When you notice mold in your home, you have a few different options available. You can call experts to handle the situation for you, or you can try to clean it up yourself. Both come with their own advantages, but the majority of homeowners prefer one method. To decide between DIY and professional mold removal, there are a few specific things you need to know.
DIY Mold Removal Methods
DIY mold removal is about killing mold spores and clearing the fungi away from your home. There are many different DIY techniques for mold treatment. While some types of mildew can be killed with bleach, most mold just turns white and then comes back. Instead, the better cleaning product is usually borax. Many types of mold can be killed just by scrubbing the area with a solution of hot water and borax. Other potential mold-killing substances include tea tree oil, baking soda, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide.
DIY mold removal can sound simple, but it’s actually quite tricky. Of course, one of the big challenges is not damaging your home during the cleaning. If the mold is in your drywall, you cannot scrub the drywall clean without harming it. Furthermore, you also have to take some extra steps to avoid spreading the mold during cleaning. It is usually important to dry the area thoroughly, and you’ll need to dispose of the gear you used to clean up the mold.
During DIY mold removal, it is also essential to use a lot of safety precautions. When you clean mold, the fungi become airborne. This can cause safety issues if you inhale it. Therefore, it’s important to wear goggles and a face mask while cleaning the mold. You will also need to wear gloves and clothes that are easy to wash.
Professional Mold Removal Techniques
Meanwhile, professional mold removal tends to be a little more thorough. Professionals have access to specialized equipment and cleaners, so they can even get rid of mold on hard-to-clean surfaces like drywall and insulation. There are a variety of mold abatement techniques that professionals will use. Some types of mold can be vacuumed or killed with UV light whereas other types can be removed with cleaner. In some cases, it might be necessary to remove the surface that the mold is growing on.
Since mold removal professionals can also test and identify your mold type, they can select cleaners guaranteed to remove the mold. Professional mold removal also tends to focus extensively on safety. The technicians use a broad range of safety gear to avoid contamination. Another big difference between DIY and professional mold removal is the ability to measure mold levels around the house. Professionals will do extensive testing to check for the presence of spores and locate mold hidden in spots like crawlspaces.
Does DIY Mold Removal Really Work?
One of the biggest issues with DIY mold removal is that it’s not entirely reliable. It can work very well when you’re dealing with small amounts of harmless mold. However, you need to do a lot of research and be very informed before starting. If you use the wrong cleaner, it’s very easy to just temporarily remove mold without killing it. Since cleaners like bleach lighten mold, you might not even realize that the mold is still there. In some cases, trying to do DIY cleaning can just spread mold spores around, making the entire problem worse.
That being said, not all DIY cleaning is useless. With proper techniques, it is possible to get rid of some types of mold at home. In many cases, this can be more trouble than it is worth, though. DIY mold cleaning is time consuming and risky. Usually, the only reason to go with it is that DIY removal is affordable. In small areas of mold, DIY removal can cost pennies. If there’s barely any mold, dealing with it yourself can be quicker than scheduling a mold removal appointment.
The Benefits of Professional Mold Removal
In most cases, professional mold removal is well worth the costs. First of all, it keeps you from exposing yourself to any safety risks. Since you won’t be in the room while the mold is cleaned up, you don’t have to worry about inhaling any problematic spores. Instead, professionals with high-quality safety equipment will handle everything for you. This makes professional cleaning especially important if you’re dealing with toxic black mold.
Professional mold removal is also far more thorough. Using their state-of-the-art cleaning equipment, professionals can remove mold from spots that you couldn’t scrub with a sponge and soapy water. They can even eradicate mold on surfaces like drywall. You can be confident that the mold is gone instead of worrying that mold spores could be lurking in the cracks. In addition to giving you peace of mind, this thoroughness is also convenient. It ensures you won’t have the mold come back any time soon.
In situations with large amounts of mold, professional mold removal is a major time saver. In any home project, there comes a point where it’s just not feasible to manage it yourself. For example, if you have mold all over several walls, it would take you days to scrub each spot manually. The professional equipment used by mold eradication specialists can finish the job far quicker than you could. Since letting mold linger in a home can cause major breathing problems, it’s important to clean up any mold as soon as possible.
How to Choose Between DIY and Professional
Ultimately, both techniques have their own pros and cons. The right choice will really just depend on your unique situation. DIY mold removal can be a decent option if the mold is in an area less than 10 square feet. However, you should only attempt it if you are able to carefully follow safety recommendations and use the right cleaning solution. When in doubt, it’s better to be safe than sorry. You can save a little money with DIY mold cleaning, but there’s no guarantee that you can stay safe or get rid of the mold for good.
In cases with larger areas of mold growth, professional mold removal is the best option. It helps to fully remove all mold while avoiding safety risks. Professional mold removal is also the right choice if you think the mold might be toxic black mold. Many people also select professional mold remediation if they do not have the time or tools to handle mold themselves. Overall, most homeowners find that getting professional help works better for their situation.
If you’re dealing with mold, don’t wait and let the mold spread. Instead, contact Pur360 to get reliable, effective mold removal as soon as possible. In addition to mold remediation, we also offer a lot of other helpful services like odor removal and sanitization. Our teams operate in a variety of areas, including Pearland, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Tampa, Florida. Give us a call now to find out more about our services.
