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How To Remove Mold From A Mattress

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How To Remove Mold From A Mattress

You need to remember these three keywords: Dry. Disinfect. Protect. Drying your mattress kills and effectively stops mold spores from growing. Disinfecting removes toxins that are naturally released by the mold. You will be kept safe from respiratory and auto-immune health problems. Lastly, protecting your mattress prolongs its lifespan, giving you safer and more restful sleep. Read on to learn tips on how to effectively remove mold from your mattress!

This blog article will cover the following:

  • How to detect and remove mold from your mattress
    • Signs that there is mold growth in your mattress
    • Three steps to remove mold from your mattress
  • Keep your mattress protected from future mold growth.
    • Moisture: the biggest trigger of mold growth
    • Preventing future mold growth in your mattress

How to detect and remove mold from your mattress

Did you find mold in your mattress? Or do you suspect its presence in your bed? Detecting its growth will save you from costly damage to your health and property.

Signs of mold growth in your mattress

Harmful mold spores are invisible to the naked eye. It takes 3 to 21 days to be noticeable by its smell or harmful health effects and 18 to 21 days to be visible as mold.

So, how can you quickly detect them? Read on and find out:

  • The persistent musty odor. Does your mattress smell musty? The odor is pungent, similar to rotting food, and does not go away. That’s the first sign that mold is present.
  • Respiratory health symptoms that don’t go away. Another sign is if people using the bed can’t snap out of having a stuffy nose, wheezing, or red itchy eyes or skin. 

Bed molds may cause chronic respiratory problems that are not caused by seasonal viruses. 

  • Stains that you cannot recognize. The next thing to do is to lift your sheets and check. Are there stains on your bed that suddenly appeared? You don’t remember spilling anything, but why did that spot get discolored? 

If there are no stains, but the musty smell and the respiratory problems persist, mold presence is still possible. They may be growing in the inner layers. 

If these signs are present, act fast!

Three steps to remove mold from your mattress

Now that you know how to detect mold growth in your mattress, it is time to take action! There are three essential steps to remove the mold are:

  1. Drying
  2. Disinfecting
  3. Protecting

Before proceeding with the 3 step process, ensure that you wear protective clothing if dealing with toxic mold such as black mold. Use non-porous gloves, an N-95 mask, eye protection, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants.

Drying your mattress

There are three ways to dry your mattress:

  • Through direct sunlight. Effectively kill mold with the sun’s UV rays. Put your mattress under direct sunlight for about 3 to 4 hours.
    Six hours is even better. Bring it in before dampness sets in at dusk.
  • Vacuum. Vacuum when it is difficult or not possible for you to give your mattress a sunbath.
    Ensure that you secure the vacuum bag inside a trash bag so the spores you vacuumed will not spread back to your bed.
  • Ventilate. Good ventilation with air flowing well will help dry out your mattress.
    Directing your electric fan and dehumidifier to the affected area can also make drying faster.

You can also combine these three methods to ensure your mattress is mold-free. 

A note of caution. If your mattress has been severely infected by mold, dispose of it as soon as possible. Check with mold removal experts if the mold has affected many areas in your home.

Disinfecting your mattress.

Disinfect your mattress while drying it out. Ensure that all layers will be penetrated by the cleaning solution that you will use, such as:

Dishwashing soap and water.

  • Dab a clean cloth or sponge on dishwashing soap diluted in water.  
  • Rub the cloth on the surface of your mattress. 
  • Use another cloth or sponge soaked in water to rinse off the soapy solution. 
  • Do this until the suds are gone. 

Vinegar

  • Spray full-strength white vinegar on your mattress.
  • Scrub off the mold with a soft brush or a scrubbing pad.

Hydrogen Peroxide.

  • Spray 3% hydrogen peroxide solution on your mattress.
  • Let the hydrogen peroxide sit until the solution stops bubbling. 
  • Scrub off the mold with a soft brush or a scrubbing pad.

Rubbing alcohol. 

  • Spray a solution of one part rubbing alcohol and one part warm water on your mattress. 
  • Scrub off the mold with a soft brush or a scrubbing pad.

Commercial disinfecting solutions

  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to use the product safely.

