Mold and Mildew Remediation
Mold is found nearly everywhere in the environment, sometimes in homes or other buildings. Some types of mold are extremely dangerous. Others are harmless but unsightly or damaging to certain materials. The process of removing mold and mildew is called remediation. Does this Spark an idea?
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Effects of Mold
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Some species of mold post serious health risks to human beings. Others are beneficial and used to make foods such as cheese or medicine such as penicillin. It is impossible to identify different species of mold just by looking at them and without proper laboratory testing. Mold may be present in your immediate environment if people exhibit symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting or difficulty breathing. People who already have respiratory allergies or asthma may have severe attacks, and people who don't have these health concerns may begin to develop them.
Mold in a home can cause stains and feed on wood and drywall. If left untouched, this mold can affect the structural integrity of these components.
Causes of Mold
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When remediating mold, understanding why it is present in the first place will help the remediation be more effective. If the mold is caused by a problem that is not fixed, the mold may come back.
Mold grows best in damp environments and eats organic materials. A damp basement, for example, that contains organic material such as drywall, presents mold with a perfect place to grow. A dehumidifier to remove the dampness can help remediate the mold.
Environments normally inhospitable to mold may become affected through flooding, leaky pipes or water damage, all of which will introduce dampness and rot that allow mold to grow. Fixing the causes of the mold as well as the damage itself must be done before remediation takes place.
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Small-scale Mold Remediation
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According the the Environmental Protection Agency, an affected area of about 10 square feet represents a mold remediation job small enough for a homeowner to do. A detergent-and-water mixture applied with a stiff scrub brush on hard, solid surfaces can remediate mold. However, the mold may become airborne and be inhaled, which can be dangerous. If attempting to remediate mold by yourself, you should wear goggles, a face mask and gloves.
If the mold is affecting something that cannot be effectively cleaned this way, such as an upholstered couch, the item may need to be professionally cleaned. Bleach can be used on mold and mildew stains. However, bleach is ineffective at removing mold, because it kills only the surface of the mold and not the roots.
Large-scale Mold Remediation
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If the mold-affected area is larger than 10 square feet, a professional, licensed mold remediation company should be hired to do the job. These companies are experienced in the proper techniques for removing dangerous and large quantities of mold and also have the technology to find hidden mold, such as mold growing inside of walls. If the mold problem is this large, the chances are higher that you have hidden mold.
Extremely large-scale mold remediation operations such as former marijuana grow-op homes, which are generally infested with very toxic black mold, should never be attempted by a homeowner.
Mildew Remediation
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Mildew is simply another word for mold, although it is commonly used to identify black, fuzzy spots of mold that grow in bathrooms and even on plants. Mildew is often accompanied by a musty smell. The term "mildew" is not used to refer to harmful or toxic molds.
The methods of remediation for mildew are similar to those of mold but to a less extreme extent. For example, mildew in the bathroom can be scrubbed off with a mildew-removing cleaner, and the bathroom fan can be left on after showering to decrease the humidity. Other items infested with mildew, such as old books and clothes, can be thrown away.
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- Photo Credit mold on petrified wood image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
