Mold FAQ: Winning The War On Mold And Mildew

* Does bleach kill mold?

Yes, bleach kills mold. It is an effective chemical for killing all kinds of molds. Bleach is an acid, and acids are effective killers of microorganisms. However, take care in handling bleach, as acids are known to be as hard on your skin as on the molds.

Most bleach contains chlorine, a chemical that is used commercially to kill microorganisms in public water supplies and swimming pools. Chlorine is also known to be a good choice for killing molds and disinfecting your home.

Just be sure that the bleach you buy does contain chlorine, because there are several non-chlorine bleaches on the market. There are also levels of acidity for chlorine. Strong chlorine is best for killing molds.


* Can I clean and restore all the items in my home that have been affected by mold?

Yes. Things that have been affected by molds can be cleaned and restored in many ways. The easiest way is simply with detergent soaps, but detergent will only clean things that have been mildly affected by mold.

Another way to clean up mold is to use any of the chemical products available commercially. Most of these chemicals not only clean but it disinfect and kill molds or fungi. When the molds have been killed, restoring items becomes much easier.


* What should I do if I?ve cleaned the mold but it keeps coming back?

The best thing to do when molds keep coming back is to prevent its growth. This can be done by acting quickly on water leaks that will cause dampness and encourage mold growth.

Try to reduce humidity. Reducing humidity means reducing the growth of molds. Using air conditioners or dehumidifiers is one effective way of reducing humidity.

Prevention of condensation is another way of keeping molds from coming back. You can prevent condensation by reducing humidity. Increasing ventilation is another way.

Keeping your home dry will ensure your home is mold-free.

If you've significantly reduced the humidity and condensation in your home and the mold is still growing, you've most likely got a problem area in your home that you may not be aware of. Perhaps you have previous water damage that was not cleaned properly, or you may have a leaky pipe. When all is said and done, you may need to call in a mold remediation specialist.


* How do I know when the mold cleanup is complete?

The simple answer is that you'll know the mold cleanup is complete when there is no visible mold remaining. There should also be no dust or dirt remaining that could contain large amounts of mold and mold spores.

Once this has been accomplished, testing for mold is really not necessary. Leaving a few mold spores behind is not a problem if the moisture problem that caused the mold in the first place has been corrected. Keep in mind that mold spores are virtually everywhere. Even if every mold spore is removed during the cleanup, spores from outside will re-enter the house or building. However, the mold spores will not be able to grow unless moisture is present.

Maye Teasdale is editor of Mold Tip, the online guide to Mold. She also writes Mold FAQ's for PrettyGreatAnswers.com.

Preventing Basement and Crawlspaces Mold

Mold is a very common basement and crawlspaces problem as it presents a real challenge in controlling air quality. Basements and crawlspaces are is usually damp and in many cases use as a storage area, providing optimal growth conditions to molds. There are two important aspects to basements and crawlspaces mold prevention:

1. Controlling Humidity Levels

The first step to mold prevention is to successfully control humidity levels. Start with measuring humidity levels and detecting any unusual readings. Take measurements every 3 months to keep track of any changes that may occur when the weather changes. If humidity levels readings are higher than 45 percent, your basement is likely to suffer from mold and you must take action to detects and fix any moisture sources to lower humidity levels. Regularly inspect your basement for any water damages that generate visible or hidden moisture sources. Act fast to fix problems such as leaks or standing water. Another way to control humidity is to allow air circulation. Although it may be hard to generate air flow in the basement or crawlspace it is important. You can improve air flow by keeping you basement tidy and opening the basement door from time to time and leave a fan running for a few hours. Consider installing a dehumidifier in the basement to reduce air moisture especially during warm months. If you detect any cracks in walls or floor, seal them immediately.

2. Smart Storage

If you organize your basement and crawlspaces you take another important step towards mold elimination. Try to avoid storing papers, clothes, in the basement and crawlspaces because these materials can be used as nutrition for molds allowing it to spread even faster if humidity levels rise above 50 percent. If you must store these materials in your basement or crawlspace, do your best to reduce the amount of these stored materials and discard if badly damaged. In addition, if you must store these materials in the basement or crawlspace, make sure to place them properly. Proper placement means that you need to store them away from outer walls, since that is where moisture is most likely to originate. For the same reason, raise these stored materials from the floor and place them on a table or a raised surface. Never store firewood in the basement or crawlspace because it is common for firewood to become likely to become moldy within hours from the minute humidity levels raise. When firewood becomes moldy, it generates airborne mold spores that may contaminate your indoors air quality and in some cases penetrate the HVAC system and contaminate your home by traveling through your ducts.

For more information visit http://restorationsos.com Free guides are available

Jonathan Meyer is an editorial staff member for http://www.restorationsos.com, a leading restoration services provider for water and fire damages. To learn more about water and fire damage restoration, visit http://www.restorationsos.com or call 1-877-SOS-2407

Basement Mold - The Most Common Place In The Home

Basement mold is the most common mold that you will encounter in your home. This is because the basement is underground and is usually not developed as the rest of the house, and so is the perfect breeding ground for basement mold. It is often a storage area where there is little heat and it is also where moisture can build up from condensation on the pipes or even a leak. The mold can actually build up quite a bit in the basement if you do not keep a close watch on the conditions, such as excess moisture and damp conditions which are the prime breeding areas for basement mold.

Once mold spores settle in your basement, they will keep growing. Mold in basements can be found on wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, cement, sheet rock and insulation. There is no realistic way to get rid of all the basement mold that you have because mold spores are everywhere. Once you do find mold in the basement, though, you have to look at methods of basement mold removal.

You have to be careful when you are removing basement mold because once you disturb the mold spores you spread them around. Cleaning up one area could spread the mold to another part of the basement. You also have to be careful when you handle moldy materials to make sure you don't breathe in the mold that is in your basement when you are going through the process of basement mold removal. When you set about this task, you should wear a paper facemask and gloves so that you don't breathe in or come in direct contact with the mold.

Basement mold is one of the leading causes of allergies in homes as well as toxic mold syndrome. Not all molds are toxic, but you won't know if the mold in basement is toxic or not until you get it tested. This is why basement mold removal is so important. Mold allergies often disguise themselves as sunus problems or flu-like symptoms and they can aggravate asthma.

When you realize that you have basement mold, the first thing you need to do is search for the cause of the mold. If you find leaks or excess moisture, you have to make the repairs to prevent the moisture from re-occurring and the mold from coming back. Then you have to take measures of basement mold removal. There are many excellent sprays and cleaners on the market that do an effective job of mold removal. You do have to make sure that you completely dry the area after you clean to prevent the basement mold from growing back.

To find out more about Mold removal visit Peter's Website <a target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.the-mold-removal-guide.com/">The Mold Removal Guide and find out about <a target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.the-mold-removal-guide.com/mold-removal-products.html">Mold Removal Products and more, including Mold allergies and toxic Mold.