Black mold can cause a variety of health problems. From minor allergic reactions such as stuffy nose, sore throat and headaches, to major long-term damage that can impair your memory, damage your nerve endings and cause irreparable damage to your internal organs.
But, you can stop black mold! Here are a few steps you can take to eliminate mold where it lives!
Finding The Mold
So, how do you know if you have a mold problem? Look for high humidity and water damage. Most homes are great places for mold to grow because it thrives in dark, wet, warm places.
By the time you develop and diagnose mold-related symptoms, it may be too late. If you want to stop black mold, you have to go out looking for it. You can find mold in:
Humid parts of the house. This includes kitchens, bathrooms and other places where there is water and humidity. Look for mold in ceiling tiles around your shower, in drains, places around the sink or leftover food.
Hidden places. Mold loves to grow under carpets, in walls, in crawlspaces, in attics and behind things. Keep an eye on those elusive places in your house. Move things and look behind them.
Places where there has been water damage. If there is water damage in your house, you can be sure to find mold there. Leaky pipes, badly maintained gutters, chimneys where there may be chipped brick and any place rain has gotten in are sure to have mold.
Finally, just follow your nose. Most people can sense mold by either their sinuses reacting to it, or by the musty smell it gives off. Take note of the parts of the house that irritate your nose.
Cleaning Up The Mold
For small mold cleanup jobs, good old soap and water is the best. This means a lot of scrubbing, but it will get the job done. You can also buy mold removal products in stores. Bleach is pretty controversial for mold cleanup. The general consensus is that it works on tiles in small doses, but you should be careful because it can cause damage to other materials.
If you have a serious mold job that may require some construction work, you should call a professional. If there is black mold in your insulation, all over your attic or in your drywall, this may be a job you can't handle yourself. It also may be dangerous too. Look in your yellow pages.
Keeping The Mold Out
Remember that mold likes humidity. Keep your house below 60% humidity in all rooms. If you need to, buy a dehumidifier. Always keep an eye out for the humid parts of the house like the bathroom and kitchen. Be on the lookout, and when you see mold, get rid of it immediately.
Proper ventilation is also key. Install fans in those humid parts of the house. Make sure you get enough outside air. Sunlight also helps stop mold.
If any part of the house gets wet, or wet things are brought into the house, dry them completely as soon as possible. This is a great opportunity for mold.
Mold is everywhere and we all have our little encounters with it. But, if you keep these tips in mind, you can stop black mold!
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