A note of caution. The moldy areas may lighten in color but may not altogether remove the stains. You can try spot-treating the stains by mixing baking soda, salt, and water. Rub the paste into the surface with a clean, dry cloth and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Wipe off the excess paste with a clean, damp cloth.

Protect your mattress from future mold growth.

After drying and disinfecting your mattress, it is time to protect it from moisture. Here are time-tested steps you can use:

  • Seal it with baking soda. Baking soda will further dry and disinfect your mattress. Think of it as the sealing step after all the hard work of drying and disinfecting your mattress. Here’s how to do it.
    • Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the surface of your mattress. You can put it on a strainer and shake it all over the mattress. 
    • Leave for at least 30 minutes.
    • Vacuum it off the mattress.
  • Check ventilation affecting your mattress.  
    • Use slatted bed frames. If mold is under your bed, moisture may be due to the interaction between your bed frame and your mattress. Use slatted bed frames or anything that can allow air to flow under your mattress.
    • Use mold-resistant paint. You can also use mold-resistant paint on your bed frame. Make sure you have already dried and removed mold on the frame before painting.
    • Use waterproofed bedding. There are waterproof mattress protectors and pads on the market. They also are mold-resistant. Using them will help you keep your mattress mold-free longer.

What to do after removing mold from your mattress

After drying, disinfecting, and protecting your mattress, get into the habit of doing aftercare for your mattress. Once every six months is good enough.

In case of accidents, water damage, or flood, air out your mattress within 24 to 48 hours before mold spore germination sets in.

Mattress mold removal aftercare

Your mattress is made up of organic materials where mold can quickly germinate. Ensuring it is free from harmful levels of prolonged dampness will keep it clean of mold. So, you keep it dry and clean to protect yourself from mold damage.

Here are aftercare tips for your mattress to stay free from mold colonies for a long time:

  • Check temperatures and humidity levels. As moisture is the biggest trigger for spores to germinate, you need to monitor these numbers regularly, even during the day when the season is ripe for mold growth because of high humidity. 
  • Keep your mattress dry. Accidental spills and all sorts of fluids can make those sleeping spores active. So, keep your mattress damp-free and watch out for mold smells and stains.
  • Spot-clean molds immediately. The best way to deal with molds is to prevent them from spreading. Neglecting it will be more costly health-wise and may even damage your mattress beyond fixing. So, spot-clean as soon as you detect any stains.
  • Disinfect your mattress regularly. Keep your mattress in top condition by disinfecting it regularly with sunbathing, disinfecting treatments, and keeping it dry.

Use a mattress protector. Waterproof mattress protectors can prevent moisture from reaching your mattress. It also keeps mold spores away.  

When it is time to give up on your mattress

Sometimes, no matter your effort, the mold still cannot be removed from your mattress. The mold may have invaded your mattress, infecting the bed frames and surrounding fixtures. If this happens, do not hesitate to call professional cleaners to do the job. You can also opt to replace your mattress.  

What is essential is to keep you, your family, and your pets safe from mold breeding in your mattress. Exposure through ingestion, skin absorption, and inhalation can lead to serious health problems. It may start as a persistent stuffy nose, wheezing, and itchy eyes and skin. Those with allergies and asthma may get more severe reactions. 

Be careful with black mold as it carries the most toxin. Wear protective clothing, prescribed masks, and eyewear during removal to ensure your safety.

CONCLUSION

Remove the mold from your mattress at once. Your mattress is a very vulnerable piece of furniture because it contains porous materials that quickly absorb moisture. Keep it in check constantly. Prevention is way cheaper than fixing mold damage. 

But if mold growth is beyond your control, call your licensed mold removal expert in Brooklyn, NY, immediately.

About the Company

Brooklyn Mold Removal is a company dedicated to providing quality service. We work with industrial hygienists and professional engineers to ensure that we deliver reliable, high-quality results to our clients. We understand that people need help with their environmental safety needs, so we prioritize assisting customers in making informed decisions about their situation. 

BROOKLYN MOLD REMOVAL

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When is mold remediation necessary

When is mold remediation necessary

Brooklyn is one of the best places to live. There is snow in winter, showers in spring, tropical heat in summer, and cool nights in autumn. Many enjoy this side of New York, and so does mold. 

