You go away for a vacation and return to find your bathroom covered in mold. Or if you live in the Middle East or Asia, it’s a common occurrence during wet winters or monsoon. It is an unpleasant sight that comes with a musty smell. It is mold, and it happens to the best of us. Sometimes the mold you see only requires a simple clean-up over a couple of days. Other times, what you see is more than you thought. Now the clean-up project becomes more than you can handle, mold remediation is needed.
Mold is not something to ignore. Mold produces spores which spread into the air. These spores, when breathed in, can produce allergic reactions (sneezing, running nose, plugged up), respiratory problems (hard to breathe, coughing) and neurological symptoms (headaches, dizziness). This is especially true if you already have an underlying medical condition like asthma. So no matter how much mold you see, it needs to be correctly removed.
If the mold build-up is more extensive than you thought, then hire a professional for the mold remediation process. Here are some points for what you can expect to happen during the process.
First Locate All the Mold
It is necessary to remove all the mold the first time around. If you don’t, expect the mold to come back over and over again. Since mold is a bacteria that keeps growing in favorable conditions (damp, warm and dark places), even the smallest amount left over will grow into what it was like before, or more.
So when the professionals come in, make sure they inspect the whole house. Inspect every room and pay particular attention towards damp areas of the home, or places with a musty smell. You don’t always need to see the mold for it to be there.
Prepare the Area
After locating al the mold, this is where you will need to help. All your belongings need to be removed from the area in order for the professionals to do their job. If certain items cannot be removed, make sure to cover them with heavy plastic to protect them.
When the mold starts to be disturbed, it will produce more spores into the air. These spores may carry toxins that are hazardous to humans. So it is also important to seal off any vents within the house to minimizing any spores spreading.
During the Remediation
During this time, you’ll notice the workers will be fully covered from head to toe, and also be wearing masks or respirators. Just as much as you want to protect your belongings, so do the workers want to protect themselves.
There will also be some form of an exhaust fan that blows the inside air through a window or a door. This negative pressure removes any stirred up spores from the mold and pushes them outside.
After the Remediation
Once the professionals complete the remediation process, you should be able to start moving back into your house. You’ll want to check your belongs carefully. If you notice some items have that mold look or smell, you can try cleaning them with bleach. If that doesn’t work, it may be time to throw them away. Anything that has come into contact with the mold should not go back in the house.
