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mold clean up

Mold Cleanup Ideas.

What is mold?

Mold in your home can make you sick, especially in some cases if you have allergies or asthma. Mold exposure for a long time can irritate your eyes, skin, throat, nose, also lungs. Also, mold is a type of fungus that consists of small organisms that are found almost everywhere. They can be different colors white, orange, green, black, or purple. Mold in nature plays an important role, breaking down dead leaves, plants, and trees. Molds reproduce by means of tiny, lightweight spores that travel through the air. Mold cleanup ideas.

Mold spores in small amounts are usually harmless, but they can start growing once they land on a damp spot in your home. While they are growing on a surface that they have landed, spores can be released into the air where they can be easily inhaled. Health problems will start to appear if you are sensitive to mold.

Some molds and yeasts cause food spoilage or disease, others play an important role in biodegradation or in the production of antibiotics, beverages, various foods, and enzymes. Mold growth requires moisture from different sources like washing, cooking, air humidifiers, condensation or leaks. Poor ventilation also contributes to higher humidity levels and leads to condensation which affects mold growth.

Where does mold grow?

Mold grows everywhere that food is provided for them, your walls, carpet, floors, appliances, or furniture. You’re most likely to see mold in damp places such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, and crawl spaces.

Types of mold.

  1. Rhizopus stolonifer is one of the more common types,, also known as black bread mold. It is a type of mold that enjoys other foods such as fruits and vegetables. 
  2. Penicillium is another well-known type of mold from which the antibiotic penicillin is derived. It can be found in a variety of places, including water-damaged structures as well as various foods. 
  3. Alternaria is another type of mold that usually occurs in damp places indoors, such as under leaky sinks or showers.
  4. Aspergillus is often found on dusti, indoors, powdery food items, and building materials such as drywall
  5. Another type of mold is Cladosporium which can grow in either warm or cool areas. It usually tends to appear on fabrics and wood surfaces.

Prevention and protection.

Controlling moisture is the main key to preventing mold from growing. It is also important to maintain the home well ventilated and cleanup.

Main causes of humidity in the home:

  • The breath of pets and people
  • Usage of water for cooking and washing
  • Moisture in the air because of rainy or humid days
  • Water leaks
  • Living in a building that has tightly-sealed windows and doors

An advice from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that people aim for a humidity level below 60%. You must dry up and clean up wet materials within 2 days because that is what it takes for mold to grow. Disinfect, clean up, and dry surfaces prone to mold growth. Improve airflow at home by opening closet doors more frequently and moving furniture far from walls to provide better ventilation to confined spaces. 

Build a new home or renovate an old one with mold-resistant products. Mold-resistant drywall, mold-resistant Sheetrock, and mold inhibitors for paints are the mold-resistant products. Moisture-resistant drywall is especially valuable in areas such as laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. There might be different procedures in cleanup and removing mold from painted walls or drywall. 

How to remove mold from painted walls

  1. Try to take any fabric material, electrical equipment, decorative items, and furniture pieces away from the affected area. Protect the surrounding surfaces, cover the windows, floor, and vents with plastic sheets.
  2. Cleanup the walls using a sponge dampened with warm water and a mild dishwashing liquid to remove any dirt.
  3. We recommend you in cases where the mold spots are small to try using natural cleaning. Mix white vinegar with warm water and apply the solution on the affected surface. If the natural method is not showing the desired results, then you need to apply stronger mold removal.

How to remove mold from drywall

  1. Cover the surrounding areas with plastic sheeting to prevent mold spores.
  2. Make sure that you mark a slightly larger section than the visible mold patch as unseen mold spores have probably already affected the adjacent areas.
  3. Use a knife to cut out the affected sections.
  4. Remove the affected patch of drywall and set it down on the plastic sheeting.
  5. Don’t forget to clean up the room with a HEPA vacuum to remove any loose mold spores.
  6. Consider painting the wall with a mold-resistant paint.

Mold cleanup ideas

To ensure appropriate safety and efficient results when cleaning mold off walls make sure you:

  1. Work in an area that is well-ventilated.
  2. Wear protective gear – rubber gloves, protective glasses, long sleeves and pants, and a dust mask.
  3. Keep children and pets away from the mold affected area.
  4. Never mix bleach with ammonia as it results in a highly toxic vapor. 
  5. If you have experienced extensive water damage to your home don’t try to DIY. The mold on the walls will most likely be toxic black mold.

