Household mold is an unsightly and potentially dangerous problem that should be addressed as soon as you spot it. Some varieties of mold spores produce toxic compounds that may cause allergic symptoms such as difficulty breathing, headaches, fatigue, watery eyes, coughing, and wheezing.
So, why is mold growing in your Nashville home?
Molds play a vital role in nature by breaking down dead organic matter. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores that only start growing indoors when they land on a wet or damp spot. Even though mold can rear its ugly head on any surface, it especially loves damp, dark crawl spaces like so many Nashville homes have beneath them.
Left unattended, mold colonies can quickly fester throughout your home, leading to serious health issues and irreparable mold damage. And even though the thought may conjure up images of green spots growing in basements, the signs of a mold infestation may not be so obvious.
Signs Your Home May Have a Mold Problem to Cleanup
Keep a look out for:
- Damp, musty odors permeating through your home that are reminiscent of the stale smell of old books
- White or black spots clinging to the fibers of your clothing that feel fluffy or slimy to the touch
- Constant respiratory infections, allergies, or asthma flare-ups, no matter the time of the year
- Fungus in the furniture as mildew cannot resist moist leather and wood – check for discolored spots, fuzz, or spores
- Warped walls, bubbling wallpaper, and tarnished tiles may indicate a mold and mildew buildup
- Moisture remains in affected areas around your home or business after a recent water damage, fire damage, or flood event.
It's important to occasionally check any area in the home that is prone to moisture buildup for mold growth, including your kitchen, air ducts, bathrooms, attics, basements, crawl space and water heater closet.
How to Remove Mold From Common Surfaces
Sources: https://iicrc.org/mold-resources/
Do you have a mold problem? If that’s the case, here's how to get rid of mold from contaminated areas. Note, the best mold removal technique may differ slightly depending on the surface.
1. Remove mold from porous surfaces
It's more difficult to remove mold from porous surfaces such as wood, drywall, carpeting, and ceiling. In most cases, you might have to replace the surfaces instead. However, if you're dealing with a mild mold situation, bleach or hydrogen peroxide may help you get rid of the problem. Apply your solution to the moldy wall with a sponge and let it air dry before wiping it off.
Pro tip: Don’t soak the area too much as this could lead to difficulties drying
2. Removing mold from walls
If you have mold on your walls, you might be dealing with some potential structural damage. For this reason, it’s important to bring in a professional remediator to assess the damage and professionally remove mold in areas it's infested. If you have brick or concrete walls, the best solutions are vinegar or hydrogen peroxide – they can kill the mold at the roots without further damaging your walls. Make sure to brush the spores away before going in with the cleaning solution.
For wallpapered walls, you'll want to go the natural route with tea tree oil, vinegar, or grapefruit seed extract to avoid damaging your wallpaper.
3. Removing mold in tile and grout
Bathroom moisture creates the perfect environment for mold growth. Chlorine bleach can be quite effective at removing mold from tile and grout. Apply one part bleach to 16 parts water and apply a liberal amount to infected areas. Allow the solution to soak for at least 15 mins before scrubbing. Remember to wear protective gear and keep windows open the entire time.
4. Removing mold from fabric and leather
It's important to inspect your leather upholstery throughout the year for mold spots. Take these items outdoors, if possible, and brush the spores away. Wipe down the surfaces with a cloth dipped in distilled white vinegar or rubbing alcohol and give them a good finish with leather soap and warm water.
For fabrics, you can simply soak them in bleach. It's the fastest, most effective way of getting rid of mold. White vinegar works great on non-bleachable fabrics as well.
Work with a Mold Remediation Specialist
You may be masking a potentially dangerous situation by just removing the mold spots that appear in your home. Constant mold infestations could indicate or result in irreversible rot. In this case, the damaged surfaces must be removed immediately.
Mold remediation professionals follow procedures where they’ll collect samples for testing and assess the extent of the infestation.
The key to mold prevention is moisture control. For lasting results, reach out to a mold removal expert today!
Need a Mold Remediation Company Pronto?
Home remedies can help treat the early signs of mold. But the effectiveness of these remedies varies depending on the extent of mold spread. That means, even after using home remedies, you can still get mold resurgence.
Professional mold inspection and remediation experts have the right tools and techniques to quickly and safely remove mold. Rytech Restoration of Nashville has a skilled team of mold and remediation technicians to get the job done right, quickly, and without risking your health.
We serve Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, and nearby areas. Get in touch with our IICRC Certified Mold Removal Professionals for a free, no-obligation quote today!