How to Eliminate Molds from a Home

6/2/2017 (Permalink)

How to Eliminate Molds from a Home

Molds are a problem in many residential and commercial buildings. They mostly grow and feed by organic matter, and they need a warm and moist environment for then to live. Molds in homes often bring a smelly odor, and one might have to conduct constant deodorization. Areas that are mainly affected by mold damage include carpets, framing, floors, walls, tackles strips, and ceilings. Cleaners will often notice a powdery white fore that has a smelly odor in these places. At many times, mildew growth occurs after water damage due to floods or rain. Some places take excessive time to dry up, and therefore, they offer room for fungus and molds in homes. Homeowners can contact commercial mold damage control professionals to help in conducting the remediation process to prevent them from contaminating other places.

Mold removal should be done in the correct manner so as to avoid unnecessary expenses. One can handle the damage that is caused by the molds, fungus, and mildew by preventing them from spreading by killing them, removing the dead material, and protecting the cleaned area from being affected by fungus and molds in future. The following steps should be followed by any individual who would like to ensure mitigation of mold growth in homes without hiring commercial mold damage experts.

1. Inspection and testing for Fungus and Mold Presence. The homeowners conduct a thorough inspection to determine the areas that have visible mildew and those that are in hidden spaces. A hygrometer, humidity meter, and moisture meter can help in detecting places that are hard to find. One can also notice them because of their smelly odor. Finding the affected area is the first step of mitigation.

2. Containment. The infested area should be entirely covered using a 6 millimeter thick clear plastic bag to mitigate the movement and contamination of the mold spores in other parts of the house. This is a critical remediation step since one may have to hire commercial mold damage experts if the problem is out of control.

3. Ensure Body Protection. Individuals who conduct mold removal should wear a breathing mask with proper organic vapor filters that are classified as P100. One should also have a protective body suit that has a parka hood, disposable vinyl gloves, and boots. This assists in mitigation the chances of being affected by chemicals and the molds in the home.

4. Use proper Enzyme Treatment. There are various mold-eating enzyme treatments, and an example is Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution (SDS). This chemical can be sprayed using aerosol cans or a cheap fogging machine to fog the whole house. SDS is among the enzyme-based disinfectant cleaners that have been approved by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. It ensures mitigation of fungi, bacteria, and mold damage by preventing their growth.

5. Vacuuming and Air Scrubbing. One should use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) scrubbers after spraying the enzymes. The HEPA machine should be an industrial size to increase efficiency. The negative pressure that is exerted assists in collecting the airborne fungus and mold spores that are on the site. One can hire the commercial mold damage professionals is he or she cannot access a HEPA vacuum.

6. Physically Removal of the Molds. The visible mold growths should also be removed. This can be done by using different equipment such as wire brushes and sanding blocks for timber. Curtains and carpeting can be discarded or washed if the mold damage is not severe.

7. Proper dumping of Moldy Stuff. The infested material should be disposed of in a safe manner during mold removal. They can be carried in a 6 millimeter think garbage disposal bag. One should then clean the outside of the bag with hydrogen peroxide or a suitable detergent to remove any mold deposits. This will enable easy transportation without infecting other areas of the building.

8. Covering Timber Frames. After cleaning wood surfaces, the exposed parts should be painted and remediated with glossy latex enamel paint that has been mixed with a fungicide. The most preferred treatment to eliminate mildew and insects is Tim-Bor, which is an APA registered fungicide. The glossy latex protects penetration of water. Deodorization of the surfaces should also be done to eliminate any smelly odor.

9. Cleaning HVAC Ducts. The growth of molds in homes is often caused by lack of proper aeration. The presence of fungi contaminates heating, air conditioning, and ventilation dust and this leads to smelly odors in homes. Disinfection and deodorization should be done well as a remediation precaution for mold damage.

By following all the above steps for mold removal and remediation, people can have homes that are free of mildew. The growths often make all the areas that they affect to have a bad odor, and therefore, it is necessary to conduct some deodorization procedures.
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