Winter has passed, and it has left its signature in the form of mold spots on your walls or floors. They often occur in rooms with a big difference between the outside and inside wall temperature. Without good insulation, condensation and moisture will occur in any heated area. That contributes to mold development.
Mold can grow on other materials like insulation, paints, drywall, and fabric. But its appearance is not just a matter of aesthetics. As seen on this link, it can cause many problems with your house and your health. So, you must solve this problem immediately.
Identify Underlying Infestation Cause
In order to successfully fight the enemies, you must meet them. That goes for mold, too, since it’s the enemy of walls, floors, and the air in your home. It gradually destroys building materials and furnishings, causing severe structural damage.
There are many things to consider when dealing with this infestation. Still, you can start by identifying its underlying causes. Then, take steps to quarantine any affected areas. While you can’t prevent every spore from spreading, you can control the infestation size by closing the affected room and separating it from nearby unaffected areas.
If you discover the mold source (usually some hidden leaks), open the windows and doors and start cleaning. Always wear non-porous gloves and protective eyewear. Larger areas may require professional help, so don’t hesitate to call them for help. Professional mold remediators from mold inspection Denver can handle severe infestations. But if the spots are small, you can solve mold damage alone.
Manage Humidity Levels
Indoor air quality is crucial for the health and well-being of the people living in the building. By checking the relative humidity level of the room, you can increase or decrease it to keep the space free of mildew. But, of course, that depends on many factors, and the temperature is crucial.
Humidity sensors can help you detect if a particular room has a high moisture level, a crucial factor in mold growth. These devices can pinpoint which areas are most affected and focus your investigation accordingly.
You need to install these sensors in strategic locations. They will alert you once the humidity reaches a certain level. You can also use a WiFi-enabled sensor to monitor more than one room at a time, making it easy to identify potential trouble areas.
Prepare for Cleaning
Your battle against this persistent infestation starts with good preparation. So you should:
- Put on a mask to protect your respiratory system from mold particles.
- Set up a dehumidifier or use fans to dry out damp materials if you can.
- Ensure that the area has adequate airflow and enough sunlight.
Infested areas should dry out naturally as much as possible.
If there is a large amount of water, make sure to drain it thoroughly. Once it has dried, scrub any hard surfaces. If your home has carpeting, rugs, or upholstery, mold growth may have spread to those materials. In case of severe infestation, you might have to throw these away.
Clean Infested Areas
You can use several cleaning solutions to eliminate mold growth. Some commercial cleaning products are safe and eco-friendly, but be careful as they should be applied only on surfaces determined by manufacturers. Sure, you can always rely on homemade solutions.
Experts from Bright Home Construction suggest bleach solution. It’s a powerful chemical that destroys virtually all microorganisms, so it should be used on hard surfaces. Don’t use it on wood and furniture as it can be too abrasive. To make a solution, mix one-part bleach with sixteen parts of water in a spray bottle. Spray the infected surface and allow it to sit for five minutes before scrubbing it away.
Hydrogen peroxide is also a helpful cleaning solution to solve mold problems. A 3% solution can be bought in a drug store and poured into a spray bottle. You can also soak a clean towel and apply this solution directly to the affected area. If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, a baking soda and vinegar solution will do, too.
You can use borax, which is a fungicide and a cleaning solution. Simply mix one cup of it with a gallon of water and pour it into a spray bottle. Borax is a strong alkaline chemical (pH 9.3), but it doesn’t produce toxic fumes, which is great if you’re concerned about your children or pets. Due to high pH, this compound kills most spores, which usually live in acidic or neutral environments (between pH 3 and 7).
Remove Mold from Air
If you notice mold spots on solid surfaces, it’s a clear sign that there are spores in the air. That significantly destroys its quality and endangers your health. So as soon as you identify the problem source, your next step is to remove spores from the air.
Prevent Further Infestation
Managing moisture is key to limiting mold growth. To prevent mold growth, you should solve moisture sources. It could mean solving plumbing or structural issues that cause leaks. Also, think about getting a good wall and attic insulation to prevent condensation.
Proper ventilation is also vital to preventing mold growth in your home. While some spores will always be present in your home, if you control humidity levels, they won’t grow. So keep your HVAC clean and passable, and change its filters regularly.
Tips on cleaning your HVAC are listed on the following page:
Moisture and mold are persistent problems, but they are easily solved if noticed in time. Although a DIY solution to this infestation is possible, do not hesitate to call a professional if it turns out to be a recurring problem.