But Brooklyn also faces mold problems whole-year round. For many residents, mold remediation is necessary any time of the year. They have no choice. The city has lots of damp places where mould can grow and populate. This is not surprising because Brooklyn has a high water table, making the soil easily saturated with water during heavy rain and snow. 

With mold growing fast everyday in Brooklyn, the question is when should you call for mold removal?

Mold remediation should be done as soon as possible!

The health concerns created by high mold levels lead to one goal: To have a healthy indoor environment. All these health symptoms disappear when mold colonies are successfully removed and mitigated.

And that’s the good news. It is important then to know where these mold grow and how to deal with them as soon as possible!

Pro Tips for Keeping Mold from further growth

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put out 8 tips to clean up mold:

  1. Protect yourself. Use gloves, masks, and goggles to protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and skin from getting in contact with mold spores.
  2. Toss. Take out anything that was wet, especially by flood water, and cannot be cleaned and dried out completely in 24 to 48 hours. CDC advises citizens to take photos of discarded items for insurance claims.
  3. Air it out. Open all doors and windows while you are cleaning up. Keep them open only if it is safe to do so.
  4. Circulate. Use fans, ventilators, and humidifiers to remove moisture when electricity is safe to use.
  5. Don’t mix cleaners. Do not mix cleaning products together. Combining them may create toxic vapors such as the mixing of bleach and ammonia.
  6. Scrub surfaces. Use water and detergent when cleaning. Remove all mold that you can see and dry the surface right away.   
  7. Don’t cover it, remove it. Don’t cover up the mold with paint because the mold will still keep on growing. Paint cannot stop it from spreading. So, the first thing to do is to fix the water problem that is causing the mold to grow. Only after this is successfully done can you paint or caulk.
  8. Dry it up. Dry everything up within 24 to 48 hours when you can.

Call for mold remediation when health issues are at stake

If mold is not completely cleaned up or health symptoms occur, seek both medical help and professional mold remediation services. Some types of mold can be cleaned with a simple bleach and water solution. Some mold varieties, however, are dangerous and have to be tested and removed by experts. Don’t let neglect be your reason for mold infestation. Seek professional mold cleaning and mold remediation as soon as possible!

Mold exposure symptoms you should watch out for

Observe possible Health symptoms due to mold exposure

Mold exposure can cause or worsen health problems. It attacks your respiratory organs and skin when you inhale high levels of mold spores. Certain mold spores easily trigger allergic reactions. You will experience frequent sneezing, coughing, and have rashes on your skin due to mold spores. Left untreated, it can cause or worsen asthma, allergies, and hay fever. You can also have a runny nose, breathing congestion, dry scaly skin, or itchy watery eyes. 

Locate where mold colonies are concentrated

Check damp, dark, and humid places such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements. These are places where mold thrive and expand. They can be in walls, carpets, upholstery, and clothing. Air conditioners, humidifiers, and humidifiers are also good places for them to grow.

Call for mold testing to detect the presence of mold spores

Mold remediation is necessary even though there is no visible sign of mold. This organism can only be seen through microscopes. Your need professional equipment to see where their spores are concentrated. But your health symptoms will tell you that there may be mold thriving within your home or offices. Another way to find mold is to check for any unpleasant and rotten smell. Mold smells musty, earthy, and stale. The larger its infestation, the stronger its smell will be.  It is best to ask for professional mold inspection services just to make sure.

Watch out for mold seasons

There are three things that make mold grow: a food source (e.g., leaves, paper, or wood); moisture; and a warm temperature. As much as they can grow the whole-year round the different seasons in Brooklyn provide different conditions for their growth. Knowing these will make you aware of how to best control them.

Summer is the peak mold season in Brooklyn

High humidity levels make summer the worst mold season for Brooklyn. Mold levels during these months can spiral out of control. Bathrooms and kitchens are prone to infestation because of the use of hot water. Air conditioning may reduce humidity but may cause mold growth if it is too cold inside and too hot and humid outside. This will show up in windows and doors, or in your drywall. So, keep an eye on these places where heat and moisture will likely occur.

