Inside your home you can control mold growth by:

• Keeping humidity levels between 40% and 60%;

• Promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows, and pipes;

• Thoroughly cleaning and drying after flooding;

• Ventilating shower, laundry, and cooking areas.

If mold is growing in your home, it must be promptly cleaned and the source removed, i.e., fixing a moisture problem. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.

Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors, and can smell musty. If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home.  No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk. Also, good sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth.

If you choose to use bleach to clean up mold:

• Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce dangerous, toxic fumes.

• Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.

• Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.

• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product.

Prior to attempting to remediate mold yourself, give us a call.  If it is a job you can do yourself, we will honestly tell you that, and if not, we will tell you that too. You will receive accurate and helpful information, whether we are lucky enough to earn your business or not.  We believe that we can make a difference that you will remember.