How do you get rid of mold?

Mold shows up where you least expect it, or maybe just where you least want it.  There are a few clues to look toward when trying to accomplish effective mold removal, but our goal is to tackle the question: “How do you get rid of mold?” (specifically Residential Mold Removal, not commercial).

Today’s Black Mold Removal

The mold and mildew removal process will vary based on the surfaces from which you are removing  mold and the location of the mold.    For example indoor mold removal (attic mold and Basement mold) is a different process from removing  roof mold or siding mold.   Additionally the surface the mold is attached to, specifically, is the mold on a porous surface like carpet mold, a vertical surface like mold removal from walls, or a hard surface like many basement floors, and cinder block walls.   If you are hiring a professional mold remover, they’ll take care of everything , but if you want to tackle mold removal as a DIY project, the basic steps hold true :

  1. Remove the gross filth
    This means all of the surface growth, whether pads of moss, or layers of dense black mold, use a mold cleaner to wipe, brush or scrape away everything on the surface, until the surface wipes clean with a paper towel.
  2. Kill the mold roots
    Complete the mold removal using a mold killer product that can penetrate into the structure of the mold’s roots.  Let it soak for at least 10 minutes.  (only use an EPA approved mold killer).
  3. Thoroughly Dry the area
    Moisture is what caused the mold, and mold cleaning involves even more moisture in the form of mold killing products.  So when the mold is dead and gone, you’ll need to bring in the fans to ensure that the area is completely dry.

Stopping Future Mold Problems

Once you have gone through the hassle of mold removal ( whether you did it yourself with mold removal products or hired mold removal contractors) you’ll probably agree that removing mold is not something you want to do again anytime soon.  So how can you stop mold growth in the first place?   In short, control stray sources of water.

Expected a more involved answer?  Well, it really is as simple as stopping water leaks or excessive moisture build up.  The moisture is a key element to Black mold, Green mold, grey mold, mildew and hosts of other fungus.  When you stop the moisture, they have no way to grow.

Of course, you can’t stop flash floods, or severe acts of god, but the simple things like making sure the basement sump-pump is working, keeping water from standing at the foundation of the house, and running a de-humidifier in areas that the moisture source in more of a condensate nature.  All of  these approaches reduce moisture, and prevent mold growth.  A dry house will keep the need for mold removal at bay, and save money, health and hassle too!

Is a Mold Killer the Same as a Mold Cleaner?

In a word, no.  In our everyday use of language, we are not always as precise as perhaps we should be and a maker of a mold cleaning product can bank on this to fool you into purchasing and using a product that may not be what you truly need, want, or think you are using.

While we as consumers of a mold cleaner or mold killer product might not be consistently precise the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the government agency responsible for regulating mold killer products, is very clear about the distinction between a product that kills mold and a product that merely cleans mold stains.  Many common mold cleaning products are NOT EPA approved or tested as actual mold killing agents.  The most commonly misperceived agent is without doubt household bleach.  Bleach will certainly remove most VISIBLE mold stains but it is not a tested or approved agent allowed to be labeled as a mold killer.

Mold is more plant like

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Does the Color of My Mold Matter?

The wide world of mold is a many colored place.  Molds exist in practically every color you can imagine, ranging from purest white to darkest black with stops along the spectrum at brown, tan, green, red, orange, yellow, and even blue.  However, unless you are a mycologist (a scientist specializing in the study of molds) the color is irrelevant when choosing a mold killer.

Biologically a mold is a mold is a mold.  The color of the growth can help a scientist determine what species a particular mold might be, but color alone doesn’t tell you anything about a mold growth other than what color the growth happens to be at a specific point in time.  The color of mold growth is influenced not only the species of the mold, but also by he conditions in which the mold is growing, the nutrient source the mold is utilizing, and even the age of the growth.

Is black mold more dangerous?

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DIY Mold Removal

With the rains falling again, spring has arrived, and the need to find a mold cleaner that a home owner can use is once again a topic of discussion.

Do It Yourself Mold Remediation

You can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars by doing a flood or rain cleanup yourself.  The basic equipment just includes a quality mold killer ( we find MoldStat Plus to be a great value), gloves, a face mask plenty of paper towels and patience.

Just follow the directions on any mold cleaner you purchase, and work slowly and thoroughly.  Test that the surface mold has been removed by wiping the area with a clean paper towel; once the paper towel is clean after being wiped across the mold infested area, you know that the surface mold has been removed.  One final soak with your EPA approved mold killer, and you will be assured that even the mold roots have been killed.

From this point, just get fans in the area to dry out the space, and aerate the foul mold smell.  But if the mold was caused by a constant moisture problem, be aware that until the moisture is controlled, the mold will return.

For seasonal rains, or plumbing floods no future moisture control should be required.

How to kill black mold

Killing Black Mold Can be a Challenge

First you have to contend with the fear of black mold, no one likes micro-organisms that can cause illness. Then once you are no longer worried by the black mold infestation, you come to the decision of how to get rid of black mold. Hire a mold remediation company? Try a DIY mold Removal project? What are the cost vs quality issues?

We will explore all of these as we turn to figure out how to kill black mold

Mold Remediation – Let the pros do it

The fastest way to get rid of mold, is to hire a local mold remediation specialist (just open your yellow pages). These companies should be certified by your state to know what they are doing. The draw back to using a mold removal specialist, is of course the cost. Mold Remediation by the books requires a level of caution and protection for the mold company’s employees to prevent them from contracting any illnesses from day-to-day exposure to toxic black mold. Because of the precautions, you can expect to pay more to hire a mold removal company. But, if you have an insurance claim, or mold related health concern, your best bet is to hire a professional and have the mold removed correctly.

DIY Mold Removal

If you have the Skills, or just don’t have the cash to hire a professional mold removal company, then you can consider your black mold removal project a Do-It-Yourself endeavor. You should keep in mind that all of the things the mold removal company makes look easy, you will need to explore on your own. That includes Mold Cleaners – Mold Killing Products and Mold Prevention Products; Mold Removal Tools – Mold ULV Fogger, Pump Sprayer or bucket and Sponge. And of course some basic safety products like gloves, and a dust mask to prevent breathing the Mold Killer Product and to prevent breathing the black mold (or any type of mold for that matter) that you are stirring up by attempting to remove it. (Explore Mold Killer Info for more specific articles on step-by-step black mold removal)

The choice of how to kill black mold is yours

Whether you choose a DIY project or decide to hire a mold remediation professional, getting rid of black mold should be a priority!

Mold Killer Info – Mold killing product guidance!

Mold Killing information for everyone

Whether you are trying to figure out what mold you have, or you are a professional who gets rid of black mold everyday you can find information that will help your mold and mildew cleaning projects.

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