Discovering mold in your house is not pleasant. While molds are perfectly normal and even have a role to play in the life cycle of organic matter, mold has numerous spores that can irritate allergies, asthma and even make people or pets ill. Mold spores stick to damp areas, and they cannot live in a dry environment.
A mold allergy typically evidences itself with cold-like symptoms and sometime with a skin rash. Being around mold may produce itching eyes, sneezing or coughing and a runny nose. Besides this nuisance, mold often causes damage to your home as it grows.
Having mold present when youre trying to sell your house is a huge issue. Not only does it devalue your home, but its also something that most states require be disclosed to potential buyers. So if youre planning to put your house on the market, take a good hard look now and make sure youve gotten rid of the mold before you list the house.
Controlling Mold:
Because mold moves through the air you will probably always have some spores in your house. However, if youre diligent about keeping your home dry it will reduce the risk of the spores actually landing and growing greatly. Any leaks, any damp spots, etc. must be fixed. If you dont, mold will come right back and start growing again.
Cleaning up the Mess
According to the EPA, if youre dealing with a small are of under 10 square feet, you can probably clean up the mold yourself. Anything larger than that should be handled by a professional. Also if your air ducts may be affected, thats also a situation for a contractor who knows how to handle mold (note: dont run air/heat until remediated if practicable).
Step one in your clean up is to dry the area as completely as possible. Remove any porous material from the area thats affected (its really best just to replace those items). Wash all surfaces with soap and water, followed by some type of cleanser like bleach. Dry thoroughly. To safeguard your self from potentially harmful exposure its a good idea to wear eye and hand protection while cleaning. When your done there should be no visible signs of mold in the area, and the air should smell fresh. Continue to watch this spot to make sure the situation does not recur (as mold is often NOT just a superficial issue).
Note: if you do use a biocide cleanser, make sure the area in which youre working is properly ventilated. Do not mix such cleansers with anything else as hazardous gases can result. You want to kill the mold, not put yourself in the hospital.
Keeping it Dry:
I mentioned previously that a moist environment invites mold. That means keeping things dry becomes the key element to protecting your home from mold and mildew. When you have a leak, condensation or dampness, the faster you clean it up the less likely it becomes that mold will develop. Experts say that if you get this work done in under 48 hours, you shouldnt have any problems.
Along with fast cleanup, proactive maintenance of your home is vital Watch your gutters and roof for issues. Check downspouts making sure theyre pointing away from your house. Get a dehumidifier for known damp rooms (note a house that has humidity below 50% is ideal). Remember to use any ventilation fans you have in bathrooms and the kitchen (particularly when taking a shower or doing dishes).
Unseen Dangers
Mold all too often hides behind paneling, dry wall and wallpaper. It may also grow in insulation and the backside of carpets. Figuring out if you have a mold problem in these locations can get expensive as you have to get underneath and behind things that are usually firmly in place. Before you start tearing off bits of wall or wallpaper consider getting professional input. Some of these regions house a colony of mold spores that you could accidentally release into your environment making matters all the worse. There are test that can be run, checking for mold and a variety of professional companies that are trained specifically in the removal of this environmental hazard.
