#1 - Moisture is the key.
Mold spores are naturally occurring organisms and are actually beneficial in order to decompose things like dead trees and plants.
Mold spores feed on any organic material, but do not grow or reproduce unless there is plenty of moisture.
If you can contain the moisture problem in your house, then you can control the mold challenge.
Find out the moisture problem associated with the growth of mold in your home, and then fix it.
#2 - Clean up the mold AND fix the moisture problem.
The only one-two punch that knocks out your mold dilemma is cleaning the mold, then fixing the moisture problem.
If you clean the mold, but leave the moisture problem unfixed, the mold will most likely come back.
#3 - If the mold growth is 10 square feet or less (approx.
3ft x 3ft), you can generally do it yourself; otherwise you should consider calling a professional.
Allowing a mold problem to go unchecked is not only a risk to your health, but can be very damaging to your property.
If a mold growth reaches over 10 square feet, the exposure may be too risky to do it yourself.
Furthermore, even if the growth is under 10 square feet, you may want to call a professional if the material on which it is growing is porous, and therefore may need to be removed.
#4 - You should wear a proper air mask, goggles, and gloves when cleaning in order to reduce exposure to mold spores.
The U.
S.
Environmental Protection Agency recommends using an N-95 face mask or equivalent.
Manufacturers manufacture different types of these masks, but the most basic look like a standard dust mask with a characteristic square filter on the front.
Gloves should be made of material such as latex or nitrile, and should reach the middle of your forearm in order to mitigate exposure to mold spores.
Safety glasses, preferably without vents, should be used in order to protect against spores from landing in your eyes.
#5 - If something indoors gets wet, the typical timeframe to dry is 24-48 hours, then mold begins to grow.
This emphasizes the importance of controlling moisture in your home.
Mold does not grow or reproduce unless it has a damp environment in which to settle.
After 48 hours, a wet indoor area produces the perfect conditions for mold to start growing.
#6 - Indoor humidity should be kept below 60%, preferably 40% or lower.
If a surface becomes wet, the only saving grace, other than cleaning it up, is low humidity.
There are relatively inexpensive humidity meters that can be purchased at hardware stores, so you can find out what the humidity level is in your home.
You can control the humidity in your house by using the air conditioner, or a dehumidifier.
#7 - Since dead mold can also cause health issues, it must be killed and removed.
Killing mold with a detergent or bleach is only half the battle.
People can be sensitive to mold spores, dead or alive.
It is necessary to remove the spores.
If the mold has been growing in a porous surface, it is likely best to remove the entire section of the affected area.
After cleaning a hard non porous surface, promptly clean the brush or any towels used to dry up the area.
Use disposable equipment when possible.
#8 - All molds can cause health problems.
Some are more serious than others, depending on the type of mold and the sensitivity of the person.
There are thousands of different mold species, and few of them are toxic to humans.
The bottom line is to act quickly and protect yourself from exposure when handling mold.
Using good judgment, such as tip #3 above, and knowing when to call a professional is essential to keep you and your family safe.
#9 - Painting or caulking over mold will not fix the problem.
Ah, the ever-primal tendency to just sweep it under the rug.
Out of sight, out of mind, right? Sorry.
Painting over mold will like cause the paint to peel, exposing the insidious mold once again.
Mold will also find its way out from behind the caulking as well.
The best defense is a good offense.
Don't try to cover it up, meet it head on.
#10 - Bleach may be used for cleanup, but is not recommended by the EPA.
Instead, scrub mold with a detergent and water, and let the surface dry.
Bleach is a potent substance that kills pretty much anything that comes in contact with it, including mold.
Using it frequently, however, is not recommended by the EPA.
If the detergent you use is not doing the trick, you can try the bleach.
Never mix bleach with an ammonia product, it will cause a chemical reaction that lets off toxic fumes.
Mold spores are naturally occurring organisms and are actually beneficial in order to decompose things like dead trees and plants.
Mold spores feed on any organic material, but do not grow or reproduce unless there is plenty of moisture.
If you can contain the moisture problem in your house, then you can control the mold challenge.
Find out the moisture problem associated with the growth of mold in your home, and then fix it.
#2 - Clean up the mold AND fix the moisture problem.
The only one-two punch that knocks out your mold dilemma is cleaning the mold, then fixing the moisture problem.
If you clean the mold, but leave the moisture problem unfixed, the mold will most likely come back.
#3 - If the mold growth is 10 square feet or less (approx.
3ft x 3ft), you can generally do it yourself; otherwise you should consider calling a professional.
Allowing a mold problem to go unchecked is not only a risk to your health, but can be very damaging to your property.
If a mold growth reaches over 10 square feet, the exposure may be too risky to do it yourself.
Furthermore, even if the growth is under 10 square feet, you may want to call a professional if the material on which it is growing is porous, and therefore may need to be removed.
#4 - You should wear a proper air mask, goggles, and gloves when cleaning in order to reduce exposure to mold spores.
The U.
S.
Environmental Protection Agency recommends using an N-95 face mask or equivalent.
Manufacturers manufacture different types of these masks, but the most basic look like a standard dust mask with a characteristic square filter on the front.
Gloves should be made of material such as latex or nitrile, and should reach the middle of your forearm in order to mitigate exposure to mold spores.
Safety glasses, preferably without vents, should be used in order to protect against spores from landing in your eyes.
#5 - If something indoors gets wet, the typical timeframe to dry is 24-48 hours, then mold begins to grow.
This emphasizes the importance of controlling moisture in your home.
Mold does not grow or reproduce unless it has a damp environment in which to settle.
After 48 hours, a wet indoor area produces the perfect conditions for mold to start growing.
#6 - Indoor humidity should be kept below 60%, preferably 40% or lower.
If a surface becomes wet, the only saving grace, other than cleaning it up, is low humidity.
There are relatively inexpensive humidity meters that can be purchased at hardware stores, so you can find out what the humidity level is in your home.
You can control the humidity in your house by using the air conditioner, or a dehumidifier.
#7 - Since dead mold can also cause health issues, it must be killed and removed.
Killing mold with a detergent or bleach is only half the battle.
People can be sensitive to mold spores, dead or alive.
It is necessary to remove the spores.
If the mold has been growing in a porous surface, it is likely best to remove the entire section of the affected area.
After cleaning a hard non porous surface, promptly clean the brush or any towels used to dry up the area.
Use disposable equipment when possible.
#8 - All molds can cause health problems.
Some are more serious than others, depending on the type of mold and the sensitivity of the person.
There are thousands of different mold species, and few of them are toxic to humans.
The bottom line is to act quickly and protect yourself from exposure when handling mold.
Using good judgment, such as tip #3 above, and knowing when to call a professional is essential to keep you and your family safe.
#9 - Painting or caulking over mold will not fix the problem.
Ah, the ever-primal tendency to just sweep it under the rug.
Out of sight, out of mind, right? Sorry.
Painting over mold will like cause the paint to peel, exposing the insidious mold once again.
Mold will also find its way out from behind the caulking as well.
The best defense is a good offense.
Don't try to cover it up, meet it head on.
#10 - Bleach may be used for cleanup, but is not recommended by the EPA.
Instead, scrub mold with a detergent and water, and let the surface dry.
Bleach is a potent substance that kills pretty much anything that comes in contact with it, including mold.
Using it frequently, however, is not recommended by the EPA.
If the detergent you use is not doing the trick, you can try the bleach.
Never mix bleach with an ammonia product, it will cause a chemical reaction that lets off toxic fumes.