Black Mold Removal Products

Black mold or mildew (stachybotrys) is an extremely toxic form of fungus that grows in areas where there is poor air quality; often thriving in buildings and on other materials that have suffered severe water damage. It is particularly fond of anything containing cellulose.

Those unfortunate enough to breathe in the spores often experience headaches and fatigue as well as soreness in the mouth, throat and nose that can cause chronic coughing and other allegic reactions such as a rash and sneezing. In the worst cases, breathing in the mold can also lead to extreme nausea and heavy vomiting, as well as bleeding in the nose and lungs, and possibly death. Therefore, it is imperative that it is removed as quickly and safely as possible.

Many homeowners often find that black mold, which actually appears either black or green, developes on window sills in kitchens and bathrooms, as well as basement areas because of they are most susceptible to conditions such as moisture, darkness and lack of adequate ventilation. However, it can arise anywhere if the right conditions are met. In fact, household mold can usually be found in any dark, dank, or steamy spots including any plumbing areas, attics and other crowded storage spaces both indoors and outdoors. Garages and backyard sheds exposed to a lot of rain or snow can also be ideal breeding grounds for mold and mildew to blossom, and should be inspected on a regular basis.

Exposure to bright sunlight can help prevent its growth, as can maintaining proper air flow. If necessary, be sure to install a good ventilator fan in any room of your home, where mold has been detected.

It is also a good idea to run the ventilator (or at least keep a window open a bit) when showering or bathing to pull the moisture out of the bathroom and keep the air moving to prevent mold build-up. In fact, since mold tends to form first on window sills, it is a good idea to make sure that you open the windows every few days so that any kind of window covering, such as drapes and blinds can air out before they have a chance to become breeding grounds for spores. It is also wise to run ceiling fans or portable fans in any room where water has accumulated from either leaks or spills to dry it out faster.

While many people believe that they can kill black mold with chlorine bleach, they will soon find that using it only serves to "mask" its appearance giving them a mistaken sense of security. In actuality, bleach is not powerful enough to destroy the mildew at its roots, and it can still grow and spread despite the dousing. This is because bleach, itself is made primarily of water, which ends up encouraging more growth after initial cleaning. In addition, chlorine bleach is not strong enough to penetrate wood and/or drywall, so while the surface may appear clean, the spores can continue to breed inside them.

Instead, it is better to use some of the newer natural products now on the market that not only remove the fungus, but also prevent it from returning by "starving" it of the nutrients necessary for it to survive. They are also safer for both humans and pets, since a great deal of household cleansers on the market can also be toxic in their own right. These can easily be found in supermarkets, hardware stores and online.

To begin, use a rag or spritzer to dampen down the affected area, and then apply the mold killing solution as per directions on the bottle. At the same time, be sure to remove any damaged wallpaper, cloth materials (including rugs) and books, magazines and other moldy papers and discard them immediately. If they are items you want to keep, be sure to let them dry thoroughly in sunlight after applying any mold killers to them before they are put back in your home or office. Always make sure that there is plenty of ventilation wherever you are working. In addition, you should cover your nose and mouth with a mask to prevent breathing in both the spores and chemicals being used, and keep children and animals away from them to prevent them from becoming sick.

While cleaning items such as tile, glass and even hard plastic is relatively easy, in severe cases of mold infiltration, however, retail mold removal products may not be enough, and you might need to hire a professional remediation company to do the job. This is especially true where there has been extreme damage due to floods, as well as fire, where it becomes necessary to remove moldy drywall, wood and cement. These companies are generally contracted by insurance companies to do work on property whenever there is a lot of structural damage due to black mold. A reputable business specializing in waterproofing basements are also qualified to repair this kind of damage and will also be able to fix things so the mold will can not come back.