Mold removal techniques have evolved considerably in the past few decades, as has our understanding of how mold can affect the health and wellness of people exposed to it in their homes or businesses.
Let’s take a walk through some of the most common mold myths we hear.
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Mold only exists in warm, damp places.
Just because mold thrives best in warm, humid places doesn’t mean the buck stops there. Mold spores can survive harsh environmental conditions, including extreme dryness. So it’s no surprise then that mold can survive pretty well during a Cleveland cool, damp winter or hot, humid summer.
The good news is, you can control mold growth by controlling humidity levels in your home, like running the air conditioning on a humid, hot July day. Also, if you see a roof, window, or pipe leak, get it fixed quickly. Should you experience a flood in your home, be sure the affected area is dried quickly and completely, and disinfected. Plus, be sure shower, laundry, and cooking areas are well ventilated.
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All mold will make you sick.
John Hopkins University’s School of Medicine did a study with some allergists to bust myths about mold. They concluded not all mold is toxic. Only certain mold spores produce toxins, and even then will only produce toxic spores under certain circumstances.
Now, just because you aren’t sick doesn’t mean mold doesn’t exist. Mold can be lingering in places you might not expect. If that is a concern in your home, consider having mold testing done in your home. That will give you an idea of what might be lurking in those hidden places, and help you and a professional create a plan of action if needed.
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Mold stains cannot be removed.
We’ve all seen images of black mold on basement walls or on wood beams in attics, or the like. The good news is, once an area affected by mold is properly treated with an effective antimicrobial, ensuring mold growth in that area won’t likely happen again, there are products that can be used to remove that black stain as well. This can be another step in the remediation process where the goal is to return a property to its pre-loss condition.
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Bleach can affectively remove mold
In days gone by, when someone saw mold, they would grab some bleach and try to scrub or spray it away. Unfortunately, this is not an effective technique for mold removal. That term, “removal”, is key during this conversation. Simply bleaching away the appearance of mold is not going to solve the problem. While bleach may kill mold on a hard, non-porous surface, even a concrete wall has places the mold can penetrate deeper into the surface. Mold remediation requires a cleaner that has the ability to reach deep into a surface to remove all the mold spores for good. Trying to use bleach to “kill” mold yourself could end up with the problem coming back time and time again.
Now that we’ve busted some myths, rest assured W.E.T. is full of highly qualified, well-trained mold remediation technicians who will stomp out your mold problem and leave you worry-free.
