Okay. You have found mold in your home. How do you get rid of it once and for all? Do you need to call in a professional mold remediation team?
There are situations where you can remediate, or halt the mold growth on your own. What is remediation? It is removal of contaminated and/or hazardous materials from your home. If the problem is small, a good dousing of bleach can stop the mold infestation. If the invasion is less than ten square feet, you can most likely attack it on your own and do the repairs.
One thing to remember. Even though bleach can kill mold, once the spore is dead it can still release harmful toxins into the air. And the fumes in bleach chloride are not the healthiest things for your lungs. The bleach you buy in the stores is watered down. It has to be or it would be a public hazard to handle. And what does mold like? Water. So, while bleach can do some good, it is not the most reliable method of remediation.
Antibacterial are effective. They are a retardant, but will not prevent dried (even dead) mold spores form floating in the air, releasing toxins and causing health problems in some people. However, once the mold and its’ source are removed, antibacterial gels can be a good deterrent to future infestations.
But, the question remains: did you get it all? Mold and mildew can seep into microscopic cracks and porous materials. There are a lot of places in your house that are porous- concrete slabs, drywall, wood and brick to name a few. It may be worth it to call in the professionals who handle this everyday.
Both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Center of Disease Control (CDC) have explicit standards and instructions on how to remove mold. A respirator ( N-95 dust mask) should be worn at all times in the presence of mold per the EPA. If the spread is over thrifty feet square, the regulations state it is your choice to call in a professional or to let a cleaning agency or maintenance man handle the job. Over that, and the professionals must be contacted.
The real trick is to not only remove the mold, but to stop the entrance of moisture into the home. If you can keep the mold from growing back, the battle is won. The EPA has registered chemicals and even biodegradable substances specifically for mold remediation . These are contained in anti-bacterial sealants that professionals are registered to handle and trained to use. The agent may use methods of sanding or other abrasive techniques to help the sealant stick. Let them. Be wary of agents that just want to spray a filmy substance before the moldy or dirt laden surfaces are cleaned and treated. Invasive versus non-invasive treatment. Treat or tear it all out. How would you know what is best? A mold remediator should know.
So how do you pick a mold remediator? Make sure they are using EPA approved equipment, chemicals and HEPA filtration devices. Check their permits and references. With the mold scare, unfortunately there are flim-flam artists out there ready to prey on worried home owners.
About Ken Compton
