Cleaning Mold in your Home
Here are a few things you need to do when cleaning mold in your home. Wear a respirator or a facemask rated for black mold spore protection, and cover arms, legs and hands to avoid contact with mold spores. Use soap and a sponge to remove visible mold. If the moldy area is dry, lightly spray with water, as this will reduce the incidence of airborne mold spores during cleaning.
What is mold?
The common name for the more than 100,000 species of fungi that can cause the disintegration of organic matter. Mold flourishes in damp environments, but can grown on virtually any household surface (including drywall, insulation, paint, fabric, carpet, and any household dirt), as long as moisture is present. Here at Maidsway Cleaning Services we are professionally trained in cleaning mold.
It commonly appears when there is excessive humidity, water damage, condensation, water infiltration, or leaky plumbing. Besides being an eyesore, mold is destructive and can produce allergens.
Ailments include a runny nose, a cough, congestion, as well as asthma in people with weak immune systems, hay fever, or allergies.
As mold consumes its food, it produces gases that leak into the air known as volatile organic compounds. These are called VOC’s. They give off a musty odor and can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. Mold spores become airborne whenever moldy surfaces are disturbed and are then accidentally inhaled.
One of the plus sides is you can see mold and sometimes smell mold when you see it forming. If you have professional cleaners come to clean your home they will notice the mold.
Certain uncommon molds, such as black mold, produce mycotoxins-chemicals that, in large quantities and rare cases, can provoke severe reactions. People who have allergies and can be dangerous for people with respiratory problems and infants with developing lungs. All molds should be treated in the same manner in terms of prevention and removal.
If you do suffer from allergies make sure to regularly clean your home. If you are too busy you can hire a maid service to come clean for you. As long as you do this you should not have a mold problem.