Mold Removal Basics
Below are the mold symptoms, risks, and proper procedures to repair & rid your residence of dangerous black mold fungi.
Your first decision needs to be if you want to remove the mold yourself, or hire an expert to fix the situation.
Mold (and especially black mold) can be hazardous to human health, so it will need to be dealt with carefully in either case. Even cleaning up the affected room must be dealt with very diligently as mold spores spread to new surfaces so easily. You should carefully evaluate your home after an occurence of basement water damage or flooding.
How do you know if you have mold in your home? Consider the below:
Black Mold Symptoms
- Increased hay fever like allergies, including irritated eyes, sneezing, coughing & congestion
- Chronic sinus infections
- Breathing problems & Asthma
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Memory loss
- Dizziness
- Rare cases of respiratory diseases and even infertility!
How to Detect Mold Growth
Don't get it confused, this isn't the mold we are concerned about. Bread is tasty though.
Look for yellow, green, brown, black or grey stained areas on any ceilings, walls, floors or surfaces. This can be a tell-tale sign, as well as any odors coming from specific areas, the cause could very well be mold.
Some cases it is harder to detect than others, especially if the root cause is a small leak left unnoticed for an extended amount of time. Under the right humid conditions this small leak can give birth to a breeding ground of mold, virtually undetectable if the area is hidden in-between ceilings, walls, floors and other damp indoor spaces.
If you are suspicious of mold and would like a professional to assess the situation, it’s a good idea to hire mold removal contractors (not a general home inspector by the way). This will give you a professional opinion on mold cleanup and a good idea of the size of the problem.
Fixing the root of the mold issue is also important, as otherwise the problem will reoccur in the future.
A leaky faucet, pipe, roof or flooding could very well be the culprit – you need to identify the specific root cause and correct it.
My Story …
I recently discovered mold under the stairs in the basement of my new home, which was missed by the initial home inspection. The previous owner had covered up the infected areas with thick paper like materials to hide the problem. The cause of the mold was a flood from many years back, which was cleaned up, but had managed to seep into the walls enough causing an issue down the road. We did not know about the mold until symptoms started arising after prolonged exposure, at which point we had a mold inspection done to uncover it. More on detecting mold here.
Embarking On The Mold Removal Journey
It is vital to seal off the room affected with plastic and tape before starting the mold removal.
Ensure there is a window close by for easy exit of used mold cleaning materials and your clothing, you do not want to walk through the house to dispose of them.
The mold spores are able to stick to clothing and materials with ease, so please, take extreme caution as to not spread the problem to new areas.
The next step is to dampen the affected zone to limit the spreading of spores. Clean the area as much as possible with soap and water, then use bleach to disinfect. Rinse the area and dry immediately.
After this is completed, it is very important to get rid of all clothing & cleanup materials through a nearby exit or window.
Take every precaution not to spread the mold spores!
If there was exposed wooden surfaces in the room, sand them down to remove any mold that would have been collected, followed by thoroughly vacuuming the area and providing clean air (opening windows, etc.).
I suggest using an air purifier to keep better air quality after the cleanup. Water damage mold prevention is very important for sustaining long term health, so take the time to waterproof your basement as well as shower and bath areas.
Bathroom Mold Removal: Want to Know How?
The Jist: Bathroom’s are wet, trap moisture and typically have poor ventilation. The cause of the issue 99% of the time is humidity and poor ventilation.
How to Fix
- Get rid of the source of the mold first, not just the mold itself!
- Increase ventilation in bathrooms by using the bathroom fans and opening the doors when not in use.
- If a ventilation system is not installed, or seems to be inadequate, it may be worth your time & money to replace it with a new one.
In the odd case where mold is collecting within a small specific area of the bathroom, there may be a leak.
Look for traces of water runoff, most of the time the effected zone is far from where the leak has actually occurred. It may be a pipe or valve to blame, sometimes within the walls – so it may take some investigation to find it. In the cases where you are sure there’s a leak, but cannot locate the source, it’s best to call a plumber to assess the situation.
Removing the Mold Itself
Go here for detailed mold removal instructions.
Basement Mold Removal: The Easiest Way
How to fix
- Get rid of the source of the mold first, not just the mold itself!
- Increase ventilation in your basement by installing fans and opening windows if available.
- Decrease the moisture levels by investing in a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers can be crucial during spring and summer months in a basement – I used to live in one, and without it I was pretty sick. It really makes a world of difference.
Want to really increase air quality? In combination with a dehumidifier, install an air purifier.
Air purifiers remove just about all allergens, mold, dust and other nasty stuff from the air. Basements need it. Without an air purifier running pretty much non-stop, I am constantly congested and suffer from itchy eyes. I swear by these things! 
Back to the mold … if the mold is localized within a specific area in the basement only, check for traces of water or water damage. This could mean a leaky pipe, facet, or even outside spring water running off into your home.
Removing the Mold Itself
Go here for detailed mold removal instructions.
Share Your Basement Mold Removal & Bathroom Mold Removal Stories!
Did you have mold in your home? Have you dealt with basement or bathroom mold removal? How did you get rid of it? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you! (If you are viewing this on the main page, click here to go to the comment enabled mold removal page.)
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