Spring to mid-fall rapid mold growth comes in a different way

Spring is the time for the rapid growth of flowers and trees. The same goes for mold. The combination of spring showers and warmer temperatures is a potent mixture for mold to awaken from being dormant during winter. So, this is the best time, too, to implement mold removal.

Fall is the ideal time for mold remediation process

Normally, fall is the best season of the year to call for professional mold remediation service. But before calling for expert mold removal, do some initial investigation to determine the extent of the problem. Check your basements, windows, attics, doors, and crawl spaces for standing water or excessive moisture. Look for pipe water damage in your kitchen sick and toilet. Try sniffing around as well for suspicious odor in the air.

Winter may be the slowest mold growth season but…

Dealing with mold is non-stop. Interestingly, mold naturally hibernates during winter. It means that they are alive even as the temperature drops. But it does not mean they won’t grow during this season. When conditions are ripe again for growth, they can easily “awaken” and release their spores.

Your home setup during winter can also trigger a mold problem

Mold during winter normally stops expanding. But they still release airborne mold spores. This happens when you turn your heater on, the warming up of temperature along with the moisture it produces is good for mold growth. There will also be your hot water tanks and your dryer.

So, make sure your checking and cleanup are regular even in winter. Also call for mold remediation when necessary. You will have less worries when they all are active again in spring.

Flood aftermath

Brookly’s high water table is another fact to live with. The soil does not effectively drain water. It is saturated, too, so the moisture crawls into structure foundations, spreading up to floors and walls. Leakages and other water problems in pipes worsens the moisture level in homes and offices. 

So, when flooding happens due to a natural disaster, mold growth skyrockets. It will also not give you much leeway for the 24 to 48 hours you need to dry everything up so mold will not start growing. Make sure you have all the knowledge you need to do your own part in controlling the infestation. Also, keep in touch with your mold removal experts. Call them as soon as the growth is way out of your league.

Only work with certified mold removal experts

During the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Ida, mold removal experts reported that the phones would not stop ringing. There were too many people needing immediate mold removal services to deal with their mold problems. 

Mold professionals understand the remediation process

Not everyone can be a mold expert. Unfortunately, underqualified contractors took advantage of the situation. People were scammed by uber-high mold remediation costs. Consequently, homes and offices were not inspected well nor dried out completely. This led to more mold growth. 

Having learned the painful lessons of mold growth damages, citizen volunteer groups have pushed for educating residents on the mold problem, how these organisms grow and how they can be controlled.

Mold remediation and mold abatement services require state license

Changes in New York laws are now in effect. It is now required that all mold remediators be licensed before they can offer services for eliminating mold. Inspections and remediations must also be conducted by different firms to avoid conflict of interest. 

Conclusion

You need to call for mold remediation the moment you see mold growth in your house. Don’t wait for autumn or winter before you take action. Mold removal is key to your family’s health. At Brookyln Mold Removal, we only send licensed and certified mold experts. Get in touch so we can stop mold growth before it gets out of control.

About the Company

Brooklyn Mold Removal is a company dedicated to providing quality service. We work with industrial hygienists and professional engineers to ensure that we deliver reliable, high-quality results to our clients. We understand that people need help with their environmental safety needs, so we prioritize assisting customers in making informed decisions about their situation. 

BROOKLYN MOLD REMOVAL

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Why mold testing will save your cat

Why mold testing will save your cat

Does your cat have nine lives? Maybe. These delicate household pets are very agile in evading physical danger. But if your house has a mold problem, there’s a high chance it won’t reach the apex of its lifespan. Here is why mold testing can keep these felines safe and happy.

Mold growth in the house is not good for your cat

Mold is a multicellular fungi that forms a big part of life on earth. We cannot live without it. It thrives in the dampest parts of the house, hiding in cracks where moisture is ample enough. We need mold to make our food taste better, and we need it to create medicine. 

Mold help sustain the cycle of life on earth. Without this fungi, no one will break down organic matter into nutrients the earth can reuse.

Your mold problem will threaten your pet cat

Mold testing is imperative for cat lovers because it is not good to have these microscopic organisms near your pets. This fungi releases dangerous spores in the air, which float around as long as they can until forces like gravity and inertia bring them to the next surface they will colonize. 

