Types of mold and mold removal
At one time or another, every home can be prone to mold. Several factors can contribute to mold growth, such as a poorly ventilated room or a minor flood in the basement. If you are concerned about the growth of mold in your home, here are the most common types of mold and how to remove them.
Types of mold and where to find them
Mold can take a variety of colors. As a rule, it is black, white and green in color, while the one proliferating outside can take an orange hue. Mold is also identified by three names, aspergillus, cladosporium and stachybotrys atra.
Aspergillus: this is the allergenic mold that grows on food or in domestic air conditioning ducts.
Cladosporium: this mold can be black or green, although the black color is not the same as black mold. It grows on the back of toilets and painted surfaces and in fiberglass ventilation ducts.
Stachybotrys atra: this is commonly known as black mold, which can cause serious health problems if inhaled. It is found in its ideal habitat, that is to say warm, humid and prone to humidity areas such as basements and crawl spaces.
As for the white mold, it is not worrying in itself. Technically, it is not a mold since it is only in its early stages of growth and can therefore be treated easily.
What is black mold?
Black mold is often a concern as it can cause health problems when inhaled. It is important to note that with 100,000 types of mold, many of which are black, you should use your nose to determine if your black mold is really a stachybotrys atra. Indeed, the foul smell of black mold is more pronounced than that of other molds, reminiscent of moldy and rotting leaves.
To find out what kind of mold is in your home, call a professional. However, regardless of the type of mold or its color, it must be removed from your home as soon as possible.
How to clean types of mold
If you notice mold growth, you should first determine whether you can clean it yourself or with the help of a professional. The size of the mold covered area is a good place to start. Less than 10 square feet may be small enough for you to fix the problem yourself. However, contact an expert in the following situations:
If you suspect that mold is growing in your heating and air conditioning system;
If mold develops due to damage from sewage or contaminated water.
8 tips to eliminate types of mold
If you decide to clean everything yourself, wear a mask or respirator specially designed for exposure to mold. Cover your arms and legs to avoid an allergic reaction and make sure you wear gloves that are thick enough.
- Mold appearing in the shower or in the bathroom grout can be cleaned with half a cup of bleach in one liter of water. You can also purchase a ready-to-use product. Just make sure it contains a bleach.
- Treat areas that tend to mold, such as showering, once or twice a week with vinegar, which contains an acid that can repel mold growth. Cleaning with a mixture of borax and water can also prevent future mold growth.
- Mold growing on basement walls or other surfaces can be cleaned with one part of bleach for eight parts of water.
If your project is larger and you are removing moldy drywall, vacuum all the debris with a wet / dry vacuum. If possible, use a long hose so that the vacuum cleaner can stay outside and prevent the spread of mold spores inside. Clean the vacuum cleaner by discarding the filter and washing the tank and pipes with the water / bleach mixture.
Use dehumidifiers and fans to dry the cleaned area.
Clean moldy areas before painting or caulking. If you don’t remove the mold first, the paint and caulk will eventually peel off.
If a valuable or sentimental object, such as furniture or works of art, has mold growth, you can consult a specialist. Look for one with good references who is a member of a related professional organization.
Once you’ve noticed mold growth, it’s important to clean it up immediately. The latter can cause significant damage when left untreated. The longer you take to clean it, the greater the damage.
The best mold removal starts with prevention
Mold only needs two things to survive and thrive: humidity and darkness. Basements, showers, heaters and air conditioners, carpets, ducts and crawl spaces are the main places where it takes shape. So the best way to prevent such an overgrowth is to eliminate water leaks or keep the humidity in your home as low as possible.
