Drywall Mold Treatment
Mold is a variety of fungus that is all around us. Mold spores, unlike other plants, do not produce their own food and therefore must eat organic matter to survive and reproduce. This is why mold is a catalyst in the decaying process. Mold spores are generally harmless unless they are left to grow inside a home, where they can cause health problems and can permanently damage furniture, wallpaper and drywall. Drywall is particularly susceptible to mold damage in damp and poorly ventilated basements. Does this Spark an idea?
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Prevention
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Simply cleaning mold does not provide a complete treatment. Mold needs water to survive, and tends to grow on drywall that is damp and in a poorly ventilated area. If mold growth is common in a certain part of a home, the homeowner should install a fan or dehumidifier to ensure that the mold does not grow back.
Testing
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Drywall mold can cause a room to smell musty and can cause sneezing and watery eyes. In some cases, you may be unable to see drywall mold, but you may suspect it is in a room. In these cases, you can purchase a test kit, which will assess the presence of mold in a particular room.
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Locating
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Because mold tends to grow in rooms that are damp and that lack proper air circulation, it is possible to predict and locate growth. In most cases, homeowners can see mold growth on drywall. If a homeowner uses a mold test, and knows that mold is present in the room, but cannot see it, the mold may be hiding in drywall in a closet, crawlspace or attic. Drywall mold is also commonly found in laundry rooms and bathrooms.
Containment
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The mold removal process requires that a homeowner agitate the mold growth. Unfortunately, this can disperse many of the microscopic spores into the air, that can then spread to other areas of the home. For this reason, homeowners should seal off the affected room and open an outside window to ensure proper ventilation.
Cleaning
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Mold spores will not disperse into the air if they are wet. Thus, the first step in removing drywall mold is to spray it with a bleach-based cleaner. Then use a scrubbing brush to remove the mold entirely. To prevent the spores from spreading to other areas of the home, throw away all cleaning supplies that touched the mold. Replace the drywall if the mold has caused permanent damage.
Safety
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Mold is generally harmless to most people unless they live or work around mold. Mold can also be harmful to the health of susceptible individuals, including the elderly, pregnant, asthmatic, or those with respiratory issues. Susceptible individuals should not attempt to clean drywall mold, and those cleaning mold should always wear a high-efficiency dust mask.
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References
- Photo Credit drywall 2 image by iChip from Fotolia.com