Maybe cats understand the danger of mold as well. Perhaps, their sensitive fur feels even these seemingly-weightless spores land on their nimble bodies. It could also be the reason why, unlike their dog best friends, cats spend most of their idle time licking their fur. Your cat likes soft, dirt-free, and mold-free fur. But this makes them too vulnerable to poisoning.

Keeping your house clean, dry, and well-ventilated gives mold fewer chances of finding moisture. But in case you see signs of mold that is beyond your power to fix, it’s time to call for professional testing and remediation. A mold test and lab analysis will determine how much mold growth is already inside your house. 

Cats get indigestion because of mold

There is no scientific evidence that cats clean their fur because they hate mold. But there is evidence that these multicellular fungi can harm cats and other household pets, such as the book Mold: The War Within. In this book, the authors mention how these tiny organism can cause pets to suddenly feel sick and throw up, and eventually lose their appetite because they accidentally ingested mold. 

For sure, you are a responsible cat parent, and you never give your cat spoiled food. You always clean its plate, replace its favorite rag regularly, and wipe its paws daily. But no matter how often you clean them, they will still lick their fur.

Your cats instinctively lick mold spores

Licking makes cats unique. These felines have brains wired to use their tongue for their regular grooming. Licking allows them to distribute oil released by their skin to all parts of their body. This regulates their body temperature, especially during colder seasons.

Licking also helps them get rid of dirt they get while roaming around the neighborhood. And this is what makes mold dangerous to your cats. You will never know where your cats have been at the end of the day. Attach a GPS tracker or a camera on your cat, and you’ll be surprised at where your pet goes when you are not looking.

Cats love squeezing themselves into narrow openings on walls and doors while looking for food or when they are curiously thirsty for adventure. You find them walking on your roof, treading your narrow wall, or chasing mice on your lawn. Now, there is no issue if these are everything a cat does. Sadly, cats also visit the hollows of your ceiling and the spaces behind your inner drywalls. These are places where mold growth occurs all the time. When your cat is exposed to areas populated by mold colonies, spores in the air can reach the cat’s nostrils and penetrate its lungs. And the moment they start grooming themselves, spores on their fur reaches their digestive systems. 

Symptoms your pet cat is poisoned by mold

To know if your cat has problems with mold, watch out for these symptoms:

  1. Your pet has a poor appetite. Your cat is not eating enough even though you are giving it premium cat food. Cats are choosy animals. But there is no way for them to avoid eating this organisms once in a while. A healthy cat would normally vomit unsavory things they ate. Ingested mold, however, is not easy to remove from the body.
  2. Digestive problems. Your cat is vomiting and defecating frequently. When cats lick their fur, the hair they end up eating forms hairballs inside their stomach. Normally, their vomit this hairball. But if the vomiting gets frequent, they could be suffering from a mold problem.
  3. Wheezing and sneezing. It is a warm season, but your cat shows problems with breathing. This fungi causes irritations in nasal passages and often leads to allergic reactions. 

You need mold inspection to protect your cat

Any sign of poisoning in your cat requires immediate mold testing and lab analysis. There may be zero visible mold growth around your house right now. But it could be thriving already in some areas of your house. Here’s how these organisms spread from one place in your house to another.

  1. Stage 1: Mold releases spores into the air. These tiny particles can float in the air and spread around your house. 
  2. Stage 2: Spores land on surfaces around the house. Mold can dwell on any surface, from organic material to wood and ceramic material.
  3. Stage 3: The spores start to germinate. At this stage, the spores grow their roots and expand on the surface.
  4. Stage 4: The mold widen its colony. Intervention is needed at this point, or else these organisms will start destroying your house. 
  5. Stage 5: Mature mold begins releasing spores again in order to find new territory to colonize. This will worsen your mold problems and your cat’s health problems.

A mold testing kit is necessary in this case. Mold inspectors will take air samples for lab analysis. They will also conduct visual inspection to detect small but identifiable growth of this fungi in the corners and cracks of your house. After mold testing, the lab results will provide you and your property manager enough data to identify plumbing leaks, water damage, and contaminated materials that require immediate removal and repair.

