Black Mold Removal – Learn How To Remove Mold
If you have had a powdery looking fungus resembling mildew growing on surfaces like walls, wood, carpets, clothing, food, leather sofa or ceilings in your house, it is time to consider black mold removal. Mold spores attach to these items in your house and can spread to air conditioners, HVAC systems or plumbing pipes.
Some warning sings that you actually have a problem and should start considering mold cleanup include moisture on surfaces in your house; yellowish water stains or greenish, blackish or brownish patches on the walls; a strange wet, musty odor and poisoning or breathing problems by people in your house who have been around the stains and odor. Mold allergies can be tough to diagnose if your physician has no idea about the other warning signs in your home.
One of the most optimal conditions for mold growth is the combination of humid or damp surfaces exposed to just the right amount of light and a moderate temperature. Mold needs nutrition to grow after it forms, and it gets that by degrading whatever it is growing on. It breaks down the surfaces in your home and forms Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These VOCs are what are dangerous to humans since they irritate mucous membranes, affects respiratory, and nervous systems.
To monitor for mold symptoms (or signs that you have been exposed), expect these triggers: headaches, cough, and red eyes, nausea, rashes or hives on your skin, memory loss and loss of concentration, lethargy and dizziness, irregular blood pressure, pain in the live or other organs, urinary tract infections. In some cases, infertility has even been linked to mold poisoning.
Of course, if you even slightly suspect this dangerous fungus is growing in your home, the first order of business is mold inspection. Pay a processional to come and identify the source of your moisture, confirm mold growth and recommend strategies for cleanup. Mold abatement may require you and your family leaving your home while the cleanup happens in order to protect you from the symptoms that can occur. Cleanup crews usually wear protective covering for their entire bodies much like hazmat teams.
If you want to do something to keep the problem at bay before it gets out of control, you can work hard to keep moisture in your house in check. If you have leaking pipes, roof leaks, condensation or other water related issues, they should be addressed immediately and not linger for long periods of time. Focus on dehumidifying your house if you are finding moisture to be a real problem. Also, make sure your HVAC systems and air ducts are always clean. If mold forms in these places, it can go unnoticed for months before you realize you have a problem. Bathrooms are also very dangerous places. The moisture that can come from daily baths and showers can lead to a mold problem. Keep everything clean and dry. Be proactive by using anti-mold cleaners or paints and removing any moisture issues within your house.
If You Think You Have Black Mold Who Do You Call?
If you have discovered black mold in your house you should immediately call a mold removal company. They will schedule an appointment to come out and complete a mold inspection, if what you have appears to be mold from a visual inspection they will complete a mold test. Once the results from the test are returned they will review the report with you and put together a mold remediation plan.
Different Types Of Mold Removal
Some DIY mold removal or natural mold removal can first be attempted if the mold is isolated to a small area or there is not a large quantity of mold. Natural mold removal can be through the use of Tea Tree Treasure, Vinegar, or citrus seed extract.
Do You Have To Replace Drywall If There Is Black Mold?
That is one of the most common questions around. Drywall is considered mold food, it is also porous while allows the mold spores to embed into it. Cleaning the surface mold will not get rid of the spores in the drywall fibers. The drywall should be removed and replaced. If this moldy drywall is found in moist areas such as a finished basement or bathroom consider buying mold resistant drywall. It is slightly more expensive but will help save the headaches of constantly replacing the drywall. For more information about mold removal on drywall see our article Mold Removal On Drywall.
Comments
Comment from Charles
Time: February 6, 2010, 3:32 pm
Hi Maria,
Will do my best to answer your questions. Ideally if this is a large amount of mold I would recommend calling in a professional.
On a positive note it sounds like the window was replaced fairly quickly so your water issues were not left to continue to cause issues.
How was the drywall removed? Was it placed in a sealed container or trash bag? That will often help keep it from getting airborne throughout the house.
The air purifier experts have mixed feelings if it helps or hurts(because it could spread more mold into the air).
The wood beams can be cleaned with any of the recommendations above.
If there is mold on the drywall I would recommend cutting that drywall out above the moldy area, being careful not to disturb the mold spores and gently placing it in a trash bag. Check behind this cut out for anymore mold, if there is none replace the drywall board and you are good to go. See How To Remove Mold On Drywall or our post about how to get rid of mold.
Just got to the bottom of your post and realize you have a few children, as this work goes on I would recommend you children either not be home(got out for dinner or a movie) or have your contractor tape plastic over the doorways in the rooms they will be working. This will keep dust and possibly the mold spores from spreading via the air to the rest of your house.
I hope this helps and if you have any questions please post below.
Comment from Kat
Time: May 24, 2010, 10:12 pm
Do we need to replace the air conditioner? We brought it out to install for the season and it had black mold visible throughout the front panel that the air travels thru… so we took the panel off and cleaned it with vinegar/water/soap VERY well and then cleaned the inside as well, and sprayed what we couldn’t take apart…what do you think?
Comment from Charles
Time: May 25, 2010, 12:45 am
Hi Kat,
Sorry to hear about your mold problem. Vinegar/water/soap really won’t do the trick, I would recommend getting something like this Borax powder you can find it at your local hardware store or Walmart etc.. or order online. Make a paste solution with that and clean everything out.
Also check the filter, sometimes mold likes to grow their.
As always if it isn’t something you are comfortable doing or if you cannot do it safely contact a professional.
Comment from maria
Time: February 4, 2010, 7:28 am
Hi,
thanks for your site. My husband does not believe in mold toxicity, but I do and am concerned about recent finding of green, black, white mold, and dry rot from past water damage between walls from a failed overhead window that was replaced quickly, but only now discovered mold directly below spreading over the last 5 years since the incident. I am freaked out about mold spores having been spread in the house when our subcontractor removed the drywall and discovered the mess. He also is not knowledgeable about mold issues, and I only recently and discovering this. He didn’t seal the area, and has been open while he gets a game plan for two days now. I did have the sense to get my air purifier put there by the open gap of 4-2 feet. he discovered the mold when installing new flooring, after part of the new laminate already installed. Will we expect to see mold grow in other parts of house? It is 15 y.o. with well insulated (though cheap materials), stays relatively comfortable. We have not used the central heating or air circulater/fan yet. Also did have the sense to put my air filter by the “hole”. Any suggestions. Sub contractor will be replacing beams tom. I want to clean the structural beams that are a little moldy that will remain there, how do I do it? Also, there are other spot areas where mold has been discvored behind baseboards after a flood in the kitcthen that was dried w/in 48 hours, but basbaords were never removed and inspected until now. Now after baseboards removed some areas that drried, but were exposed to water intrustion have small amount of mold on drywall behind baseboards in spots. Quiestion, are those areas worth naturally cleaning w/ Oxyclean, then spray w/tea tree, or should we ask our subcontractor to just cut out the drywall in those small spots? I am not freaked out that behind those drywall spots of mold there is also some scary mold/dryrot issue like the one discoved in the large lr wall. Please, please advise. Family of four w/11 year old and 4 year old living in house. Thanks, Maria