Did you know that about 70% of homes have mold? Finding mold in your home can be a cause for concern, but knowing how to get rid of black mold properly can take a scary situation and make it manageable.
So, keep reading for five tips on black mold removal.
1. Find All the Mold
If you suspect you have a black mold, also known as toxic mold, the first step is to find all the mold in and around your home. Black mold can be identified by its black, sometimes gray, color, slimy texture, and patches that spread over time. Mold also has a musty scent.
Mold tends to grow in corners or covered areas with a higher moisture content. Some areas to focus on are:
- kitchen areas
- near bathroom tubs, showers, and toilets
- around appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators, and air conditioners
- in cardboard boxes in basements and garages
- near exterior entry doors without overhangs or porches
2. Make a Mix
Grapefruit seed extract or tea tree oil are often considered the most effective agents when it comes to the treatment of mold. These two agents are also non-toxic and can be bought at most stores.
In a spray bottle mix, a teaspoon of either tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract in a cup of water. Spray the affected areas with the mixture so that it’s well-saturated. Allow the mixture to sit at least 5 to 10 minutes to start taking effect.
3. Scrub Carefully
You should never scrape dried mold as it causes the spores to become airborne. This can cause serious negative health effects.
While scrubbing, take extra steps to ensure you aren’t getting the mold on any surrounding areas. Once you’ve finished scrubbing, wipe down the entire area with rags or paper towels.
After all the mold is gone, give the entire area another spray of your mold fighting mixture to help prevent it from coming back.
4. Get Rid of Contaminated Supplies
It is important to properly dispose of all the paper towels, rags, and brushes you used in your cleanup. If you wore protective clothing, you also need to clean them thoroughly or throw them.
Make sure your garbage bag is sealed tightly before taking out your trash.
5. Call an Expert
If all else fails, it might be time to bring in the big guns. A mold inspection expert will be able to give you an unbiased opinion regarding whether you need to hire a remediation service.
An inspection expert will be able to use air sampling, swab sampling, carpet sampling, and even wall cavity sampling to determine if you have a mold problem.
Black Mold Removal Made Easy
Now that you’re armed with the knowledge on black mold removal, you can rest easy that if you ever encounter house mold, you’ll know what to do.
Please feel free to contact us with any mold prevention and removal questions.