Tips and Techniques for Removing Mold From Your Home

Black mold can be a serious health concern in public buildings. Most public buildings have maintenance personnel to watch for the appearance of molds and mildews, but sometimes it is in hard to see areas like ductwork and high up on ceilings or in poorly lit areas like basements or crawl spaces. For those who find mold in a public building, it is essential to contract a professional service that has experience in black mold removal.

Why Engage in Removal

Black mold can pose a serious health risk for people who are exposed to it. The mold is a fungus that will release spores into the air supply that can be inhaled. This can cause a number of respiratory problems. The mold can attach itself to the lungs causing medical conditions like pneumonia or asthma. Some individuals are very allergic to forms of mold and if exposed can go into anaphylactic shock as a result. This can lead to death in highly allergic individuals. It becomes paramount for public buildings to be proactive in inspecting for, and removing, mold. Some situations may require the services of a professional mold removal company. In many instances the mold will be noticed prior to becoming widespread and can be removed by janitorial or maintenance personnel.

Mold Cleaners

There are a number of different mold cleaners available to the public. Most of these can be found in hardware stores or big box building supply stores. Many janitorial services have access to chemical suppliers that will be able to provide them with the proper cleaning materials to aid them in their black mold removal endeavors. It is essential to make sure that you have obtained the proper cleaner and then to use it in the prescribed manner. As with all chemicals stored in a public building, you should be sure to have an MSDS sheet (Materials Safety Data Sheet) on hand that includes the cleaner you have chosen. For those that might want to use only organic cleaners, there are a number of these available. For many public buildings, organic mold cleaners are ideal. Harsh chemicals can emit strong odors that can cause discomfort to guests in the building. In some cases, the chemicals used can be so strong that the building must not be occupied while the cleaners are being used. The ability to remove black mold from a public building during normal operational hours puts organic cleaners high on the list.

Clean It or Junk It

In some cases, the material that the black mold has grown on cannot be effectively cleaned. In this case, the only option is to remove the material and replace it. This is most common after flooding has taken place and the mold has been able to grow unimpeded for some time. The only way to ensure that the mold has been completely removed in these cases is to remove all of the affected material and replace it with new. After the replacement, it is wise to use some of the cleaners as an added safety precaution to help inhibit the mold from growing again.