 

If mold is spread in larger areas over 10 sq. feet, you might need professional help to get rid of mold on walls. It may grow in places that are difficult to reach or has affected household materials that cannot be easily cleaned or replaced. Using professional mold removal services is the best way to get rid of mold for good and save you plenty of time. The remediation process will be quick and efficient and the living environment in your home will be fresh again.

WHY CHOOSE RENOVCO?

Our teams of experts are always ready to serve you, whether you would like to design your dream kitchen, remodel a bathroom, finish the basement, create a new home extension, renovate your office or get your home restored after a flood or fire, you can count on Renovco!

Renovco has a smartly identifiable Unique Concept. From emergency work reconstruction, content handling and cleaning, warehousing, mold remediation, Ozone treatment, and Fire-line system to a distribution channel and one-stop-shop for design services. This clever solution is translating to become, not only an exclusive competency that Renovco enjoys but also a profound peace-of-mind feature that clients treasure.

Ever since its beginning, Renovco promptly became the leader in renovation and restoration services.

The full spectrum approach adopted by Renovco’s Management, from being general contractors to restoration experts to a fully equipped design center has earned Renovco the spot lead in the construction field.

 

  • Licensed, Bonded and Insured
  • Member of the APCHQ
  • Accredited by the IICRC Professional (Cleanup Trust Certified) and the OCCQ (BBB in Quebec)
  • In house professionals of trade to guarantee premium service and quality
  • Winner of the PROFIT 500: Canada’s fastest-growing companies
  • Winner of the Consumer Choice Award for the last 4 consecutive years
  • 24/7 emergency services after disaster
  • Comprehensive “turn-key” professional solution.
Mold Cleanup Ideas

Mold Cleanup Ideas By Renovco Team

Preventing mold can save a lot of money, time and it easier than to clean up after it damages the home. Renovco as an experienced mold removal company has some mold cleanup ideas to refer you:

  • The first step is to identify problem areas around your home and correct them.

Of course, identifying the mold problems helps you to remove all mold spores and to prevent a second opportunity to its growth. Make a specific control of your home: where are the problem areas? Check if your basement flood? Have you ever seen condensation on your upstairs window? Don’t forget repairing damaged gutters or roof problems too.

  • Dry the wet areas immediately.

It is known that mold spores can’t grow without moisture, so take care of wet areas right away. If you have water damage in the basement after heavy rainfall, you should dry it within 24 to 48 hours.

Never leave wet items lying around the house. Always ensure to dry the floor and walls after a shower. Remember also to leave wet clothes in the washing machine, where mold can spread quickly.

  • Do the proper ventilation

You know that your routine domestic activities can encourage the growth of mold in your home. So ensure that all home activities as cooking dinner, taking a shower, or doing a load of laundry doesn’t invite mold by providing proper ventilation in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and any other high-moisture area.

It’s recommended to use AC units and dehumidifiers (especially in humid climates), but make sure they don’t produce moisture themselves by checking them periodically and cleaning them as directed by the manufacturer.

  • Another of the most important cleanup ideas is to equip your home with mold-resistant products.

Be sure to use mold-resistant products like mold-resistant drywall or mold-resistant, and mold inhibitors for paints during building or renovating home. Moisture-resistant drywall is especially valuable in areas prone to wetness, such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, and kitchens.

  • Monitor humidity indoors.

Renovco Teams recommends keeping indoor humidity between 30-60%. A simple way to measure humidity is by using a moisture meter purchased from your local hardware store.

  • Direct water away from your property.

If your property is in-ground not enough sufficiently sloped away from the foundation, water may collect there and seep into your crawlspace or basement. So take care of this important detail.

  • Regularly clean or repair roof gutters.

A mold problem can come as a result of a roof that is leaking because of full or damaged gutters. Make regular roof gutters clean and inspect them for any damage. Repair them if you see damages and keep an eye out for water stains after storms that may indicate a leak.

  • Improve the airflow home.

If temperatures drop, the air is able to hold less moisture. But without good airflow in-home, excess moisture has the possibility to appear on your walls, windows, and floors. To prevent any moisture problem, open doors between rooms, move furniture away from walls, and open doors to closets that may be colder than the rooms they’re in.

