Effective steps to remove mold from your house

by Groshan Fabiola I try to cover as many topics as I can

Mold contamination is a great nuisance for every homeowner. It discolours drywalls, affects the grout lines in the shower, darkens decks, shows up as dark spots on siding, and it rots and appears on every damp surface. And what is worst, it can be a real danger to your health. You may not know but this fungus releases spores that people do not see, but which can lead to multiple allergic reactions, as sneezing, runny nose, and even complex disorders. The fact is that almost every home gets mold contamination, but it is important to stop it before, it gets bid and it harms your health and the state of your house. There are different strategies to deal with small infestations and with big ones, and here is everything you need to know.

You can easily remove the small infestations, but when it comes to complex ones, it is advisable to contact a professional in mold removal Toronto, because they know how to deal with the situation. If you have a weakened immune system or you suffer from allergies, then you should not try to deal by yourself with mold contamination, because it will affect your health.

Step 1 – Identify mold

You may already know that mold is present everywhere. It is a fungus that grows from spores spread in the air. If it finds moisture and a comfortable temperature, then it can grow anywhere. This means that every damp place from your house is a great environment for mold to grow. The mildew, the most visible type of mold can be easily noticed, because in the majority of cases, it starts as tiny black spots and it quickly grows into large colonies. You will find it in the grout lines from the shower, on outdoor surfaces of painted siding and deck boards, and on damp walls. If you want to make sure that it is mildew, then you can test is by dropping a small amount of bleach on the blackened area. In case the area gets lighter in a few minutes, then it is mildew. In case it does not, then it is dirt.

Also, if there is mold hidden behind some surfaces, then you may even smell it. You will detect a musty odor when you enter the room, and you should check for it on damp crawlspaces, damp walls and even under the floors.

Step 2 – Remove the mold

In case you are dealing with a large infestation, then you should get professional help, because you may not have the needed knowledge on how to protect your health in this situation. But if you want to remove it by yourself, then here are some tips on how to do it.

The first thing you should do is to remove the moldy carpet. In case you identify mold on the carpet, then you should use a knife to cut it, and to get it out of the house. You should mist the surface with water, because it is important to control the spores, to not spread around the room when you roll up the carpet. Make sure that you wear protective clothes when you remove the carpet.
If you find mold in just one of the rooms of the house, then it is essential to seal it from the other ones. You should cover the doorway with a plastic sheeting. Also, you should not forget to cover the air ducts that lead to this room with tape and plastic.
In case you have the suspicion that there is mold inside the walls of the house, then you will have to open them up to remove the fungus. In this situation, it is highly advisable to contact a professional mold removal company, because you do not have the required equipment and knowledge to do it by yourself.

In case you notice the presence of mold surface in the bathrooms, you can scrub it away with a solution made from water and bleach. However, you should be aware the mold usually grows and spreads in places out of sight, and if you only smell it, but you are not able to see it, then you should ask for help.

In case you have to remove it from areas larger than a few square feet, then it is advisable to take special precautions. It is important to not contaminate the rest of the house, and to protect yourself from breathing the spores.

Step 2 - Cleanup and repair

You will have to use a vacuum to remove the moldy debris. It is recommended to use one with an extra-long hose, and to keep the vacuum outside the house, because it is important to avoid spore spread. You will have to kill the mold from the surfaces, so you should use a special solution from bleach and water to scrub the surfaces. You should use a soft brush to clean the area until the mold disappears. It is important not to rinse the surfaces but to wipe them off. When the surfaces dry, you should seal them. For doing this you will have to buy from the market an oil-based primer or a pigmented shellac. After applying these solutions, you have to insulate and trim the nail on its place.

When it comes to surface mold it can grow in different damp locations, as the ceramic tiles or grout lines from the shower. You will have no issues in scrubbing it away with water and bleach. Also, you can add into the solution some detergent, 1 qt, of water, ½ cup of bleach and a little amount of detergent are everything you need. The bleach will kill the fungus, and the detergent will lift it off the surfaces. In this way, you are sure that it will not return fast, and you will not have to deal with it again. In addition, you can buy from the local market a mildew cleaner. It does not matter if you are dealing with a large or small infestation, you should protect yourself with long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and rubber goggles and gloves.