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Home
Mold Removal
Removing Mold from the Home Can be Done by a Homeowner as Long as Precautions
are Taken
By Mark J. Donovan
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Mold is a serious problem and many homes
are faced with it at some point and time in their lifetimes. A moist
environment is the key ingredient for mold growth. By eliminating moisture
within the home you can dramatically reduce the chance of home mold growth.
Home mold removal can be done by the do it yourself homeowner but care is
necessary to prevent spreading it, and making yourself and others living in
the home ill. As a matter of fact, often a diligent homeowner can do a better
job of mold removal than the pros, and at a fraction of the cost.
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This said, home mold removal by the
homeowner should be limited to relatively small projects. For example, a small
mold growth problem in a bathroom can certainly be taken care of by the
homeowner. However, a basement or attic that has a major infestation of mold
growth should probably be left to the professionals.
Before tackling a home mold removal project it is important that you first read
up on the various mold removal techniques and cleaning products to use. The
EPA’s website has extensive information on mold and how to remove mold from the
home. It also explains the types of mold and the various levels of protection
required when removing mold from the home.
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Mold spreads by sending out airborne mold
spores. As a result it is extremely important when doing home mode removal to
first seal off and contain the affected area properly. By sealing off the area
you prevent the spread of these airborne mold spore particles to the rest of
the home.
Start off by sealing heat and air conditioning vents and opening up a window
and installing a window fan to create a negative pressure that draws air out
of the mold infected room.
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Also make sure when removing mold from the
home to always wear a respirator, long pants, a long sleeve shirt, shoes and
socks, and gloves. In addition, after removing mold from the home always strip
down and wash the clothes immediately and take a shower to remove the mold
spores from your body.
When it comes to removing mold, washing down affected surfaces with bleach is
not the answer. Using bleach may remove the appearance of mold but it does not
eliminate the mold altogether. The mold roots will still remain and the mold
will return in all its glory in just a few days if the affected area remains
damp.
If the moisture that spawned the mold growth came from sewage or grey water, the
only effective home mold removal solution is to remove the affected surfaces
outright. This may mean tearing out drywall and insulation for example and
having to rebuild. If the moisture that spawned the mold growth came from clean
water, use a wet vacuum to first remove the water. Then follow up vacuuming up
the loose debris and mold growth from the affected surfaces and placing it in
sealed heavy duty trash bags. Next, use a coarse brush and/or rag, along with
water and a detergent, and scrub the surfaces. Don’t, however, soak the
surfaces. After scrubbing down the surfaces let them fully dry out and then go
back and vacuum them again using a HEPA vacuum.
After vacuuming up the dried surfaces place the collected material and vacuum
filter in heavy duty sealed garbage bags and dispose of them properly. With a
little luck, and if the affected areas are kept dry, your home mold removal
efforts should be successful.
Related Information
Additional Mold and Mildew Resources from
Amazon.com
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