How To Remove Mold And Mildew From Your Home

Dallas Maids - How To Remove Mold And Mildew From Your Home

Even though you do your best to keep your home clean, sometimes mold and mildew can surprise you. These types of fungi can quickly give you a headache because they’re not good news. They’re a sign that there’s an unexpected presence of moisture in your room, growing out of control, and mold removal is not easy.

Fungus growth depends on the environment. Usually, a highly humid place is a good scenario for fungal growth. For example, Dallas can get very humid depending on the time of the year or the area, so keep that in mind.

Naturally humid rooms are also prone to mold or mildew: bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and basements. This risk increases exponentially if the room does not have windows or if it’s kept closed for a long time.  


Removing Mold vs Removing Mildew


Even though they both belong to the same kingdom, which is Fungus, Mold is actually a common name to call different species. Mildew Is a specific type of mold.

The easiest way to set them apart is by their color: mildew is usually white or gray, and sometimes yellow, turning brown with time; while mold is darker, with shades of blue, green, and black.

Particularly mold can be dangerous because it invades the surface it sets in and it grows inside of it. Mildew, on the other hand, will only grow on top of the surface. Any of them can be dangerous if it comes into contact with your skin or nostrils.

Dallas Maids - Black Mold in a Wall

Mold Removal Tip #1: Find The Cause


The first thing you’ll need to consider is how to stop the environment to be at risk of mold/mildew growth. Darkness and humidity are the two components of this environment.

How do you combat them? Airflow and sunlight, simple as that. Keep your windows open and let air flow for some time each day, especially in bathrooms and laundry rooms. Sunlight will warm up spaces and reduce the humidity.

Keeping your rooms clean is also a must! Vacuuming and sanitizing your floors and walls will help you take care not only of fungi, but also bacteria and other types of allergens. Remember to either do this on your own or hire a cleaning service for it, but don’t let it sit for too long.

Your furniture should not be pressed against walls or other furniture. Leave at least a two-inch gap so the air can flow in between them.

Beware of the unexpected presence of water. Maybe you have a water leak. Check your plumbing once a month to make sure you’re not missing anything. Rainwater is always a risk if you have a drainpipe nearby, so make sure to apply constant maintenance. If it overflows with leaves and dirt buildup, water will start looking for ways to escape.

Dallas Maids - Mold Traces

Mold Removal Tip #2: Improve Air Quality


If you live in a particularly humid area, maybe investing in a dehumidifier is the way to go. This appliance will let you control the level of humidity in the air, thus reducing the presence of mold and mildew.

Technology has grown so much and this isn’t the exception: you can find dehumidifiers now for less than 30$. Your level of humidity should be kept under 60%. Depending on your area, you may have to run the humidifier every day to get it down to that level.

On that same line of thought, an air purifier wouldn’t hurt. The dehumidifier will reduce the level of humidity in the air so the mold stops growing, while the air purifier will stop the airborne mold spores that can make you sick in the first place.

On that same line of thought, an air purifier wouldn’t hurt. The dehumidifier will reduce the level of humidity in the air so the mold stops growing, while the air purifier will stop the airborne mold spores that can make you sick in the first place.


Mold Removal Tip #3: Wash Everything!


This is a very important step. Even after taking all the previous steps, you’ve probably managed to stop the spreading, but mold takes a few days to grow.

If you cleaned it, there are still spores throughout your entire home. And because the air is now dry, the next time you take a shower, it will bring back humidity and spores will grow very fast.

The way to proceed here is to wash everything that could’ve been in contact with spores: all your clothing, sheets, furniture, surfaces, floors, and everything else you can think of. Make sure you effectively stopped the mold or mildew from spreading because otherwise, these spores will continue to appear.

Check your washing machine too! Here’s a guide on how to remove mold from it.

Dallas Maids - Cleaning Spray Bottles

Conclusion


Mold or mildew is an issue that you should take care of pronto. This can evolve into health problems so it’s best to take it very seriously and find out the issue is not major, and not the other way around.

Giving your rooms the proper amount of sunlight and airflow every day will be enough to keep your spaces under control, unless there is previous contamination taking place in that room. If the levels of mold are beyond your reach, contact mold specialists in order to stay safe. Health and safety always come first!