Mould is a common issue for many people, especially those whose homes have leakages or are in damp areas. This fungus grows on any moist surface, which is why you’ll usually find it in kitchens, basements, and bathrooms. It comes in different colours (white, purple, green, orange, or black) and sizes, too.
Most types of mould don’t have any harmful effects on humans, but some cause mild irritation. There are, however, others that can lead to extreme health problems. Apart from such health effects, mould can quickly grow and mess up with your home's aesthetics. As such, you must get rid of mould as soon as you see any signs of it.
Not sure where to get started? You can consult any expert around you to know what you need to do and how to begin. Fortunately, most mould professionals today have gone online. Visiting websites of reputable companies, like MouldMen, will give you the information you need before starting your mould removal project.
In this article, you’ll learn all the necessary steps you need to take when getting rid of mould inside your home.
Mould Inspection
The first thing you should do before starting the removal process is inspection. This process involves identifying the presence of mould in your home and the magnitude of the problem. Different types of mould can be identified by their colour and size. Once this is done, you’ll then know which precautions you need to put in place before getting rid of this fungus.
In most cases, no special equipment is required during a mould inspection. All you need is a flashlight to help with the visual analysis of poorly lit places. As such, this is something that anyone can do, provided they have enough knowledge and skills on the subject.
However, it’s recommended that you hire a professional mould inspector to check all the rooms and ascertain the size of the problem. They’ll come with other tools like a moisture meter, which is useful in determining the level of moisture in a given area.
After the inspector is done with the process, they’ll inform you about all the places infested with mould. They’ll also report any source of moisture that might be enhancing its growth in those specific areas. Finally, the inspector will advise you on the way forward.
Key Steps in the Mould Removal Process
Once you’re done with the inspection phase, you can then start planning how you’ll get rid of mould. If the problem is still containable, you can go through the procedures all by yourself. But first, it’s important to know the type of mould you’re dealing with and take the necessary precautions. Toxic black mould, for instance, may lead to respiratory problems, headaches, and other severe health issues.
Therefore, it’s always recommended that you put on the necessary safety gear before embarking on this project. However, if the mould levels are abnormally high, it might be safer to hire a professional who’ll handle all the removal and remediation tasks.
Here’s a breakdown of the key steps in the mould removal process:
1. Source identification
To permanently get rid of mould in your home, you’ll first need to identify the source of moisture. The fungus is mostly found growing in places previously exposed to moisture or water. For that reason, bathrooms, sink cabinets, and basements should be your main areas of concern due to condensation.
Determining the root cause of mould follows pretty much the same criterion as the inspection process. The only difference is that, by now, you already know the size of the problem you’re dealing with and trying to find where it originated. Thermal imaging and other moisture detection tools will come in handy during this process.
Once you know the primary source of this issue, you can schedule any necessary repairs to avoid any future mould growth. Hire a professional plumber to seal any water leakage points and repair or replace pipes where necessary.
2. Air filtration and containment
After the repairs have been done and all moisture sources sealed, the next step is to isolate contaminated areas. If not contained, mould may spread to other areas of your home under favourable conditions.
Also, when removing mould, there’s a high chance that spores will become airborne after disturbance. Apart from possible spreading, these pores may trigger mould allergies for those who have this problem. So, in addition to containment, you’ll need to clean the air using negative air machines.
Leaving the high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filters in these machines running throughout the project will ensure that all spores, dust, and microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) are removed from the air.
3. Mould removal
How you go about this process depends on the affected area. Remember, mould can grow almost anywhere provided there’s moisture and food. Hence, you might find it on the walls, ceiling boards, kitchen cabinets, or even your clothes.
In cases where your clothes, carpets, or furniture have been affected, you can start by cleaning them thoroughly. Unfortunately, there are cases when it might be impossible to clean these items. During such scenarios, the only option will be to throw them away and find replacements.
As for the walls and ceilings, you can clean them using any household detergent. Make sure to properly rinse the dirty cloth before using it again to avoid the spread of mould. If other parts of your ceiling aren’t possible to clean, you might need to get rid of them and make the necessary ceiling repairs.
Conclusion
Mould can have serious repercussions on your home's aesthetics and may even affect your wellbeing. This is why you must get rid of this fungus as soon as you see any signs of growth.
The first step you should consider is mould inspection, which involves determining the presence and magnitude of this problem. Once you've known the number of mould levels you’re dealing with, as well as the affected areas, you can begin the remediation process. Source identification, air filtration, containment, and cleaning are some of the main tasks that you’ll be doing. Of course, hiring a professional mould remover will help you save time and avoid any unnecessary mistakes.
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