You need professional mold testing to find where mold is hiding in your house. At Brooklyn Mold Removal, we have the technology to trace spores in the air and locate spaces where mold is hiding, particularly those infrequently visited places such as ceilings, basements, and behind inner walls. These places are your cats’ favorite locations and where they normally brush their delicate fur with mold. 

Conclusion

Your cat is a darling pet that needs protection from mold. The health effects of mold contamination can harm it beyond cure. But because there is no way to keep it from visiting locations where mold often hides and thrives, these furry pets often end up licking and ingesting mold spores sticking on their fur. Mold inspection will save your cat and help it maximize its nine lives.

About the Company

Brooklyn Mold Removal is a company dedicated to providing quality service. We work with industrial hygienists and professional engineers to ensure that we deliver reliable, high-quality results to our clients. We understand that people need help with their environmental safety needs, so we prioritize assisting customers in making informed decisions about their situation. 

BROOKLYN MOLD REMOVAL

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Here is what you should do before hiring a professional mold testing team

Here is what you should do before hiring a professional mold testing team

No one wants to see mold growth on their walls, kitchen, and tiles. As much as possible, we want to make mold disappear when we see dark streaks and spots inside our house. In an ideal world, mold is absent. But in the world we live in, mold is everywhere.

We live in a world run by mold

Strictly speaking, we live in a world run by mold. For sure, mold is not in control of everything that happens around us. But it was made to keep the natural cycle of life up and running. Mold will grow on any given surface. It will break down all forms of organic matter. Although it will not get any nutrients from inorganic materials like plastic, glass, and metal, it can colonize these surfaces. Mold growth makes it possible for bacteria, dirt, and other corrosive elements to perform their destructive power. 

This does not mean mold is bad. We may not like it, but mold keeps us alive and healthy. We need mold to create fermented food and drink, like cheese, alcohol, condiments, and coffee. At the same time, we need mold to create medicine and antibiotics. We also need mold to break down decaying matter around us so its organic nutrients would replenish the earth again. In other words, mold sustains life on earth.

What to do when you see signs of mold

The role of mold in keeping the cycle of nature is not difficult to understand. But it is a different thing to see mold start colonizing some areas inside your house. The question is, what should you do when you see signs of mold appearing? Do you call for professional mold inspection and mold remediation at once?

An honest take from a mold inspection company

Although we are a professional mold removal company, we’ll be the first ones to tell you that you do not need mold inspection right away. Are we serious? Yes. No doubt, you need professional help when dealing with mold. But there are things you need to do first before any mold inspection procedure.

Do not panic: a mold problem is solvable

Before calling for professional mold remediation, it is important for you not to panic. Whenever people freak out, they lose a ton of critical thinking skills and end up making the wrong choices. It is understandable to feel negative about mold. We know that mold is an irritant. It causes allergies and can lead to respiratory problems. 

Still, you don’t need to panic. Why?

Mold is not necessarily toxic and deadly

There is a popular belief that mold exposure leads to critical health problems. This is true for some species of mold that release mycotoxins. Most mold inspection companies will tell you these type of mold are dangerous to human health:

  1. Alternaria
  2. Aspergillus
  3. Chaetomium
  4. Cladosporium
  5. Fusarium
  6. Myrothecium
  7. Penicillium
  8. Stachybotrys
  9. Trichoderma
  10. Thrichothecium

According to the CDC’s report on mold and dampness, however, there is little evidence to prove that the presence of these type of mold inside the house is hazardous. Unless the mold colony is widespread, you don’t need to worry. Even black mold is not necessarily harmful to everybody, although it needs to be controlled to prevent further growth. Yes, people with weak immune systems can get irritated and experience poor health outcomes. But these cases are rare and cannot be used as the norm for everyone. 

Control mold with household materials

When you see and type of mold inside your house, do what you can to control its growth before calling for a professional mold inspector. And this will save you time and money. When you hire a company to do mold inspection and they see that you have fixed some factors that contribute to mold already, your initiatives will reduce your mold inspection costs. The good news is you can limit visible mold growth by decreasing humidity inside your house.

