-
How To Clean Mold And Prevent Its Return!
Filed under clean mold, house moldIn order for mold to flourish like every other living thing it requires food and moisture.
The most common type of mold to be found in homes is black mold or mildew. Whilst this is not as harmful to health as other strains of mold it is still not something you want multiplying in your home – and this stuff does spread quickly!
So how do you clean mold? Well, before you can begin cleaning mold there are a few things you should do: -
1. It is important that if you find a patch of mold on a window frame or wall like you immediately check all other areas of your home for similar discoloration and growth.
2.Where ever the mold is discovered it is vital that you establish the cause. Check basements, loft space, outer walls,
A Gutter In Need Of Attention
gutters anywhere that there may be a problem with water seeping in and causing the wet or damp conditions required for mold to grow.
3. Whatever the cause is take immediate action to have it fixed! Good property maintenance is the key to avoiding such problems.
4. If there is no apparent cause there is a strong possibility that it is purely down to condensation. This occurs when there is not adequate ventilation in your home and the humidity rises. As the temperature cools the water vapour settles on cold surfaces such as windows etc. making them wet with condensation which will also affect the wooden frame and once again give mold the ideal conditions to grow and spread.
This can be remedied by ensuring that there is enough ventilation especially in bathrooms
andkitchens
5. Dry the affected area out properly – mold cannot grow if moisture is not present so try to dry the area out fairly quickly. A dehumidifier
can be invaluable for this task.
Okay, so now you have hopefully removed the source of the problem how to clean mold is the next step.
For safety it is best if you wear some protective clothing such as goggles, rubber gloves and a face mask. Also it is a good idea to seal off the area in which you are going to work to prevent any mold spores invading other rooms of the house..
Many people would be tempted to use bleach to clean mold and mildew, however to be honest although it will work it may not prevent the return of mold patches. Another major disadvantage to using bleach is that it can also cause more damage to surfaces and floor coverings if drips fall onto them.
Use a wire brush or a vacuum cleaner for larger areas to remove any of the surface mold and dust which it likes to feed on – this is especially good on wood – then wash the area down with an organic mold cleaning product which will remove the mold stains and help to neutralise any “musty” odours. One note of caution – make sure the room is sealed off and that you have the correct protective clothing before you consider carrying out this work this includes overalls, a face mask, gloves and goggles.
The same can be done for walls and ceilings however, this will depend on how bad the problem is. It may be the case that cleaning any commercially produced mold cleaning product will not be enough and that the plaster board may need ripping out and replacing.
Once you have removed the mold there are products available which will help to act as a barrier and prevent the mold from reforming on surfaces.
If you are unfortunate enough to have problems with mold in closets where it also attacks clothing there are a few options you could try such as lemon juice and salt or again there are commercial products available. The most important thing is to dry the closet and its contents out thoroughly.
Caution: If you are unsure which type of mold you ahve in your home please consult a professional – it may be toxic.
