Black Mold Removal

The minute you see a trace of black mold in your house it’s time to remove it.

Black mold is caused by 3 things: lack of light, high humidity, and lack of air flow.

Before we go much further into this article, I should mention that there are two types of black mold: Non-toxic black mold that grows in damp, dark areas like other types of mold, and the other type of black mold that grows on products made of cellulose that need to be removed by a professional mold remediation service.

The dangerous type of black mold is called Stachybotrys. Stachybotrys produces a toxic gas that can cause respiratory distress, and can cause headaches, confusion, difficulty in concentrating and dizziness.

If you are not certain of the type of mold you are dealing with, call a professional. One sign of the toxic type of mold is if it grows on ceiling tiles or insulation.

All molds release a toxic gas, and if present in large enough quantities can cause fatigue, headaches, fever, sneezing, rashes, coughing and a host of other symptoms. Some people are allergic to it and in extreme cases can be nauseous and vomit, or even have bleeding in their lungs.

So what can you do to make sure that not only does your house contain any black mold, but that also, some undetected black mold doesn’t spread and takeover your living space? Before you begin black mold removal there are several steps to take:

Causes of Black Mold:

• Check your home for humidity problems. You’ll have to have a relative humidity sensor. They’re also called moisture meters or hygrometers. You can buy one for less than $20. If the humidity in any part of your home is greater than 55%, your home is at risk for developing a black mold problem.
• If you have high humidity in your home, keep a dehumidifier going and make sure that it’s emptied often because mold can also grow inside the water container in a dehumidifier. If you use window air conditioners, ever see moisture building up on windows, or regularly run a heating unit and have high humidity, it’s really important to have a dehumidifier.
• Check your home for water leaks. If you have had a flooding problem or a water leak, the water needs to be pumped out immediately and the area should then be dried. Take away any items from the floors or walls that are wet and then use fans and a dehumidifier to dry the area. Mold can germinate and grow in 24 to 48 hours so be quick about cleanup.
• Purchase an air filtration unit to clean some of the mold out of the air. You can stop it here before it begins to grow.
• Lack of air flow can cause mold growth. Open the windows or turn on a ceiling fan to get stagnant air moving.

What To Do If Black Mold Is Already a Problem:

No matter what steps you’ve taken some of that creepy black mold has managed to attach itself to your house and make itself comfy.

• Mix up a solution of one part bleach to 3 parts water. That’s 1 quart of bleach to 3 quarts of water to make 1 gallon of mold cleaning solution. It’s okay to use on wooden or rubber baseboards but keep it off rugs or fabric. It’s okay to use on walls as well. Use a fan to make sure the areas dry quickly.
• Buy some rubber gloves (non-porous), some cheap sponges or scrubbers. Don’t spend a lot on these things because you’re going to throw them right out after you use them.
• Spray the bleach cleaning solution on the mold, leave it on for 5 minutes and then clean with the sponges or brushes. Spray and repeat until that mold is all gone.
• Should you find mold in or on furniture or carpets the smartest thing is probably to throw out the furniture. It’s really hard to totally eliminate mold from these items.

To Keep Black Mold From Returning:

• Keep the dehumidifiers and air filters in use.
• Fix all moisture leaks.
• Buy a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filtration system. It will help catch mold spores.
• Limit houseplants. They retain moisture.
• Keep your house well ventilated.
• Make sure that clothes dryers and other appliances that utilize steam or water are vented outdoors.
• Be vigilant about signs of mold regrowth: Mildewy odors, any increased allergy symptoms, stains on walls or places where paint is cracking or peeling, loose drywall tape and black growth on bathroom tiles or grout. If you see these signs look for mold and remove it immediately.

Cleaning Precautions:

While it may be tempting, because you want to stop that black mold right in its tracks with some powerful cleaners NEVER, EVER, MIX AMMONIA AND CHLORINE BLEACH. These two cleaning products combined produce a chemical gas that will not only stop YOU and everyone else in the vicinity in their tracks, but it could kill you.

Heavy Duty Mold Removal:

A heavy build up or reoccurring black mold needs to stronger cleaning solutions. I recommend 2 products. Molderizer is the best. This is an organic cleaner that breaks apart the DNA of black mold spores. Molderizer mold remover is the product that is used by the IAQ industry and mold removal companies. They sell it commercial strength.

The other mold remover is called Mold Armour. This product is a mold and mildew stain remover. It also has a mold growth blocker (for about 2 months) and it will remove stains.