How to Safely Remove Molds in Homes?

Molds are not a fun surprise to find in your home. Seeing those black mold spots in your basement or shower 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 worsening. 

If you’re reading this article after seeing mold infestations in your home, these guidelines we’ve prepared can help tackle the situation you’re in.

6 Ways to Eliminate Molds

Molds left untouched can quickly spread to larger areas, so it’s essential to tackle the mold while it’s just starting to develop. When neglected, molds can ruin valuable household items and even trigger allergic reactions and health conditions affecting the respiratory system. 

Here are five steps you can follow to solve mold problems before they become serious:

1. Locate All Mold

It’s pointless to only remove some of the molds in your home. It will spread and quickly grow when you miss even a little bit, putting you in a full-blown mold situation. To ensure you tackle every mold in your home, 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

Controlling moisture is the best way to address mold growth. Molds thrive in humid and wet conditions, so identifying the sources of moisture is essential to prevent molds and keep them from recurring. Molds usually grow in damp unventilated areas like bathrooms and basements. 

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
  • Leaky roofs or walls

If these caused significant mold infestation in your home, hire PuroClean emergency restoration services to address the situation.

3. Address Unresolved Water Damage

Repairing the water problem that created the mold is an essential part of eliminating these pesky fungi and ensuring they don’t reoccur. Moisture provides mold spores an environment to thrive, so fix 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 walls and ceilings. When this happens, you’ll have to employ professionals specializing in mold remediation in St. Augustine, FL, to prevent further damage and excess moisture from occurring.

4. Use the Right Cleaning Product

A lot of homeowners may think bleach is the most effective mold treatment. However, it isn’t. Bleach may contain strong chemicals, but it doesn’t eliminate mold. It only changes the mold’s color from black to gray or white, and there’s a possibility that it might come back after a few weeks of bleaching. Mold specialists recommend borax instead. 

Follow the steps below to address molds using borax:

  • Mix the powder in a gallon of hot water.
  • Apply the solution on a mold-affected surface.
  • Scrub using a brush or rug 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 wet surface that contains mold should be removed from your home to prevent spores from spreading in another area. Depending on the extent of the mold problem, this could mean replacing or removing carpets, insulation, or drywall.

6. Dry the Surface

The last and most crucial 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 may find references suggesting cleaning materials and procedures applicable to minor mold situations. But worse cases of mold infestations are best delegated to remediation professionals. Not only will you save time by doing so, but you’re also saving yourself and your family from exposure to mold spores and respiratory problems if you take on the job yourself.