Don't Let Mold Move In

8/3/2018 (Permalink)

Don't Let Mold Move In

Like mushrooms, molds are members of the fungi kingdom. They and the tiny spores they generate to reproduce need only water and something living or once living—like old wood—to eat. They thrive outdoors, hitchhiking into your home in dust and dirt on your clothes and shoes, on air currents, and in water that enters through cracks in walls and foundations. Once inside, they proliferate anywhere moisture exists. 

In hot, humid months, more mold spores than usual surf the breeze. Check Web sites and newspapers for the daily mold count. On days when the count is high, close your windows (to keep spores out) and run an air conditioner (which dehumidifies). No AC? It's not ideal, but open your windows to keep indoor humidity down and prevent spores already inside from multiplying. No matter what the weather, the real key to avoiding mold problems is to keep things dry. What you should do:

Vent. Turn on an exhaust fan or open a nearby window while showering, bathing, running the dishwasher, or cooking, since all these activities produce water vapor. Make sure clothes dryers and all gas appliances are vented to the outside.

Monitor moisture. Use a hygrometer (about $20 at hardware and home stores) to check the indoor humidity level. If it exceeds 55 percent—most likely in summer—lower it by running an air conditioner or dehumidifier. In cold weather, indoor humidity should stay around 30 percent.

Fix leaks and dry waterlogged areas. If the pipes burst, the roof springs a leak, or a new crack in the foundation ushers water in, fix the problem ASAP. If you find a leak, dry the area pronto. "Within 24 hours, most molds are growing," says Berlin Nelson, PhD, an expert on plant pathology at North Dakota State University. Rent a wet-vac to dry floors. Use a space heater and fans to dry wallboard and ceiling tiles. Call SERVPRO if you can't quickly manage solo.

Declare War on Spores. Though molds are often a dark color (black or brown), they may be green, yellow, or even an incongruously delicate pink. They usually spread out in a circular pattern. Don't worry about finding out what type you're dealing with, says Redd. Just clean it up. If you have asthma or are allergic to mold, get someone else to do the cleanup.

Scrub the small stuff. You can easily and safely tackle swatches of about 1 square foot on tiles, walls, windowsills, and other hard surfaces even if toxic mold has gained a foothold there, says Portnoy. To be extra safe, put on a pair of goggles, an N-95 respirator (about $5 from hardware and home stores), and rubber gloves. Then scrub with a brush and a dilute bleach solution.

Know when you need a pro. If mold covers more than a square foot, get professional help. Call SERVPRO of Marine City/Romeo at (586) 336-7373. If you can smell it but can't see mold—that means it's probably behind a wall or wallpaper. 

Replace porous moldy things. It's nearly impossible to remove mold from the tiny pores in wallpaper, ceiling tiles, carpeting, and dry-clean-only upholstery.

Vacuum. After cleaning up mold, go over all surfaces with a vacuum that won't disperse it into the air, such as a central vac or one equipped with a HEPA filter.

Find a Reputable Pro. Call SERVPRO of Marine City/Romeo at (586) 336-7373. 

Ref. By: Barbara Loecher