You most likely know the disastrous effects of mold on your health and the structure of your home. You may have come face to face with mold before. And if so, you may have fruitlessly struggled with mold removal remedies.
But do you really know what mold is? Which are the main factors that lead to mold growth? If and how you can avoid it? How and if you can remove it? Stick around for a while longer to get answers.
What is mold?
Mold is a fungus. It’s part of nature. But here’s a substantial distinction. Mold found outdoors is kind of different from mold growing indoors. Also, mold doesn’t affect human health outdoors. But found indoors, it will grow and spread and cause serious health and structural problems if it’s not properly removed in time.
It’s also important to know that not all indoor mold species are the same – hence, they go with different names, aspergillus, penicillium, Cladosporium, etc.
Which are the main causes of mold?
Humidity, organic matter, heat. Indoor mold grows when the moisture levels, the temperatures, and the nutrient conditions are all right. The mold spores float in the air, deposit on all surfaces, feed on organic matter (like wood and paper), and love the warmth and moist of humid environments. And so, when they find such conditions, mold spores grow, and they grow fast – within 48 hours maximum.
It’s not surprise, therefore, that we find mold in the shower, under sinks, within cabinets, in the basement, in the attic, or after water damage.
Importance of mold remedies
Mold removal is never an easy process. But it presupposes one thing. The source of mold growth is already eradicated. Say, there was a flood in your home. The first thing to do is make sure the water is removed and the area is dried and dehumidified. If not, mold will keep growing no matter how hard you fight it. It’s no wonder that mold may appear hours after water damage remediation. If the area is not remediated right away; if drywall and carpets are not removed; if the wet area is not completely dried, mold will still stand the chances of growing. And this is always bad news.
Mold is harmful. Well, you don’t look at it and die, but be sure that the health conditions of a certain individual and the level of exposure both play a role in how much this particular person will be affected. The type of mold and how much it has grown will also play a role. Not all mold species are equally dangerous, with black mold considered the most toxic of them all.
People with weak immune systems, diseases, and respiratory problems are affected the most. People with allergies, asthma, lung diseases, and similar conditions are far more susceptible than perfectly healthy individuals. Small children and elderly people are also prone to getting sick easily. If you consider that even the perfectly healthy will still notice some effects, like irritations, red eyes, difficulty breathing well, etc., you can imagine the awful effects on weak organisms and sick people.
How to remove mold (can we completely?)
You need to assign the mold remediation service to an experienced, professional team. The methods vary as much as the results, since it depends on how quickly you reacted and the experience of the team. No wonder you need to find true pros with expertise in removing mold.
Addressing such problems alone is never a good idea, even if the mold infestation is limited. The most common mold remedy is bleach. But don’t expect complete mold removal. At the same time, you need to remember that bleach should never be mixed with other chemicals and products. It already emits enough fumes that may make you sick. And so, if you insist on removing mold alone, wear goggles, gloves, a face mask – the whole gear. And open all windows.
Mold prevention: is it possible?
Since mold grows only when it finds the ideal conditions, the only preventive method is to control these conditions.
• Make sure all humid areas in the house (basement, bathroom, shower, laundry) are well ventilated and often aired.
• Fix any problem related to water – roof leaks, plumbing problems, etc.
• Check the windows and doors often to be sure they are caulked well
• If there’s any flood, any problem with water leakage, get quick water damage service and also, be sure the area is completely dry and dehumidified.
Overall, the best prevention is controlling the level of humidity indoors. So, start there and should there be any water-related problem, just get pro help.
