Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Off Mold

Owning a home gives you the luxury of having private space, but the peace and tranquility in your house usually don’t last long since harmful elements can potentially invade it. These harmful elements are toxic and can include viruses, bacteria, and mold—all of which can cause sickness at home.

As opposed to other harmful elements, mold is one of the harsher elements to kill. In some cases, you can’t even spot them until there’s a fair bit of growth. The only thing that can tell you that there's mold in your home is if there’s a pungent odor. Additionally, you can also keep an eye on areas with moisture because those are where mold growth happens.

Mold can’t be easily cleaned off, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. However, it’s essential to avoid making mistakes when cleaning the mold. Read on below to learn more.

Thinking That All of the Mold Is Visible

If you see mold growth in a specific part of your home, you’ll probably think it’s the only area affected. This is very far away from the truth because mold spores spread rapidly. Aside from that, mold thrives in dark places, so chances are there’s also mold on your walls and your tiles.

You may have thought of ways to eradicate the mold, but it’s recommended to consult with a cleaning company. If you fail to remove the mold, it will continue spreading throughout your home, affecting your health.

Using Bleach to Kill the Mold

Bleach can kill mold, but not all types of mold. It’s not recommended to use bleach on certain surfaces because it can cause discoloration and corrosion. To ensure that the job is getting done, use an antimicrobial cleaner instead of bleach.

Painting over Mold

Chances are you’ve seen “mold-resistant” paint at your local hardware store. Yes, some paints are mold-resistant, but that doesn’t mean you should paint them over surfaces with mold. If you do, it can cause more significant problems later on. You should only apply mold-resistant paint once mold has been eradicated to prevent future growth.

Repairing Items That Needs to Be Thrown Away

There’s nothing wrong with attempting to repair older items. The problem lies in trying to fix things that are damaged and affected by mold.

Mold can potentially destroy household items such as carpets, upholstery, drywall, and wood. All of these items need to be disposed of properly if they’re affected by mold. However, you can also consult with mold remediation professionals because they might have a way to restore them.

Spreading Mold to Other Parts of the House

You can easily send mold spores flying throughout the air by scrubbing moldy areas or ripping up carpets with mold growth for disposal. If the mold spore lands on a different area of the house, then you’re looking at another mold growth that you’ll need to take care of later on.

To prevent this from happening, seal off the affected area. Mold removal specialists make use of temporary containment systems to help in this regard.

Exposing Yourself to Harmful Mold

Any mold exposure can cause allergic reactions to people with allergies. Conversely, non-allergic people can experience other symptoms, such as irritation in the eye, nose, skin, throat, and lung if ever they touch or inhale mold.

To protect yourself from mold exposure, be sure to wear proper protective clothing, such as gloves, safety glasses, and N95 masks.

Conclusion

Mold removal is a tough job, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not doable. Make sure to avoid the mistakes mentioned above so that you can remove mold growth in your home. Additionally, prepare the necessary protective measures to avoid dealing with another mold growth later on.

Advanced Basement Waterproofing takes pride in providing top-quality mold removal services in Western Massachusetts and Hartford County CT. Your home is your safe space, which is why it should be safe from harmful elements that can cause you and your loved ones to get sick. Book an appointment today!