  • The last mold cleanup ideas here are keeping mold off household plants and to care for your plants.

Household plants are beautiful and help keep your indoor air clean but mold likes them too. The moist soil in indoor plants is a perfect breeding ground for mold, which may then spread to other areas of your house. So, take care of your plants and prevent mold problems before they start growing.

For specific and professional help, please contact us here.

mold cleanup Ottawa

Mold Cleanup Ottawa | How Dangerous Is Mold?

Whenever water-related disasters strike your home, your primary concern after the event is to expel the flood from your property. You know that when you keep the afflicted area submerged in water, it may cause numerous damages like brittle floorboards and walls, and weaken the constitution of certain items like your furniture and furnishings. Once you have dealt with the problem, however, it is easy to return to your daily routine like nothing ever happened. Sadly, most owners do not realize that, on some occasions, especially when the damage inflicted on your property was great, secondary water damages start to emerge right under their noses. The most common problem is mold. For this, you need a mold cleanup Ottawa company to take care of everything in your home.

Mold Cleanup Ottawa – What Is Mold?

The chance of mold appearing in your home is significantly higher, whenever a flood occurs inside your property. because if the floodwater was not expelled properly or professionally, it is possible that excess moisture will still be present in your home, which can become perfect places for mold to manifest.

Mold is a kind of microorganism that loves to grow in dark, humid, and damp places. Now, although it does not pose any threat because of its size or color, mold, however, can damage the structure of your home and can be detrimental to one’s health.

When you see mold either on your walls, ceilings, or floors, it is a sign that this part of your home’s design is damaged or weak. The best way to remedy this problem is to immediately have it replaced or repaired before it collapses so that no one living in the property will get injured in the future.

When it comes to your health, mold cleanup Ottawa can be difficult to deal with, especially when you are dealing with black molds.

What Is Black Mold?

There are three types of molds: allergenic (non-life threatening), pathogenic molds (attacks the immune system and can grow in your lungs), and toxic molds (the most dangerous and under which black mold is classified).

Almost all molds spread their spores via air travel, but what makes the spores of black mold different from the others is the presence of mycotoxin, and it is this toxin that creates numerous alarming health symptoms which include:

  • Mental impairment
  • Breathing problems
  • Damage to internal organs
  • Death

Molds can be tough to deal with. This group of fungi — all several thousand different species of them — have been around in the world for millions of years, so they’ve really become an integral part of all ecosystems. In nature, they are important agents in the decomposition of organic matter. Without organisms like molds, the biodegradation of natural materials like dead plants and animals will not be possible.

However, molds become a problem for people when they grow on things like food and agricultural products. In the case of water-damaged properties, mold can also grow on other objects made of natural materials. These include books, cotton upholstery, wallpaper, wooden architectural elements, and so on. For these reasons and not only mold cleanup Ottawa is essential.

The Most Commonly Known Health Concerns That Molds Cause

  • Allergic reactions and sensitivity to susceptible individuals

Molds can irritate the eyes, throat, and skin, and inhaling them can cause wheezing, coughing, and runny nose. Some people can experience a life-threatening anaphylactic allergic reaction from ingesting or inhaling mold spores.

  • A range of respiratory problems

When exposed to molds, people with asthma can experience asthma symptoms like coughing, tightness of the chest, and shortness of breath. Children, in particular, are susceptible to developing respiratory illnesses due to exposure to molds.

  • Fungal infections

People can also develop mycosis and other kinds of fungal infections. Individuals with weakened immune systems are particularly in danger.

  • Fungal toxicity

Mycotoxicosis can cause both acute and chronic health effects in people who inhale and ingest mold or come into contact with them through the skin. Aside from pulmonary effects and allergies, toxicity from mold exposure can lead to other health problems like those involving the central nervous system and the immune system.

Mold Cleanup Ottawa Partner

Molds can seriously affect your health. There should be no question about that. It is important that water damage in your property is dealt with immediately to prevent the growth and spread of the fungal spores.

It is possible to remove mold through do-it-yourself methods, only when the amount of mold in your home is still controllable. However, if the mold has already occupied a significant percentage of your home, it is best to call in the professionals, so that they can perform a method called: mold cleanup Ottawa, immediately.

Renovco can help you properly sort out your mold infestation problem in the quickest manner possible. Please call us now 613-727-7070 to talk to one of our representatives.