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Do Your Own Mold Clean Up – When Is This Safe?
If you are unfortunate enough to discover a problem with mold growth in your home, you will want to start a fast and efficient mold clean up operation immediately.
But, how can you be sure that you really do have mold?
Well usually one of the first signs is a horrid “earthy” “musty” odour which is given off by the mold, secondly you will notice discolored areas on walls, window sills, fabrics etc. one way of establishing if these stains are caused by mold is to wipe it with some normal household bleach. (Mold can appear in a variety of colors – black, white, yellow and blue are a few examples.) If the stain is removed by the bleach the chances are it is mold, if not it could be a number of things such as pollutants entering the home from outside through open windows etc.
Mold Growing On Wood
Whatever type of mold you discover it can most definitely be attributed to excess moisture in the building due to condensation, water leaks, dampness and so on. It is therefore imperative that these issues are dealt with before any mold clean up can begin. Fitting ventilation fan
, range hoods
will help dry out damp areas quickly and efficiently once any necessary repairs have been carried out.
Before starting any mold clean up it is essential that you evaluate the level of mold growth – large areas can be extremely hazardous and will most definitely require professional attention.
So when is it safe to tackle a mold clean-up yourself?
Mold growth can be divided into three categories:
1. Small Growth Area- this would be defined as an area of mold growth which is no larger than 1 meter square and there should be no more than three areas(all less than 1 meter square) This you can tackle yourself.
2. Moderate Growth Area – mold growth can be put in this classification if there are more than three areas with each one smaller that 1 square meter or one single larger area, but this should be no larger than 3 meters square. Again, with care you should be able to tackle this amount of mold yourself.
3. Extensive Growth Area – If you find you have an patch of mold which covers an area more than 3 square meters, it is time to call in professional help.
Now of course the big question is how to carry out a mold clean-up?
Before you begin working to remove any type of mold you must protect yourself so, you will need a minimum of goggles, face mask and rubber gloves, if you are dealing with a moderate rather than a small mold growth area you should seal of the whole room with plastic sheeting before you begin. Anyone who already suffers respiratory problems or allergies and small children should be kept as far from the work area as possible – probably best if they are not even in the building.
OK, so if you have just a small area of mold to clean it is quite simply a case of scrubbing it clean using a solution containing a detergent, you may want to consider using a commercial mold clean up product or some basic household ingredients like baking soda, white vinegar, tea tree oil orgrapefruit seed oil all of which will remove mold stains. Once cleaned it is important to dry the area out as quickly as possible. A dehumidifier
If the area of mold you want to clean is a bit larger i.e. “moderate” in size it is best to use a vacuum cleaner to remove the surface mold which can be “powdery” in appearance first. However, the vacuum you use should have a HEPA filter fitted or should be exhausted outside. Once again scrub the area using a mold clean up solution and allow to dry. If you are tackling a wood surface and the stain cannot be removed in this way it will be necessary to use a sander (use one with an inbuilt vacuum to prevent the spread of mold spores in the atmosphere) to remove the mold. If the mold is extensive it is probably wiser to replace the wood rather than try to clean it.
In both instances, if you have cleaned the mold and it continues to return it would suggest that there is a further problem with moisture or damp which needs investigation by a professional.
Professional help will also be require if you have large, extensive areas of mold growth, mold can be very damaging to health so do not be tempted to try such a mold clean up!
Tagged as: mold clean up
