Mold is the great con artist of the natural world. You think it’s one thing, then it’s another. What you thought was a harmless stain is actually a billion sets of teeth chomping away at your drywall!
And left unchecked, it can also affect your health. According to the CDC, mold exposure can cause the following symptoms:
- skin and eye irritation
- wheezing
- fever
- fatigue
- nausea
- headache
- Insomnia
People with sensitive immune systems or asthma may also experience bronchitis and allergic reactions to mold.
But we’re here to give you solutions.
So, if you want to know how to locate and remove mold once and for all, stick around for the rest of the article.
How to spot mold
It’s typical to see mold growth as little black spots that grow and spread over time. Almost always in the darkest, wettest parts of your home.
This could be:
- In the grout lines of your bathroom
- Underneath sinks and appliances
- Or even around ducting where air condenses into droplets.
But what if it’s difficult to tell if that stain is actually mold?
How to test for mold on your own
The bleach test: Dip a swab in diluted bleach (1 part bleach, 16 parts water) and dab some on the wall. If the spot lightens and stays that way, it’s not mold. If it grows back, assume it’s mold. Test kits are also available.
The screwdriver test: Certain types of mold cause rot (though mildew lives on surfaces). To test for these types of mold poke the affected area with a screwdriver or other sharp tool. If the wood is soft or crumbles, assume that mold is present.
The smell test: The simple but imprecise way of detecting mold is to simply trust your nose. If an area of the house smells musty (specifically around plumbing, ducting, and where outside drainage meets your house), it’s possible you have a mold problem.
How to remove mold yourself
You can wipe hard surfaces with a commercial cleaning product, soap and water, or a very diluted bleach solution to remove mold. Always dry the surface thoroughly to prevent mold from reappearing.
Check the affected areas regularly after cleaning them. Mold can live inside the material and return if given the right conditions.
Do you need professional mold restoration?
Mold is incredibly tricky and can persist even after you remove the visible manifestations.
So, if you—
- Have ongoing symptoms of mold-related illnesses
- Can still smell mold
- Have located the source but want to be sure it doesn’t progress deeper into your home
—we recommend calling a professional.
Our mold Testing & removal service
Unlike many mold removal companies, Clean Earth Restorations can handle your mold problem from beginning to end, as follows:
- We begin with a free mold inspection where we locate the source of the problem and how far it persists.
- We contain the affected area, remove any airborne mold spores as well as any moldy structural material.
- Our expert restoration team starts rebuilding immediately, taking the affected area back to pre-loss conditions as quickly as possible.
For a free consultation or emergency services, call 619-284-4239. We are here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
{{cta(‘26848588-675c-4b79-bf73-00557eda0a22′,’justifycenter’)}}
Sources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/288651#mold-and-health
https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/how-to-test-for-mold/
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-test-for-mold/