How to Get Rid of Black Mold
Everything you need to know about Black Mold Removal.
In this comprehensive post, we'll go over;
- The causes of black mold.
- How to locate it.
- Creating cleaning mixtures.
- Prevention of black mold.
- Hiring a professional.
So if you've ever wondered if you might have black mold in your home, you'll love this post!
How to get rid of black mold in Rochester, NY
Are you aware that black mold can be avoided by keeping humidity levels below 50%?
Black mold removal is something that many homeowners struggle with because it can be difficult to identify. Unfortunately, not removing black mold as soon as possible can cause it to infest other areas of your home.
Learning how to get rid of the black mold is crucial as a homeowner, especially if you live in a humid area. Not only will this keep you healthy, but it'll also prevent you from spending too much money.
Here at Rock Environmental, we regularly assist homeowners with black mold removal services. To save you some time, we'll outline what to do about black mold.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to get rid of black mold!
What to do if you find Black Mold
Know What Causes Black Mold
Black mold, like most types of fungi, often grow in moist areas. In households, black mold often shows up in spaces that aren't ventilated, which can make it difficult to spot.
For example, if you have a ventilation system that pushes humid air into your attic, you'll be more likely to find black mold there. Unless you regularly enter your attic to notice it, the mold will spread to surrounding areas.
Another thing that can cause black mold is when your house has been flooded or has leaking pipes. Unless you remove the water as soon as possible, black mold can grow within days.
Locate All Patches
You can determine what to do about black mold shortly after identifying all the areas in which it has spread to. Even if you only notice black mold in one spot, you must keep looking until you've confidently checked all surrounding areas for patches.
Should you remove black mold from only one area while leaving it in another, it'll continue to spread. Because of this, it's best to have several people look for patches to ensure you don't miss anything.
Ventilate the Area If Possible
After identifying where the black mold has spread to, you should ventilate all of the infested areas. Depending on where the black moldy area is, it may be difficult to ventilate the room. However, you can use a dehumidifier to remove moisture.
If the room has windows and doors, open all of them. You'll want as much breeze as possible to prevent the mold from getting any moisture. This isn't a black mold removal method, but it'll prevent it from growing more.
Use Protective Equipment
Any time you're dealing with black mold, you should always wear protective equipment. Black mold exposure isn't always highly dangerous, but it can cause various respiratory problems. Many people suffer from things like shortness of breath, irritated eyes, and a stuffy nose.
Fortunately, you can avoid all of these by using protective eyewear and breathing masks. You should also use non-porous gloves to prevent black mold from seeping through them onto your skin.
This protective equipment should be used at all times during the black mold removal process. From the moment you start looking for mold up until you've completely removed it, you should never go near it without equipment.
Create a Cleaning Mixture
Providing that the growth is small enough, you can learn how to remove black mold with a homemade cleaning mixture. All you'll need is bleach and water.
About 1/10 of your mixture should be bleach, so it'll consist of mostly water. You can then place it in a spray bottle and apply it to the affected areas. Aside from using a spray bottle, you can also use a bucket and sponge.
Consider starting from the outer parts so you can immediately prevent growth. After applying the mixture, you'll want to dry the area. Depending on how severe the mold growth is, you may have to go through this process several times.
Hire Black Mold Remediation Professionals
While black mold removal isn't a complicated process for smaller cases, things can get more difficult when the mold has spread to various areas. When this happens, you'll need to hire professionals that can properly remove everything.
Black mold remediation professionals such as Rock Environmental, can identify growth and remove it much quicker. Not only will they provide a team of people, but they'll also use a variety of chemicals and equipment. This will ensure that your home is as clean as possible and prevents future black mold growth.
Black Mold Prevention
When working on something, you should always ventilate the area with at least an exhaust fan and turn off the water whenever possible, especially if it's a multi-day project.
Before starting the project, you should also check the humidity levels in your home. If your home is too humid, you'll need to use an air conditioner to filter the air and prevent mold growth.
Even when you're not working, you should occasionally look for stagnant or standing water. Should you find water, remove it with a vacuum and check for signs of water damage, black mold, or regular mold and mildew. You can then start the black mold removal process if needed.
Now You Know How to Get Rid of Black Mold
After reading this article, you now understand how to remove and kill black mold efficiently. This will prevent you from running into long-term problems, such as respiratory damage.
Keep in mind that black mold is surface mildew. This means your house most likely won't suffer from things like wood damage. However, it's best to identify black mold and remove it as quickly as possible to avoid the allergenic effects.
We encourage you to hire black mold removal professionals, even if you think there isn't much growth. This will help you identify exactly where the mold has spread so you can take appropriate action.
If you are ever in doubt about your DIY black mold removal, or if you are unsure if you do have black mold, call Rock Environmental at 585-340-6799, or click the button below! We are available 24/7/365.
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