Note: The information below is a layperson’s guide to mold issues. This doesn’t constitute legal, health or professional advice. Seek advice from appropriate professionals on any mold issues in your property.
We all have heard at least one horror story about mold. You probably know that mold is a fungus – actually, there are many types of mold, and they are all different types of fungi – that grows in moist conditions. When you encounter a building that has been “infected” with mold, you definitely need to have it checked to make sure that the infiltration is not a threat to present or future inhabitants’ health. For the purposes of this article, however, we will assume that the mold in question has been determined to be a fairly minor issue and simply needs to be cleaned up thoroughly and effectively so that the problem does not recur.
Generally, if the area of mold is fewer than three patches in total, each smaller than a square meter, you can clean up the mold yourself. Conventional wisdom recommends using a bleach solution, but newer research indicates that this is unwise because of the fumes, potential damage to the surface beneath the mold, and general unreliability of the technique. Here are three important tips that you need to follow when you clean up mold yourself:
- Protect Yourself
You may feel silly, but you should be wearing safety glasses, a disposable dust mask and household rubber gloves. This will help protect you from allergic reactions to mold spores and from respiratory issues associated with the spores. When you are cleaning, you will dislodge spores into the air and you need to make sure that they cannot reach your eyes and are filtered out before you breath them in. - Use Effective Cleansers
Mold usually will respond best to an unscented detergent or baking soda. Both of these cleaners have little or no scent on their own, which makes it easier for you to detect musty odors after you have finished cleaning. Use a damp rag to scrub off the mold, doing your best to allow the surface to absorb as little moisture as possible. Once you have finished, wipe down the surrounding areas as well and vacuum any carpet. Clean all rags immediately or dispose of them. Empty the vacuum outside and away from the house into a sealed plastic bag. - Monitor the Area
If your mold returns after a thorough cleaning, then this is generally indicative that you have an unsolved moisture problem. Have an expert evaluate the area to determine the source of the moisture and how best to eliminate the problem.
Mold is not just a structural issue, but can present a serious health hazard. If you have any doubts about the source, scope or magnitude of a mold problem, consult an expert to make sure that you have fully dealt with the issue.
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Resources
http://www.epa.gov/mold/
http://www.cdc.gov/mold/
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/yohoyohe/momo/momo_005.cfm
My brother wife die because of mold around the apartment building at the windows
One of my nice also had her left lung collapse about 5 years while living in the same apartment
Right we are waiting for the autopsy to return
You might also consider using a mold preventative. There are some pretty cool technologies coming out that actually molecularly bond to a surface to keep mold growth from forming.
You cannot remove mold by yourself. Using “Bleach” does not get rid of the mold. New laws require that mold should be removed (remediation) by professionals. Call a Mold Remediation Company. Don’t risk the health hazard of trying to do it yourself. It can cost you a lot more in the long run.
I had a buyer who chose an older manufactured home on a lovely hilltop. The owner was an elderly gentleman who had recently died from pneumonia. The home was being sold by the estate. Our home inspector tagged mold so we brought in a mold inspector. Turns out the that all the walls in the home where fill with mold. Whenever the wind blew, the shingles on the edges blew off, and the owner would pick them up and nail them back on with these great big nails so that they wouldn’t blow off again. Over time, the plywood was compromised and the water seeped into the walls and grew the mold. He actually probably died from mold poisoning. The fire department burned the place down as an exercise since it was fairly isolated. Really.
There seems to be a great deal of hype surrounding the mold issue. If there is a professional, other than a contractor for mold mitigation, how does the spores float in the air and into your body, lungs, etc. when the spores are heavier than the surrounding molecules. Would not gravity draw the spores to the ground and not floating in the air? There seems to be a great deal of hype when it is the narrative such as the lead paint issue, doesn’t make sense that small children would ever break chunks of paint off the wall and eat them.??
It seems if you seal the area you will not get any spores being disturbed, such as using a good base paint. Or just replace the material, wall board etc.