How to Address a Mold Problem in Your Home

You've bought a loaf of sliced bread, used a few slices for your morning breakfast, and then showed the rest in a drawer. A few days later, if you perhaps failed to seal it or if it was aged to begin with, the whole loaf has green rhizopus stolonifer growing all over it. Bread mold.

Mold on your Wonderbread is one thing. Unless your house is made of yeast, then bread mold can be addressed by simply tossing the loaf out. Mold in your house is another problem.

Mold in, or rather on your home, can be a difficult remedy, depending on how long the mold has been left untreated. In general, molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing, which could then lead to health problems, especially for those who may have a pre-disposed allergy to mold and mold spores.

It's impossible to rid your home of all mold and mold spores. They float through the air and are attached to common house dust. In that form however, they are harmless. But if you have an older home, or one that has recently suffered from some type of water damage, then the possibility increases of a having a mold somewhere in your walls, floorboards or basement.

Moisture is key to mold. It is the catalyst that produces mold growth and feeds its existence. If you have a mold problem, just addressing the mold and not the moisture will certainly lead to a recurrence of the problem.

Before you trek into your basement with that gallon of bleach, give consideration to the size of the mold problem. If it is relatively small, then it can be a do-it-yourself project. If there has been a lot of water damage and mold growth is taking over large sections of your home, a contractor or professional cleaner should be called. This would especially be the case if your mold is in your heating, venting or air conditioner systems.

Mold must be scrubbed off of hard surfaces with water and a detergent of some sort. The use of bleach is NOT a cure-all, and is not recommended. In addition to bleach being a toxic solution in of itself, a background level of mold spores may still remain. And dead spores still can cause an allergic reaction in some people; mold must be removed, not just killed.

Bleach will also damage and mar surfaces, so it may be impractical to use it in your home. Should you choose to use it, be sure never to mix it with an ammonia-based cleaner. The toxic fumes produced as a result are potentially deadly! Remember too, gloves and a mask are always recommended for any mold cleanup job.

Absorbent materials or porous surfaces, like ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away entirely if they become moldy. Don't waste your time trying to salvage. Mold can grow on or within the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely.

How can you prevent a mold problem from even appearing in your home?

Clean up your water spills quickly. After a few days, damp, dark areas will start to turn moldy. Regularly check any air conditioner units to make sure moisture is being cleared away properly. Keep your indoor humidity level low, ideally around 30 to 50 percent. If your home isn't already at this (you can measure it with an inexpensive meter available at any hardware store) then purchase a unit to regulate it. Keep the bathroom fan running for a bit after showers, not just during them. Keep air moving in your home by increasing ventilation, and keep your home well insulated and heated.

Keeping these tips in mind will assure your home doesn't start to resemble that week old loaf of green bread!