How To Clean Mold – Would You Know Where To Start?
In order for mold to germinate and grow like all living organisms it requires food and moisture.
The most common type of mold to be found in homes is black mold or mildew. Whilst this may not be as harmful to our well-being as other types of mold it is still not something you want spreading in your home – and this stuff can spread fast!
So how do you clean mold? Well, before you can begin to clean mold there are some things you should do:-
1. It is important that if you discover a colony of mold on a window frame or wall that you immediately take a look at all other areas of your house for similar discolouration and growth.
2. Where ever the mold is discovered it is necessary that you establish the cause. Inspect basements, loft space, outer walls, gutters – anywhere that there might be a problem with water seeping in and causing wet or damp conditions which encourage mold growth.
3. Whatever the problem is take swift action to have it fixed! Good property maintenance is essential if you want to avoid such problems.
4. If there is no obvious cause there is a strong possibility that it is 100% down to condensation. This becomes apparent when there is not adequate ventilation in your property and the humidity rises. As the temperature drops the water vapour settles on cold surfaces such as windows etc. making them wet with condensation which will make wooden frames become wet giving mold the ideal conditions to grow and spread.
This can be alleviated by making sure that there is enough ventilation particularly in bathrooms and kitchens where lots of steam is created and by making sure that appliances such as clothes dryers are vented to the outside of the property.
5. Dry out the affected area properly – mold cannot to grow if moisture is not present, so endeavour to dry the area out fairly quickly. A dehumidifier can be invaluable for this task.
Now that you have removed the source of the problem you can begin to clean mold!
Before you begin to clean mold you would be wise to get some personal safety equipment such as goggles, face mask and rubber gloves. It is also wise to seal off the area of the building in which you are going to clean mold. This will help prevent mold spores escaping to other rooms of the property.
Many people would be tempted to use bleach to clean mold and mildew off surfaces, however to be honest it really is not the best solution and the mold may return. Another major disadvantage is that it can also cause more damage to surfaces and floor coverings if drips get onto them.
Instead, use a wire brush and vacuum cleaner (use the vacuum cleaner to suck up the dust as you scrub) to clean mold and dust which – it likes to feed on – off the surface. This method is particularly good on wooden surfaces. Then wash the area down with a solution containing a product designed to clean mold. There are a huge number available including some which are non toxic and will remove mold stains effectively.
The same process can be used on walls, ceilings etc. however this will depend on how big the problem is. It could be the case that using a product designed to clean mold is not enough and that plaster etc. may need to be ripped out and replaced.
Once you have managed to clean the mold you can purchase products which will act as a barrier when applied to prevent mold returning to surfaces. Painting or varnishing should also protect the area if applied.
Filed under Home Improvement by on Oct 25th, 2011. 