How to get rid of mold in your house

To to get rid of mold in your house or office, perform a mold inspection to locate all areas of the property with mold growth. Begin your mold inspection in areas prone to moisture damage since this is where the mold is most likely to grow. Such areas include bathrooms, kitchens and the basement. Focus your attention on any areas where water damage has occurred or where there’s been flooding. Black, greyish, blue or white fuzzy-looking spots on walls, ceilings or floors are usually signs of mold growth. You can confirm whether this is mold by taking a sample of the suspected visible mold growth and sending it to the laboratory for confirmation test.

Before you get rid of mold in your house

Before trying to get rid of mold in your house, first find out why mold is there and fix the problem causing the mold growth. Mold need a source of moisture, a source of organic matter, and proper temperature. There is very little you can do about organic matter and temperature but you can fix moisture problems. Once the source of the water intrusion has been identified, it should be addressed to prevent future mold growth. If moisture problem is not fixed, mold may return. Badly damaged building materials, such as carpets, ceiling tiles or drywall, may need to be replaced.

Second, you need to know the extent of mold growth in your house. If the mold in your house covers more than 10 square feet, it is recommended you get professional help to get rid of mold. There are several companies that offer mold removal services.

How to get rid of mold

Preventing mold from growing in the first place is the best and cheapest way to get rid of mold growth. However, mold may develop if moisture intrusion is not noticed and fixed early enough. As mentioned earlier, if the mold in your house covers more than 10 square feet, it is recommended you get professional help.

Simple steps to prevent mold growth in your home

• During moist, humid months, always use basement dehumidifiers and empty the dehumidifier basins regularly
• Ensure proper ventilation in your house or office
• Quickly repair any plumbing leaks and dry any wet material within 48 hours. If wet organic material are not effectively dried within 48 hours then mold will grow.
• Clean surfaces regularly. Dust is a major reservoir of mold spores and therefore reducing dust also reduces the amount spores that would potentially germinate and grow into mold when moisture becomes available.
• All bathrooms with tubs or showers should have a working exhaust fan that vents to the outdoors and not into the attic. Venting to the attic is a sure way of creating mold problems in the attic.