A Quick Guide to Mold Remediation

Molds are scary, not only do they destroy the aesthetics of your home, they can cause significant harm to your health. This is a problem that most households face especially during environmental problems such as floods. As a result there can be various parts inside the house that are unventilated and damp. These sections can begin to experience mold in as little as a day.

During after an episode of rain or flooding, your environment becomes damp and this supports the growth of molds which you are more likely to find in the unventilated corners of any home.

The best line of action is to inspect and conduct mold remediation if any is found. To get more information on how to prevent and get rid of mold growing in any corner of your home, continue to read this article.

What Facilitates the Growth of Mold?

Before solving any mold situation, it is important that its root causes are first understood. Molds grow from mold spores and are usually light and tiny. They can float around in unfiltered air and when they land on damp areas they grow rapidly. Often times, the first sign of their presence will be dark spots and if not remediated as soon as possible they expand especially when the area is unventilated.

Unventilated areas support the growth of molds and this is why they can usually be found in places like underneath the carpet or even in walls. The presence of molds in the home can be very harmful especially for people with asthma.

It is very common for people to have allergic reactions to molds and its severity is dependent on extent of the allergy. When you come in contact with mold spores either by inhaling it or by touching it, there is a tendency to irritate the eyes, nose, lungs and other sensitive parts of the body.

Having discussed the above, let’s now look at some ways of preventing mold infestation.

Methods of Preventing Molds

There are easy methods that you can consider to prevent the presence of molds in the home. The first step you want to take is to control the humidity. One way to do that is to use a dehumidifier when there is a rise in the humidity levels especially in the spring, summer or fall. The next step you want to take is to keep the surfaces in your home dry. One of the factors that support the growth of molds is damp surfaces such as leaky attics, wet foundations etc. you can achieve this by repairing leaks under sinks, replacing old roofs, wrapping metal pipes etc.

How to Remove Molds from Your Home

If you find yourself struggling with molds in your home, here are a few methods you can consider for different surfaces. As you begin your DIY process of mold remediation, you need to also consider some safety steps.

1. It is very important to evacuate the house during the period of remediation to avoid members of your household coming in contact with the mold and harming their health.
2. It is crucial to have adequate ventilation; you can do this by properly positioning your wall fan and opening your windows to enhance flow of air.
3. It is also important that you make use of a respirator or any other gear like gloves and overalls to prevent inhaling and physical contact with the mold

If you need more safety tips, you can check here: https://www.safeopedia.com/7-safety-tips-for-mold-cleanup-and-remediation-tasks/2/7306#:~:t for more safety tips to observe during mold remediation.

Removing Mold from Carpets

1. You can start by drying out any wet carpet to prevent the mold from taking hold.
2. Using any safe equipment, carefully trim out all contaminated parts of the carpet.
3. Scrub the concrete sub-flooring; you can use TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) or any other appropriate cleaner.
4. Contain the moldy carpet using a thick plastic before sealing it of with duct tape.
5. Using a thick trash bag, bag the debris neatly and ready for disposal.

Removing Molds from Walls

1. The first step is to determine how much damage the walls have suffered.
2. Open a tiny part of the wall, this is to look for any drywall or other insulation suspected of being infiltrated by mold.
3. Cut out all areas you suspect of harboring mold.
4. Once this is done, you can replace your drywall and also install new insulation.
5. Then seal the seams of the drywall, paint and put everything back into place.
6. If you notice that the drywall has not been infiltrated, the wall’s exterior part should be sprayed with white vinegar or bleach till the solution completely dries.

For a natural and eco-friendly method of mold remediation, you can consider the use of extracts from citrus seed. It’s free of any odor and can be used to kill mold. All you need to do is to mix about 20 or so drops into a spray can containing 2 cups of normal water. This you will use for spraying over the affected area.

Another solution you can consider is pure white vinegar. A baking soda solution (quarter tablespoon mixed with water) will also work. You can spray the solution on the problem area, leave for about one hour and then scrub, wipe and rinse any residue. 

If you decide to use a less natural means, you can consider products such as chlorine bleach and hydrogen peroxide.

Bottom Line

One of the major ways to prevent the infiltration of mold is to avoid procrastinating. Immediately you notice mold in your home, do not delay but take action at once. When mold growth is at its early stage, you can make use of natural methods of mold removal. In the case of a major mold outbreak due to flood, be sure to make use of the right tools if you decide to go the DIY route. If not, call for professional help. It is also important to solve any problem you might have relating to moisture or humidity to prevent mold growth.