Black mold cleanup must be done properly. Here are some tips.
Black mold cleanup must be carried out quickly and effectively in order to curtail further damage to property or create health ills. This substance is often found in dark,
dank places like basements, crawlspaces and attics. The full scientific name is Stachybotrys chartarum. It is not only unpleasant to look out, the results of having it in one’s home can be illnesses such as dizziness, mental fuzziness, headaches and even death.
Think you might have Stachybotrys chartarum in your home? Here are some ways to tell:
- Look for it: Not only in basements, attics and crawlspaces, but other areas of a home can be housing the culprit. This is especially true in humid locales or those that have experienced heavy rainfall, flooding or hurricanes. Places to look include around pipes, in the bathroom, in evaporative coolers, refrigerators and in HVAC ductwork. It can even lurk behind wallpaper that’s made from vinyl.
- Sniff for it: If there’s an unidentifiable smell wafting through a home that has an aroma of mildew, dampness or has an un-cleaned bathroom odor, black mold may be in the vicinity.
- Check the color and consistency: There are different types of mold, some white, green, fuzzy, smooth. Stachybotrys chartarum is slimy and dark.
- Send in a sample: If a homeowner isn’t sure that what he or she has discovered is indeed black mold, a sample can be examined by a professional. This can be done in one’s home by a mobile unit or the specimen can be brought in to a lab.
Black mold cleanup can be tricky and if it’s not done correctly, the problem can spread. If a DIYer is intent on doing the cleanup, safety precautions should be taken.
- Tools: Rubber gloves, anti-mold detergent, plastic bags, and goggles must be used.
- Infested drywall and wood: Porous materials can’t be adequately cleaned so they will need to be cut away and replaced.
- Hard surfaces: Hard surfaces such as enamel or porcelain can be wiped clean with anti-mold disinfectants.
- Don’t touch or breathe it: Make certain to have breathing pathways and skin covered so contact is avoided.
Professional cleanup crews may be the answer. Having this problem adequately taken care of in one’s home is a matter of life and death. Pros have the proper supplies and training to return a house to a safe space.
- Experience: These techs have faced this issue before in their line of work so know how to get rid of it.
- Training: Cleanup technicians have had training that aligns with governmental safety standards.
- Tools and equipment: Air purifiers, sanitation equipment and other commercial gear will get the job done competently.
When Stachybotrys chartarum is found in a home, it’s important that homeowners act fast to provide effective clean up. Whether they decide to do it by themselves or hire a professional, rapid response is the name of the game for black mold cleanup. If hiring a service, ask about water extraction, decontamination and checking of the moisture content of fabrics and carpeting. It’s important to the health of a home’s inhabitants and for the protection of property value to have effective black mold cleanup performed.
