Mold? Here's 7 safety tips.

Mold? Here's 7 safety tips.

Mold grows fast and spreads as spores that disperse in wind and water. Sometimes, mold spores find their way into our homes through windows, doors, and other openings. Human contact with mold can lead to severe respiratory and allergic reactions.

Basement flooding is one of the leading causes of mold development in most homes. With the right tools, a homeowner can take care of minor mold infestations covering up to ten square feet. If the mold infestation is severe and widespread, it is better to engage a mold remediation expert. Mold is particularly harmful to people with a history of asthma and tuberculosis.

Here are seven safety tips to eliminate mold colonies from your home and protect your loved ones.

  1. Cordon off the area

Once you have identified where the mold colonies lie, it's important to close off those areas to prevent other home occupants from entering the area. During the remediation exercise, the mold spore can still migrate to other rooms hence the need to lock windows, doors, and other openings.

  1. Use protective gear

Mold removal is a hazardous affair regardless of the size of the colonized area. Ensure you have protective foot gear, face masks, and gloves before beginning any mold remediation exercise. Safety glasses are recommended for oral protection.

  1. Avoid handling mold directly

Direct contact with mold with bare hands and skin puts you at risk of allergic reactions. Tackling mold removal without a face mask increases the chances of breathing in mold spores. Besides inhaling the spores, you risk being a spreader of mold spores to other sections of your home. Sun-Ray Foundation Repair’ cleaners should take extra care when handling mold infestations, no matter how small.

  1. Avoid dispersing mold spores

Mold removers should be careful when handling mold colonies to avoid dispersing harmful spores. The lightweight nature of mold spores enables them to float effortlessly in the air and spread to nearby rooms. Be extra careful when inspecting behind furniture and wallpapers to avoid launching the spores airborne.

  1. Safe removal of damaged property

If the mold infestation is severe, replacing the affected carpeting, furniture, or wall covering would be better than trying to salvage the items. More importantly, you must also ensure safe disposal methods for cleaning bags containing mold residues. Ensure you seal the bags properly and that there are no holes in them before disposal.

  1. Painting over mold is a bad idea

Coating the affected areas with paint to improve the aesthetics of damaged walls is not ideal for dealing with mold infestations. However, painting not only traps the mold spores but creates a damp and conducive environment for further mold growth.

Before painting on any mold-infested surface, clean the area with warm water and a potent detergent. Use an air vacuum to soak up mold spores. Avoid scraping over affected surfaces.

  1. Turn off your Home's HVAC system

Avoid turning on your home's ventilation systems during mold clean-up exercises. Activating your home's HVAC system promotes the dispersion of spores to nearby surfaces and rooms, thus raising the risk of allergic reactions.

Professional clean up

Mold remediation is a delicate exercise that requires skilled hands and high safety standards. In the United States, it is highly advisable to engage professional mold removers if the mold infestation is severe and covers spaces exceeding ten square feet.

Professional mold removers should have access to specialized tools and knowledge of dealing with different types of mold contaminations. Choose an experienced mold remediation agency that relies on modern methods of mold disposal. Request a free quote for mold cleaning services now!.