Finding mold in your attic or basement can be unbelievably frustrating. Many assume that they can take care of their own mold problems without hiring a professional. This is usually not the case. Check out these tips on what not to do in the event of a mold infestation.
1. Do not assume that drying out the mold will kill it
Drying out the mold actually does not kill the mold. It only causes the mold to go into a dormant state. This can certainly be helpful in containing your infection until a mold remediation company arrives, but it will not contain the infection to such a degree that the mold actually dies.
2. Do not try to use bleach to kill the mold
There is a common belief that, if your home has a mold problem, all you have do to is douse the infected area in bleach and the problem will be resolved. This is far from the case, and it’s also dangerous. Bleach actually only gets rid of the stains that mold leaves behind, rather than the mold itself. This is dangerous because it can trick families into thinking that they’ve rid themselves of an infection — only to contract some pretty serious symptoms. Don’t use bleach to kill mold. It’s just not effective.
3. Do not assume that your home is “too new” to have a mold colonization
Any home with high humidity or that has recently been exposed to water is at risk for a mold infestation. Any home. This includes brand new homes as well as old ones. Don’t assume you’re safe just because your home was built in 2014.
4. Do not use a fan in infected areas
While it may seem like a fan can help dry the mold out, the costs outweigh the benefits in this situation. If you have a fan near mold-infected areas, the mold spores in the air can easily spread to other areas of your home, making the infection much, much worse.
5. Do not touch the mold
This should go without saying, but any investigation that you want to do regarding your household mold can be done at a distance. Avoid getting close to the mold, and especially avoid touching it.
6. Do not clean mold with a vacuum
This tip goes hand in hand with the one about fans. Mold spores are so small that they won’t be sucked only into the vacuum bag — they’ll be spread even further. Using a vacuum can make your mold problem much worse.
7. Do not let family or pets reside in infected areas
Pets can get sick from mold just like people can, and it’s essential that we keep our families and our furry friends safe. If there’s mold in a room, do your best to seal it off and do not allow anyone in the room until the problem has been taken care of.
8. Do not ignore the symptoms of mold exposure
The symptoms of mold exposure range from mild to serious, but even the mild ones can become serious incredibly quickly. If you or someone in your household has the symptoms of mold exposure, get them to a doctor at your earliest convenience and call us about mold remediation.
9. Do not assume that your home doesn’t have a mold problem if there is no visible mold
Often times, mold is not visible to the naked eye. It can colonize anywhere in your home, including the spaces in between walls and under the floorboards. Just because you cannot see any mold with the naked eye doesn’t mean it’s not there, and it can still pose incredible health risks to you and your family.
10. If you think your home may have a mold problem, do not procrastinate
Mold infestations are incredibly serious, and they need to be taken care of right away. Toxic mold poses a huge health risk to your family, and even molds that are not toxic can produce serious allergy symptoms. Don’t wait to get a mold inspection and subsequent removal.
If there is one takeaway from these ten things not to do in the event of a mold infestation, it is that you need to be incredibly careful. There is no way to remove the mold without professional help — we’ve invested in sophisticated technology and IICRC certified workers to make sure that your home stays mold-free in the long run. Be safe. Call us.
