Molds are not a fun surprise to find in your house. Seeing those black mold spots in your shower or basement can be disturbing. While small amounts won’t really make you sick, knowing how to get rid of them immediately can keep the situation from exacerbating.
If you’re reading this article after seeing mold infestations in your house, these guidelines we have prepared can help tackle the situation you’re in.
6 Ways to Eliminate Molds
Molds left untouched can rapidly spread to larger areas, so tackling the mold while it’s starting to develop is crucial. When disregarded, molds can destroy valuable household items and cause allergic reactions and health conditions affecting the respiratory system.
Here are five steps you can follow to solve mold issues before they become severe:
1. Locate All Mold
It’s pointless to only eradicate some of the molds in your house. It will spread and rapidly grow when you miss even a little bit, putting you in a full-blown mold situation. To ensure you address every mold in your house, check all the rooms and pay attention to damp areas with a musty odor. Molds can grow under floor coverings and carpets, above ceiling tiles, inside walls, and inside air conditioning ducts.
2. Identify the Source of Moisture
Regulating moisture is the best way to address mold growth. Molds thrive in humid and wet conditions, so determining the sources of moisture is necessary to prevent molds and keep them from recurring. Molds usually grow in damp unventilated areas like basements and bathrooms.
Some of the common culprits of mold growth in homes include:
- Excess moisture
- Condensation around doors, windows, concrete floors, and cold pipes
- Flooding
- Poor ventilation and HVAC
- Leaking roofs or walls
If these caused significant mold infestation in your home, have expert mold contractors attend to the situation. You may click here to learn more about the professional mold remediation process.
3. Address Unresolved Water Damage
Repairing the water problem that created the mold is a vital part of removing these pesky fungi and ensuring they do not return. Moisture provides mold spores an environment to thrive, so repair any roof or pipe leaks. Since roofs and pipes have layers of insulation and drywall, they’re ideal places for molds to grow.
As the mold spreads, you’ll see them growing on your ceilings and walls. When this happens, you’ll have to employ property restoration professionals to prevent further damage and excess moisture from occurring.
4. Use the Right Cleaning Product
Many house owners might think bleach is the most efficient mold treatment. However, it isn’t. Bleach might contain strong chemicals, but it doesn’t get rid of mold. It only changes the mold’s color from black to gray or white, and there’s a probability that it might return after a few weeks of bleaching. Mold experts suggest borax instead.
Follow the steps below to address molds using borax:
- Mix the powder in a gallon of warm water.
- Apply the mixture on a mold-affected surface.
- Scrub using a rug or brush until the mold disappears.
Avoid using this cleaner on drywall, as such materials absorb water quickly. Instead, try safe alternative products like vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and tea tree oil.
5. Remove Damaged Materials
Any porous or damp surface that contains mold should be removed from your house to prevent spores from spreading in another area. Depending on the extent of the mold issue, this could mean changing or removing carpets, insulation, or drywall.
6. Dry the Surface
The last and most essential part of mold removal is drying the surface. Remember, moisture is the primary culprit of mold buildup. Since water is a part of the mold cleaning process, the surface will be wet for several hours. Open doors and windows to speed up the drying process and ventilate the area. You can also run a dehumidifier or air movers to quickly dry the surface.
Conclusion
The internet is an abundant source of information for removing household molds. You might find references suggesting cleaning materials and methods applicable to minor mold situations. But worse cases of mold infestations are best entrusted to remediation experts. Not only will you save time by doing so, but you’re also saving yourself and your household from exposure to mold spores and respiratory issues if you handle the job yourself.
