When you see mold growing in your basement or crawl space, it might look like a small problem that you can deal with easily in an afternoon with some bleach. What looks like a small problem on the surface is usually a much bigger one that requires a little more planning. The biggest piece of advice we can give when you find mold is to avoid cross-contamination. In order to get rid of the mold, you need to understand the mold. Before you decide whether to try to removal the mold yourself or hire a professional, you should learn a little bit about mold and what removing it will involve.
Mold Is Everywhere
There is always some mold around. Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years. Mold can get in your home through open doors, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can be brought indoors on clothing, shoes, bags, and even pets. there are two types of mold, everyday mold that we can deal with and problematic mold that requires the help of a professional.
Everyday Mold
Mold can look like spots. It can be many different colors, and it can smell musty. If you see or smell mold, you should remove it. You do not need to know the type of mold. Any type of mold is usually caused by moisture. That is why we often find it in poorly ventilated bathrooms, around our sinks, or in our basements. Mold can be removed from hard surfaces with household products, soap, and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of household laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water. Once you get rid of the mold the next step is preventing it from coming back, and that can happen by preventing moisture in the previously mold-infested area. A few tips…
- Open the window after you take a shower
- Wipe down the sink and surrounding areas after using them
- Install a ceiling fan in your basement and bathroom
- Ventilat your attic to help your whole home
Problematic Mold
Commonly referred to as “black mold,” Stachybotrys is one of the most dangerous types of mold and can cause flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, headaches, memory loss, and severe respiratory damage. This mold can be impossible to manage. That means that even a simple case of shower mold can turn into a huge problem if it is not dealt with on time and in the right way. If mold spores start expanding to your drywall and sub-flooring, no amount of removing it yourself will help you.
Why You Should Hire a Professional
If the mold is airborne, has gotten into several structural elements of your home, or you just don’t know how far it could have traveled or how big of a problem it is, you should get professional mold expert involved. You should definitely bring in professionals if the amount of visible mold on a surface is greater than three feet by three feet. Ultimately, when mold runs rampant in your home, water, soap, and bleach are not going to help. A professional can also provide expert advice with mold testing to make sure your mold problem is gone for good.
Avoid the risk. We guarantee that our team of professionals will get the job done efficiently and in a timely manner.
Contact us (859-525-2379) for more information or to schedule an appointment
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About Paramount Restoration
Paramount Restoration performs emergency remediation throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for water, storm, fire, mold sewage damage and more seven days a week, 365 days a year. Call us day or night for an estimate – we waive 100% of the estimate fees for all calls between 8 am and 5 pm!