While mold spores are naturally present in the air, mold is still a substance that home and property owners should be concerned about. When mold spores grow into colonies, it not only creates unsightly appearances in your building, but it also causes property damage and can lead to numerous health issues.
You may find mold growing in between tiles in your bathroom or on the walls in your home. In some cases, you might not even see the mold colonies that have formed because they have grown in concealed areas.
Without prompt action, the mold could spread elsewhere in the property, affecting new surfaces, and worsening the harm it has already caused. Because of this, you should never wait to have mold removed.
Continue reading for more information regarding mold growth in homes and buildings, DIY mold removal, and mold remediation.
Mold and Its Dangers in Your Home
Because mold spores are naturally present in the air, all they need to start developing mold colonies is an environment that provides both moisture and an organic food source. Often mold will use the cellulose content in wood, drywall, and other common building materials as food. This is why mold growth is so common in the aftermath of water damage.
As mold grows on a surface, it is eating away at the material. This consumption ruins the material’s structure. If your property’s structure is affected by mold for long enough, then it can cause the building to become unstable.
Mold can also have a damaging effect to the occupants of the building. People can suffer from breathing issues, nasal congestion, skin irritation, and other allergy-like symptoms. With prolonged exposure to mold, these health problems worsen and could even lead to respiratory diseases.
DIY Mold Removal – Should it be Attempted?
In most cases, mold remediation should be left to a professional. If a small area of your home or building has been affected by mold, then DIY mold removal is a plausible task to take up. However, if you do choose to conduct mold removal on your own, then make sure you take the various necessary measures to prioritize your safety. Keep in mind that the EPA recommends that any mold in excess of 10 square feet should be evaluated and addressed by a professional.
Attire and Gear
Before you work on removing the mold or cleaning the surfaces it has affected, you first need to wear the proper protective gear. Because exposure to mold can lead to health issues, you need to wear gloves, protective goggles, and a mask. A thin mask, however, is not sufficient, so you will need to mask up with several masks unless you want to invest in an N-95 mask.
Equipment and Products
Bleach is generally regarded as a cleaning product that can be used in various ways, including in situations regarding DIY mold removal. However, it is untrue that bleach can effectively treat mold that has grown into porous surfaces such as drywall. These materials should be physically removed.
For nonporous solid surfaces, scrub the affected areas with the solution in a thorough manner until the fungus has been eliminated. Porous surfaces will absorb the water from the solution, which may worsen the mold problem. In most cases, porous materials should be removed.
Other effective products that can be used for DIY mold removal include vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide with varying levels of efficacy depending upon the extent of the problem.
Professional Mold Remediation Services
While there are DIY mold removal techniques you can use to handle mold growth on your own for very small spots, not all cases of mold are suitable for such methods. When mold has affected a larger area, it is too much for standard cleaning products and property owners to handle on their own. Even in situations regarding small cases of mold growth, there is still the risk of mold exposure and the health issues that can ensue. So, you may not feel comfortable handling mold on your own.
Because of this, professional mold remediation help is always a good idea when dealing with mold in a residential or commercial property.
At ServiceMaster NCR, we offer professional mold remediation services to homes and businesses located throughout the Alexandria, VA, and Washington D.C. metro area. We start by assessing the damage and addressing the source. From there, our professional technicians will contain the mold to prevent it from spreading to unaffected areas. We use professional-grade equipment and products to remove the mold and treat the affected surfaces.
To ensure all mold has been eliminated, testing will be done. The property will only be uncontaminated once testing has confirmed effective mold remediation.
With help from ServiceMaster NCR’s mold remediation services, your indoor air quality will be much improved, along with your peace of mind.
Available 24/7
Call (202) 318-2245 to get in touch with ServiceMaster NCR for the professional mold remediation services we provide to homes and businesses in the Alexandria, VA, and Washington D.C. area.
