| Mold is a dangerous and common household | | | | - fire sprinklers have been in use |
| substance. It can cause serious health problems and | | | | - plumbing leaks shower or bath water is constantly |
| even death in sensitive victims. It's dangerous to the | | | | spilled |
| structure of your home, as well. It can cause serious | | | | - sink overflow or sewer backup |
| damage similar to that of a termite infestation. | | | | - humidifiers on constantly or too high |
| What's more, there is really no way to ever get rid | | | | If you've found mold in your home you need to do |
| of all mold types in any indoor environment. | | | | two things - clean up the mold and fix the moisture |
| However, limiting the moisture in the environment can | | | | problem. Doing the former without the latter will do |
| control its growth. | | | | no good at all. The mold will come back. Check all the |
| Controlling mold, therefore, needs to be on every | | | | above. Which affected your building? Is the problem |
| homeowner and parent's radar. The first step is | | | | completely fixed and cleaned up? You'll need to do |
| understanding the nature and appearance of mold. | | | | that in conjunction with cleaning up the mold you've |
| Mold is a fungus, which is a living organism. Its | | | | found. |
| function in nature is to break down dead tissues. This | | | | Cleaning up your mold can be done yourself, but a |
| is an essential role and even if we could, we would | | | | professional is recommended. For a small section, say |
| not want to stop mold from doing what nature | | | | 9 or 10 square feet or less, the homeowner can |
| assigned it to do. We need that breakdown. | | | | usually clean it up himself. Determine that it is, indeed |
| Mold reproduces in moist areas. It created | | | | mold. Spray a bit of hydrogen peroxide on the |
| microscopic spores, which then find a wet or moist | | | | suspected mold area and watch the reaction. If it |
| area to start growing. Unchecked, this growth will | | | | starts to foam up, it's mold. Go to your local |
| spread to neighboring habitable materials. Altogether, | | | | hardware store and find a product approved by the |
| mold spores need moisture, air and food. The food is | | | | EPA to kill mold. Some will recommend plain water |
| any kind of dead organic material. It grows on rotting | | | | and detergent, but this is advisable only for very |
| wood, grass, compost piles, in bathrooms and damp | | | | small areas. |
| basements, in carpeting, in the wood inside your walls | | | | If your moldy area is bigger than 9 or 10 square |
| and any other place meeting its requirements. | | | | feet, or even if not, it's wise to seek a professional |
| Although the mold spores are originally invisible to the | | | | to clean it away. There's always the possibility that |
| human eye, once the mold starts growing, it usually | | | | you could make the mold spread. Spores could get |
| becomes visible. It's easy to spot, if you know what | | | | into your heating/ventilation ducts and spread |
| you're looking for. You'll see a discoloration or a bunch | | | | throughout the dwelling. |
| of spots. It can be black, green, grey, brown, or | | | | Even professionals, however, have no standards to |
| other colors in nature. Some mold is invisible. These | | | | work by. This industry is unregulated. There are no |
| are the hard ones. Mold may not even be recognized | | | | standards by which they can prove to you that they |
| until structural damage has occurred or health | | | | did the job and that the mold is gone. In fact, only |
| problems have been noticed. | | | | 70 to 80 percent of all professional mold removal |
| Therefore, don't depend on your visual inspections | | | | jobs are done correctly. So, be smart, get |
| alone. Use your nose, too! A musty smell in your | | | | references. Search the Internet and get as educated |
| building is a common sign of mold. Since many types | | | | as you can about the type of mold you've spotted |
| are invisible, you'll want to get a professional | | | | or suspect and about mold removal procedures |
| inspection periodically if your building is in a moist area. | | | | before you talk to professional. That way you'll have |
| These conditions are common when: | | | | a base of knowledge from which to choose the right |
| - there's been a recent flood | | | | people to clean your mold. |
| - you have a leaky roof or basement | | | | |