“Can I Remove Mould Myself?" Our Mould Removal Experts Have Answers
This is one of the most frequently asked questions that homeowners ask us.
In some cases, you should be able to remove the mould yourself, but this is not always the case.
Nevertheless, you should always consult a professional mould removal company before you start cleaning the mould yourself. This is how you will make sure that it is safe for you to clean it in the first place.
The surface mould is usually the one that is easiest to clean.
It is white or grayish in colour and it looks a bit fuzzy. This is the type of mould that you can find on windows, furniture, clothing, tiles, and in the fridge.
When you try to clean up that kind of mould yourself — after checking with a professional mould removal company — you need to take special measures before you start cleaning.
This will help you make sure that your family, your pets, and anyone else will be protected from any contamination throughout the entire home.
So when should you NOT DIY:
– If there are children in that area
– If there are elderly in the area
– If there is more than 10 sqft of mould
– If the water that created the mould was contaminated
– If you are dealing with an immune deficiency disorder
If you find yourself in any of these situations, then you need to hire a professional mould removal company to make sure the space is thoroughly cleaned.
If there are any children involved and present in the area, please, do not try to remove the black mould yourself.
In some cases, there should be an entire team of professional mould removers who will do the clean-up so they can thoroughly get rid of everything and bring back safe breathing conditions to the room/home.
Each time, the materials are infected with mould, they should be treated with the utmost attention.
The thing about mould is that there is always more once you scratch the surface.
Meaning, once you start removing the mouldy surface, you will realize that there is a much bigger problem underneath it.
In cases such as this one, you need to contact a professional mould removal company immediately and have them inspect and continue dealing with the issue.
In those cases where the mould is a direct cause of contaminated water or sewage backup, a water restoration company should be contacted.
They will make sure to clean, disinfect, and remove everything that is contaminating your home.
Note that this is the type of mould that can be found extremely dangerous to the overall health, so this is why you need to make sure that everything is thoroughly and properly disinfected.
If you want to do an effective mould cleanup, then you should:
– Use rubber gloves
– Wear a mould suit
– Use a particulate respirator with P100 filters
– Vacuum the area with a Hepa Filtration System
– Clean using a natural disinfectant, and cover all surfaces
– T.S.P to clean concrete
– 6mm poly bags and duct tape
– 6mm poly so you can create barricades and contain the contaminated area
– Use air scrubbers to create a negative pressure in the contaminated area and filter the air
– Should seal off the duct vents in the contaminated area
Risks Of Exposure To Black Mould
When you want to take care of the black mould in your home, there are some special precaution steps that you need to take first.
There are several tools and resources that you need to use so you can enjoy a successful process.
Even the slightest contact with black mould can have some negative and long-term effects on the health of your family, pets, and yourself.
The black mould can be the cause of headaches, chronic fatigue, respiratory irritation, rashes and other skin disorders, and chronic sneezing and coughing.
In some of the most extreme situations, the black mould can even create some allergies.
Furthermore, it can cause nausea, vomiting, and bleeding from the lungs and the nose.
So, having these potential issues in mind, you should not remove black mould yourself. Instead, call for some professionals to take care of that for you.
Why You Should Avoid DIY Black Mould Removal
There are plenty of health risks that come with trying to remove the black mould in your home yourself.
But beyond that, the main reason why you should turn to mould removal specialists is because of their level of expertise. Companies like 911 Water Damage Experts GUARANTEES mould removal, including, the microscopic ones the untrained eye cannot see.
It is not only the advanced method of cleaning that will help them successfully remove mould, but it is also the ability to identify any underlying issues that you may have as well.
In other words, if you choose to deal with black toxic mould yourself, it might lead to:
Worsening the situation: if black spores, which are released upon removal, are not contained then they might be able to create horrible damage. This can easily lead to mould appearing in other parts of the home and creating a bigger issue.
Miss some mould: in some cases, mould can be well hidden in the home, that you will not be able to find it, even if you are looking for it. So, even if you go after the mould removal yourself, you will only be able to remove the visible mould, instead of everything.
Using the wrong equipment: while cleaning black mould yourself, you should use a wide range of equipment that make it easier for you to remove mould. Protection gear and filters, as well as a containment system, are a must!
If you neglect this step and don’t use this equipment, you can only worsen the situation.
How Do You Know If The Mould Cleanup Was Successful?
– If you want to be sure that the mould area has been cleaned successfully, the contaminated area needs to be completely shut off from the rest of the home or office.
– The area that is contaminated with mould needs to be put under negative pressure with the tubes that are sending the filtered air directly outside. There should also be a secondary air filter that brings back filtered air to the contaminated area. There should also be barricades that are sealing off entryways in the space and sealing off any duct vents in the area that is contaminated with mould.
– When it comes to mould removal on ceiling tiles, carpets, clothes, upholstery, pressed board, drywall, etc, in most cases, it cannot be cleaned properly and should be disposed of. There are some semi-porous mouldy materials such as wood studs where they can actually be saved, but it all depends on the level of mould, and how much of the material is affected by it. The non-porous material can be saved, however, it needs to be disinfected thoroughly. Every mouldy material needs to be bagged and sealed in a 6mm poly and removed away from the contaminated area.
– Finally, all surfaces have to be Hepa vacuumed, and then you would have to disinfect all surfaces, and Hepa Vacuum them again.
If you have any questions about mould removal or water damage restoration feel free to call us at 1-833-WE-DRY-IT or chat with us in near real-time on our Facebook fan page.
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