Manage levels of humidity

Humidity is the level of moisture in the air. If you have a sensitive nose, humid environments will make you sneezy and get your nose stuffed up. Unfortunately, while you try your best to manage your allergy, mold colonies are all busy releasing mold spores. Mold loves moisture. It makes then release more mold spores into the air. Any surface inside your house will grow mold right away when it is frequently humid and wet. 

The solution is improving your home’s atmosphere to limit the moisture mold can consume. Here’s what you can do:

Improve your ventilation to reduce mold spore counts in the air

Humid indoors are the result of poor ventilation. Air is clogged and unable to circulate properly. As a result, mold spores in the air remain inside and find new landing spots. Your basement or storage room, for example, is a mold haven especially for black mold because it has stagnant moist air. When there is good ventilation, on the other hand, it allows fresh air from the outside to replace the polluted air. 

Use a dehumidifier decrease air moisture

There are times when more than good ventilation is needed to solve humidity. This happens when the air outside is also humid. The solution is to use dehumidifiers and air purifiers. An air conditioning unit is a dehumidifier because it makes the air cold and dry, making it difficult for mold to multiply. This is why mold growth stops during winter and resumes in spring.

Use an air purifier to reduce mold spores

An air purifier will also help you deal with mold. It cleans the air from these microscopic spores. 

Fix your leaking pipes to reduce mold inspection cost

Leaking pipes are one common source of moisture inside your house. Water is essential for any home. But drips are leaks are not. When they run through surfaces and seep into cracks, they give mold the perfect spots to land, root, grow, and create new colonies. Fixing your pipes would reduce wet surfaces and moisture. Making repairs of your own will reduce the potential cost of mold inspection and mold removal.

Clean moldy areas with vinegar and baking soda

Don’t wait for the team of professional mold remover to come before you take action on visible mold. Frankly, there is no assurance that whenever you call for mold removal, a team will come within an hour. If one or two customers have already called ahead of you, chances are you’ll be served the next working day. So, when you see mold growing in easy-to-reach surfaces, clean it at once. If you have kids or elderly members in the family, it is wise to remove mold at once.

You can control mold with vinegar, baking soda, clean water, and a sturdy brush. Follow these instructions:

  1. Take undiluted vinegar and spray it directly on the area infected by mold. Saturate the area with vinegar and leave it for an hour.
  2. Meanwhile, create a solution of baking soda and water. To make this, mix one teaspoon of baking soda with two cups of water. Pour it into an empty spray container. Shake it thoroughly until both are combined well. 
  3. Return to the area you have saturated with vinegar for an hour. Spray the baking soda solution directly on the mold and scrub the surface. 
  4. Rinse the area with warm water.
  5. Spray the remaining vinegar on the surface one more time. 
  6. Leave it for another hour. 
  7. Scrub the surface again and rinse it with warm water.
  8. Let the area dry.

It is important to note that before doing this, make sure you have repaired any nearby pipes that leak and drip water. You cannot stop mold growth if the primary sources of moisture were not addressed first.

When to call your local mold removal company for mold inspection

Dealing with mold on your own does not mean you don’t need the help of a professional mold removal company. It is easy to clean mold on surfaces that are easy to reach. But when there is mold growing on your ceiling, inner walls, or on your ducting, there’s a huge chance that your mold problem is beyond your control. In these situations, a professional should come to conduct a comprehensive mold test. Call a local mold testing company should come for visual inspection, surface testing, and air testing. They have all the mold testing tools and techniques to get and evaluate mold samples, and recommend cost-effective solutions.

Conclusion

Don’t panic when you see mold inside your home. Control it by improving your ventilation, using a dehumidifier and air purifier, fixing leaks, and cleaning moldy areas with vinegar and baking soda solution. But when the area colonized by mold is beyond your reach or too big for you to handle, it is time to call a professional mold removal team.

About the Company

Brooklyn Mold Removal is a company dedicated to providing quality service. We work with industrial hygienists and professional engineers to ensure that we deliver reliable, high-quality results to our clients. We understand that people need help with their environmental safety needs, so we prioritize assisting customers in making informed decisions about their situation. 

BROOKLYN MOLD REMOVAL

© 2022 All Rights Reserved. Terms of use and Privacy Policy