going the DIY route, you must fully protect yourself, because you might find yourself getting sick if you come into contact with mold, the most toxic of which is black mold.
For protective gear, you are going to need the following:
- Rubber gloves
- Eye protection such as goggles
- Mask or respirator
- A fan to dry the affected area
- Work clothes that you can throw away afterward
For cleaning materials, you need:
- Rags
- Scrub brush
- A pail
- Bleach and non-ammonia soap or detergent
- White vinegar
However, before you start removing mold, you have to identify the source of the moisture that triggered its formation in the first place. It could be a leaking ceiling, a leaking pipe, water damage, or simply too much humidity in the affected area. Any work you do to remove the mold would be pointless if the source of the excess moisture is not addressed because mold will just keep coming back.
Removing mold
Once you put on all your protective gear, you can start by using a wet rag to dampen the affected area and prevent spores from disbursing through the air.
Then use a scrub brush and non-ammonia soap or detergent to remove as much mold as you can. After brushing off the most visible mold spots, mix 1½ cups of bleach in a gallon of water in a pail and wet the affected surface with the solution. After soaking the area in bleach for 15 minutes, scrub the area again then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
If there are still visible traces of mold, repeat the bleaching process until you’re satisfied all mold is gone, then dry area off using the fan.
Ideally, the clothes you were wearing while removing the mold should be thrown away, but if you think doing so would be such a waste, then place them in a plastic bag and bring then straight to the washing machine. To kill any mold that has likely hitched a ride on your clothes, strengthen your wash water by adding ¾ cup white vinegar to it.
When to call in the pros
Of course, performing the steps above is only recommended if the mold infestation isn’t that big. If the mold in your home has invaded more than 10 square feet of your house and beyond, then it’s time for mold remediation professionals to step in.
Mold remediation experts not only have the skills, experience, and tools necessary to rid your home of mold. They also have the proper chemicals and the training to handle them and ensure mold would never return to your home after treatment.
However, before calling in the experts, contact your insurance company first and find out if your policy covers mold remediation.
