Several hundred thousand species of mold flourish in both the outdoor and indoor environments. Aspergillus and Cladosporium are just two of the twelve types of mold that commonly grow inside residential homes. Experts highly discourage DIY projects to remove any type of mold.
Although mold is found everywhere, the spores are toxic when they thrive indoors. Mold aggravates health conditions in susceptible people. Thriving mold splotches are unsightly and produce unpleasant, musty odors. Plus, mold is notorious for weakening the structures upon which it grows.
Save your health and your property by consulting a professional mold remediation company to defeat the mold before it wreaks havoc to your home and your home’s occupants. The following are questions to ask when considering a DIY mold removal task and the many reasons to avoid it.
Will you risk your health by cleaning mold?
People with seasonal allergies may also be allergic to mold spores. Allergy symptoms become full blown when sufferers are exposed to mold. Symptoms include runny nose, coughing, itchy skin, breathing difficulties and headaches. High degrees of mold during cleaning invoke severe allergic reactions in allergy sufferers.
Asthma sufferers are also advised to avoid cleaning mold, especially since mold triggers asthma symptoms. Wheezing, chest tightness and trouble breathing enough oxygen are common consequences of mold exposure in people with asthma. Cleaning mold simply makes asthma symptoms worse.
In people with a sensitivity to spores, mold toxicity is dangerous. Prolonged exposure to mold prompts ill health symptoms, such as sinus infections, fatigue and neurological problems. Those among the quarter of the population who are predisposed to mold toxicity should avoid mold cleanup.
Will you aggravate mold with the wrong cleaning products?
Homeowners with a mold problem want to see the mold disappear, and cleaning the spores with an easily accessible cleaning solution may be a task on their to-do list. They may unwittingly turn to inappropriate or harmful chemical cleaners, like bleach, to deter the mold colonies.
Mold growth on porous surfaces is not mitigated by bleach. Bleach is a surface cleaner, and mold growth digs deep into porous surfaces. The bleach component kills only the visible surface mold, and the penetrating water nourishes spores beneath the surface, further contributing to their development.
Not only does bleach inefficiently attack mold colonies, but the toxic fumes, like dioxin, that emanate from bleach pollute the home environment. Breathing mold spores is bad enough. Most homeowners would not also want to expose themselves and their pets to harmful bleach vapors.
Can you identify and repair the water source?
Mold receives its nutrients from moisture, oxygen and an organic food source, like drywall. Simply wiping away the visible mold spores does little to address the root of the problem—the water source. Mold will only continue to thrive once darkness hits, humidity levels rise, and the moisture returns.
Hidden problem spots like mold growth behind wallpaper, in the crawl space or basement, and inside HVAC ducts pose as a challenge for most homeowners to efficiently remedy. When mold growth lurks in damp, inaccessible places, stopping the water source often requires professional help.
If the moisture is a consequence of faulty plumbing behind the walls, accessing the water leak will be a challenge for many homeowners. The resulting mold growth along the walls may only be removed by cutting out the affected portion of the wall and replacing it.
Will you know the exact type of mold?
As mentioned, hundreds of thousands of mold species exist in our environment. When the average homeowner spots a mold outbreak, most likely he will not correctly identify the type. Certain molds are highly toxic; some molds are more challenging to clean than others due to differing reactions to chemicals.
Cladosporium, a mold often found in homes, is not toxic but causes skin and lung irritations in vulnerable people. On the opposite spectrum of danger, Stachybotrys, commonly known as toxic black mold, is extremely harmful to people and pet health.
Professional mold remediation specialists are equipped with the devices to accurately pinpoint the type of mold growth infesting the home. Once professional testing identifies the mold, the cleaning products suitably designed to attack the specific type of mold will effectively eliminate the colonies.
Is there a chance you may spread the mold?
Mold spores may discover a habitable location in the bathroom, for instance, where abundant humidity provides an endless supply of invaluable nutrients. Attempting a DIY cleanup unleashes a host of spores that spread to other rooms of the home, contaminating those spaces in the process.
Scrubbing the mold splotches with ineffective products, like soap and water, only sends the invisible spores airborne to latch onto other parts of the home. Homeowners may also be tempted to paint over mold or spray bleach onto the spores, erringly assuming the infestations will dwindle.
Professional Mold Removal
Unless homeowners are prepared to secure the moldy area with skillful measures, as mold remediation experts do, then a mold cleanup is best left to the professionals. In fact, all mold growth that spans ten square feet requires the services of a professional mold cleanup contractor.
Mold remediation technicians will clean up the mold infestation and repair the moisture leak that feeds the spores. Homeowners with a significant mold problem will find that these two critical steps in combination successfully thwart any growth of mold within the property.
When mold makes an unwelcome appearance, turn to the mold remediation company Virginians trust most, ServiceMaster NCR. As a company that specializes in complete mold removal services, ServiceMaster NCR is prepared with the tools, trained technicians and advanced equipment to remedy all mold issues and prevent reoccurrences. Our advanced InstaScope mold testing system will help us find all mold growth on your property.
ServiceMaster NCR reliably serves the business and residential communities in Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We offer 24-hour emergency mold removal services. When you are presented with a mold issue, call ServiceMaster NCR for an immediate response to mold outbreaks.
