Effects of Black Mold and Removal Strategies

While mold is scary to deal with, not all mold is created equal. Indeed, many people are not experts when it comes to various types of mold and the dangers that they present. That is why many mold removal professionals from places like Mold Removal-Indianapolis would suggest reaching out to mold removal experts to deal with the problem as quickly as possible.

Black Mold

Black mold gone wild!

These individuals spend a good portion of their lives dealing with these issues quickly and regularly to enable property owners of all types to get their lives back to a normal state.

With that, here is what you need to know about black mold removal and black mold remediation.

The Aspects of Mold and Black Mold

Mold spores, for the most part, are technically everywhere. For example, the mildew in showers can turn into mold if not dealt with properly.

A genus of molds that might be cause for concern is Stachybotrys. Breathing in the spores of this mold can lead to severe health issues. Mold can affect breathing and mood when it is severe. Indeed, everyone reacts differently to mold. Some might have to go to the hospital due to mold, while others can have mold in their sites for years and not have any side effects.

A lack of air circulation can result in humid air combining with cold air to allow condensation. Indeed, cold spots in your site are typically more likely to have mold.

If you can’t find what is providing the moisture, it could be something that you cannot see blatantly, such as a slow leak of a pipe in the wall or from rainwater leaking into a wall. If you have mold or mildew stained caulking around windows, you need to replace the windows, recaulk and repaint.

If you live in a rental property, be sure to notify the landlord as soon as possible. Should you need professional help, most cases require it, you want to make sure that you are not shouldering all the costs yourself. 

While landlords might not jump at the chance to help out a tenant, they are legally obligated to help in situations such as mold, so make sure to keep in touch with your landlord and update them on the mold’s current status in your site.

Immediate Solutions

The good news is that you can use several methods and tools to fight this issue for a short while.

Recall that mold needs moisture, organic matter for food, warmth, and oxygen. If you have a dehumidifier, place it near the area and leave it on, but you will also need something to provide ventilation.

You can also spray vinegar on the area and let it sit. Then scrub the area and rinse as many times as necessary until the room is spotless. Then, spray some vinegar on the area, but do not remove it this time. Instead, let it dry on the site.

Remember that you can use high strength hydrogen peroxide or bleach water as a stop-gap in the black mold remediation process. Inspectors debate the effectiveness of bleach on black mold. Some believe that while bleach does dry out the mold, it causes it to release spores.

Others suggest using bleach as a part of a two-step process. First, apply bleach to the affected areas, dry them, and apply hydrogen peroxide or a moldicide. This way, you are certain that you are working on getting rid of the mold.

You can go to a home improvement store and get a product that is specifically for mold cleanup.

We generally recommend products with concrobium. Using either of these will help prevent the mold from spreading and give you more time to figure out the moisture causes.

Figuring out moisture causes is crucial because if you do not figure out what provides the moisture, then the black mold will return and spread quickly.

Depending on how bad the situation is or how far the mold has spread, you might have to replace entire drywall sections or other material such as wood.

If you do find mold, do not panic, as that will most definitely not help things. If you feel sick, you need to seek medical care, find out what is providing the moisture, clean up the mold, and check the area to confirm that the mold has not returned.

Laboratory tests have shown that concrobium is a bit better than distilled water at treating mold. If you need to treat mold on wood, sheetrock, or porous surfaces, six percent hydrogen peroxide with a few drops of dish soap is best, and bleach is better for hard surfaces.

Research and Professional Help On Black Mold Remediation

It is best to have the mold tested or call in a mold removal professional because different molds cause different issues. Remember that professional mold inspection can bring about a world of insight into your problem. Further, it can help them understand the next steps to take in the process to get everything within your commercial or residential property back to normal.

Some moldy areas are not at all toxic, while black mold is generally extremely toxic. Some can trigger extreme allergic reactions, and if these spores get into your lungs, they can cause respiratory issues.

Depending on how severe your issue is, it might be wisest to call a certified mold inspector to advise you on the best way to proceed.

It is best to implement a stop-gap solution and call a residential mold remediation professional to deal with the problem. However, If you decide to treat the mold yourself, utilize adequate personal protection, and not use more than six percent hydrogen peroxide.

You can purchase hydrogen peroxide in percentages higher than six percent, but this is not the best way to go as percentages higher than six percent can burn you. With hydrogen peroxide, you would add a few drops of dish soap to the bottle and then spray it on the affected area and scrub it.

Great Risks

It is essential to be aware that there are inherent risks with working with black mold. The most important thing to remember is that molds’ function is to break down biomaterial, which is why you must be wearing adequate protection.

Another thing to keep in mind if you try to go the highly unadvised route of going it alone and treat the mold yourself is that mold specific products are quite expensive, and this cost can add up if you need a lot of product.

Costs

A gallon of mold specific product can cost more than forty dollars. For a small job of a few square feet, solutions such as bleach and hydrogen peroxide should suffice.

The mold location is also going to affect the likelihood of you handling it yourself. If the majority of the mold is located somewhere like the bottom of a closet, you should be able to deal with it. However, if it is in the house’s walls and structure, you most definitely want to call in mold removal professionals.

The Difficulties of Black Mold Remediation

The reason individuals will turn to black mold remediation professionals because they do not want to risk additional harm to themselves, people around them, or their property.

Many property owners feel comfortable having a mold removal professional come into their property to deal with the matter as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The critical part of the whole black mold remediation process is that the mold and the moisture allowing it to flourish are removed. It would be best if you pulled everything out of the area affected by mold. 

Professional mold removal experts from places like Mold Removal-Indianapolis can step in and ensure that everything is up to par. They could ensure that the situation is in a state of resolution and can come back and solve further issues if they were to occur.

Call Now Button