How to Eliminate Mold in Your Home

Mold. Gross, right? Far more than just being unsightly, it can also damage your health. So rather than turning a blind eye to it around your home, maybe it’s time to eliminate mold for good.

The good news is, mold removal could be easier than you think! Sure, you might need to do some redecorating once it’s gone, but it shouldn’t require much more than some elbow grease in most cases.

If you leave it too long, it will only become more difficult to get rid of, so keep reading as we give you some tips on mold remediation.

Prevention Is Best

Before we get into how to get rid of mold around the home, it’s worth mentioning that the best thing you can do is prevent it from becoming a problem in the first place.

To help, let’s take a look at what causes mold;

• man-made dampness
  • poor ventilation
  • drying clothes inside
  • leaving doors open
  • steamy kitchens and bathrooms
• true dampness
  • water ingress through the structure of the home
  • rising damp
  • humidity and groundwater seepage

Most mold is preventable because most mold is man-made via condensation. Check for leaks around your home, and try to make sure you have good ventilation, especially if you dry clothes on indoor airers or radiators.

Assess the Level of Mold

If you have allowed the mold in your home to become too big of a problem, it’s probably worth getting in touch with a mold remediation professional. They will be able to use materials that are not recommended to have around the home and will do a fantastic job of getting rid of the mold.

However, if it’s a minor case of mold, there are certainly things you can do to remedy it.

The biggest thing to be aware of before you tackle the mold is that you want to limit the spread of spores around the home. These spores can become airborne relatively easily and this is where health issues could arise. Here’s a list of things you’ll need;

• face masks
• rubber gloves
• soapy water
• cloths
• bleach or mold spray (for tougher areas)
• towels

Treated or painted walls are the easiest to work on. If you can, dry the area you plan to treat. A dehumidifier is great for this, but even if you can get some air through the room for a while, it will help.

Once the area is dry, you should be able to remove most of the most with a damp cloth. Bleach isn’t usually necessary but if you want to have as fresh a wall as possible, it’s ok to use a little.

Spray anti-mold on the area after treatment to prevent the mold from coming back.

Untreated or Porous Materials

Untreated wood or other porous materials are a little more difficult. You’ll likely need to replace the whole area because it’s impossible to completely remove the mold from this kind of material. At this point, it might be a good idea to call a professional.

Eliminate Mold Before It’s Too Big a Job

The best thing you can do is eliminate mold as early as possible. That way, it’s easier to get rid of in the first place, and it’s probably something you can do yourself.

If not, a mold remediation professional will do a great job of restoring your home and preventing the mold from returning.

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