Mold plays a vital role in nature. It can be found in your home and outdoors. When mold grows outdoors, it’s usually not a problem. However, it can be damaging when it grows indoors. The best way for you to control mold is to minimize moisture. Here are some tips and facts about mold that could benefit you.
Things You Should Know About Preventing Mold Growth
Mold can potentially affect your family’s health. Symptoms associated with mold exposure could include respiratory complaints, asthma, and allergic reactions.
It’s difficult to eliminate mold and its spores inside your home. The best way to control mold growth is to prevent or minimize moisture. If you have a mold infestation in your home, you must clean up the mold and address the source of the moisture immediately.
You need to reduce indoor humidity by 30 to 60% before you see a decrease in mold growth. This can be accomplished by adding proper ventilation to bathrooms and laundry rooms and using dehumidifiers or air conditioning. When you cook, clean, or wash dishes, use exhaust fans.
Damp building materials should be cleaned within 48 hours to stop mold from growing. If mold is present on a hard surface, you can use water and detergent to clean it. Completely dry the surface. Absorbent materials, like ceiling tiles, that have mold growth cannot be cleaned. They must be replaced.
Identify and address areas that have a continual moisture problem. Do not install carpet by piping, drinking fountains, or concrete floors that have frequent condensation.
Mold is aggressive. It can grow on almost any surface and in any place. This includes paper, wood, and food. If you have mold growth, contact Pur360 for effective sanitization procedures that can help make your home mold-free.
How Does Mold Affect People’s Health?
Molds create substances that cause allergic reactions and irritants. Touching mold or inhaling mold spores can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Reactions include red eyes, runny nose, hay fever-like symptoms, and skin rashes.
Some people might react to mold immediately, or their reaction might be delayed. If family members in your home are allergic to mold and have asthma, they could have an asthma attack. Most people do not have symptoms outside of irritation or allergic-type symptoms. However, more research is being done on the long-term health effects of mold.
Mold Testing and Sampling
If you can see mold growth, sampling is probably unnecessary. No federal or EPA limits are set for safe or unsafe mold levels in a home. No test can be used to show if a building complies with federal mold standards.
Sampling can be used to determine if the mold remediation process was successful. At Pur360, our team is experienced in mold-sampling protocols. We follow proper methods and can accurately interpret the results. We can use those results to ensure that your home has been properly sanitized and that dangerous mold spores have been removed.
Who Should Do Mold Cleanup in Your Home?
It would help if you considered several factors when determining who will do the mold clean-up in your home. First, consider the size of the mold growth. If it is a small area of mold, smaller than three feet by three feet, you might be able to handle the problem yourself.
However, if water damage is extensive and mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, you should leave the cleanup job to professionals.
You want the contractor you hire to do the cleanup to be experienced in mold remediation. The company should follow EPA guidelines and guidelines from other government organizations.
Do you think that your HVAC system is contaminated with mold? Pur360 professionals can inspect it for you. Don’t run an HVAC system if you believe a mold infestation exists. You could spread mold spores throughout your home.
If the mold growth in your home was caused by contaminated water or a sewage leak, don’t attempt to tackle the cleanup on your own. Let our professionals tackle this issue for you safely and effectively. They are experienced in cleaning and fixing mold issues caused by contaminated water.
Mold Cleaning Tips and Techniques
You can use the following tips to address minor mold growth. Our professional cleaners and remediators use professional techniques, chemicals, and tools to manage mold growth. You should note that mold can permanently stain or damage certain items, and restoring their original appearance may not always be possible.
First, fix any leaks or water problems contributing to the mold. Dry the area thoroughly. Hard substances can be scrubbed with detergent and water. They should be allowed to dry completely. Porous materials, like carpets, will have to be thrown away if they become moldy.
Don’t just paint over or caulk over moldy services. Completely clean the surfaces before painting. If you put paint over mold, the paint will peel away. If mold is growing on an item that’s expensive or has sentimental value, talk to a specialist about how to clean it.
If there is a flood and your home is affected, the indoor air quality of your home may be the last thing on your mind. However, if you do not remove contaminated material and address moisture issues, humidity can lead to mold, leading to long-term health risks. In the aftermath of a flood, contact Pur360 immediately. Our team will take proactive steps to protect your home from mold growth.
What Is the Difference Between Mold and Mildew?
Mildew is a type of mold or fungus. It can be a generic term to discuss mold growth. Mildew typically has a flat appearance. Mold is a name for microscopic fungi that form hyphae. Mold can live on organic matter, including paper, clothing, foods, walls, floors, and ceilings. Mildew is typically seen in areas of high moisture, like on a shower wall or windowsills.
Does Ultraviolet Radiation from UV Lamps Kill Mold?
With the proper design, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation that uses UV radiation can destroy biological pollutants, including viruses and bacteria. It can be effective on some molds, especially those growing on the inside of your HVAC system. However, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation cleaners have limited effectiveness in addressing mold issues in the home. Additionally, dead mold spores can still trigger allergic reactions. So, UVGI cleaners may not be the most effective way to address asthma and allergy symptoms.
Treat Mold With Help From a Trusted Illinois Sanitization Company
At Pur360, we are committed to providing our customers with top-quality sanitization services. We understand that removing mold from the home can feel intrusive. However, our company strives to make the process as convenient as possible for you.
Whether you require clean-up after a flood or you notice odors that indicate mold growth, you can trust that our work will leave your home clean and free of unpleasant smells. We use patented equipment and offer experienced, trained technicians. All of our technicians are fully certified and are ready to help you.
Whether you need mold removal, carpet removal and disposal, drywall removal and repair, painting, attic stain removal, a dehumidifier, or a fan, we’re the team to call. Contact Pur360 today. We look forward to helping you make your home mold-free.
