Finding mold in your home is an incredibly stress-inducing experience. You may not know what to do, how to get rid of it, or if it’s dangerous. Mold can indeed be harmful to people, but if you find mold where you live, don’t panic just yet.
This article will give you the steps you should follow if you think you’ve found mold in your home. The most important thing about all of them is you need to be proactive. Mold isn’t going to remedy itself; it’s up to you to make sure your home is safe and livable. And of course, when in doubt, hire the experts to assist.
1. Health Check
If you’ve found mold in your house, it’s always good to visit a doctor first. Not all types of mold are going to give you respiratory infections or harm you seriously, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
You should go especially if you’re having any allergy or flu-like-symptoms like coughing, sneezing, sore throat, dry eyes, nausea, cramps, etc. Explain to your doctor that there’s mold in your home, and they should be able to give you the best care possible.
2. Get Your Home Tested
Mold is a living thing, and just like animals or plants, some are more dangerous than others. If you’re not a trained professional, then you might not have the ability to tell the difference.
That’s why it’s important that you contact a professional mold removal company that specializes in mold detection and removal. These companies will have high-tech equipment such as moisture meters and infrared cameras to detect and determine what kind of mold is in your home.
3. Remove the Mold
After you’ve had your home tested and confirmed positive for mold, speak with the technician about who should remove it. Some mold infestations are small enough that with the right cleaning solution, you can do it yourself. However, there are more severe strains that require the expertise of professionals to remove.
If removal does require professionals, the company that detected your mold will most likely also be able to remove it, so ask about their rates.
4. Repair Any Damage
Depending on where the mold is and its severity, there might be some damage in your home. If it’s small cosmetic things, then spackle and paint should do the trick.
However, if large chunks of your walls, floors, or rugs have been destroyed, replacing them would probably be better, as this prevents the problem from returning. There are professionals who can do this for you, but doing these renovations yourself is also fine as long as you check for signs of mold beneath them as well.
5. Future Prevention
The most important thing you should do after having mold removed is to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Mold is sneaky, and it can become serious and cause damage before you know it. There are a few things you can do to prevent it, but the number one most important thing is moisture control.
Moisture gives mold what it needs to grow and reproduce. Dry your floor, walls, and rug any time they get wet. Warmth is the second thing that gives mold what it needs to grow, so keep your humidity low.
There are many other things you can do to prevent mold, such as getting a dehumidifier. Do some research and consider trying a few methods.
Bottom Line
Having mold in your home is a scary and frustrating thing. The process of mold removal can be an unexpected expense, but for your health, it’s worth it. Having a clean and safe environment to live in, after all, is the most important thing.
For more information, see: What Happens During a Mold Remediation?
