Easy Mold Removal Tips for Moms

While molds can indeed damage one’s home structure, a more critical concern especially for moms is how molds can endanger the health of their kids. Mold contamination can trigger a variety of illnesses that can run the gamut from slight headache to serious pulmonary problems. The responsibility of eliminating health-threatening molds is usually undertaken by moms. When it comes to protecting their homes and their kids, mothers would gladly undertake any number of mold removal steps.

If you’re one of those moms who want to protect their family from mold infestation without having to call professional mold removal services, you can do mold removal yourself following the simple do-it-yourself steps listed below.

1. Molds have potential ill effects to one’s health. Make sure that you observe certain safety measures to protect your own health. Call your doctor and ask if you have any health problem that might be complicated by mold exposure. Wear protective mask to avoid inhaling mold spores while doing mold cleanup. Keep skin contact with mold to the minimum by wearing rubber gloves. Wear only clothing that you can readily wash or discard.

Remove your kids from areas of contamination during mold removal and cleanup. You can keep them temporarily in a room where they can play and sleep during mold remediation.

2. During mold removal, keep the infested area well ventilated by opening windows. Another way to encourage air flow and keep moisture level at ideal levels is to run your dehumidifier and fan. In fact, keeping your home well-ventilated all the time is also one way to prevent growth and re-growth of molds.

3. When shopping for a mold removal product, carefully read the labels. Some products may contain chemicals that you are allergic to, or can also threaten your kids’ health. Handle mold removal solutions with care. A safer alternative would be to use an organic mold cleaner. Organic mold cleaners have become a popular preference for many households because they have been proven to be environmental-friendly and safe for human use.

Instead of ready-to-use mold removal product, you can also use bleach solution to disinfect contaminated areas. Another recommended product to use is hydrogen peroxide (borax or boric acid). It has been proven that Borax kill molds effectively. What’s more, borax produces no offensive odor.

If cause of mold growth is flood, it should be your priority to pump out stagnant water and discard saturated porous materials such as contaminated items like beddings, pillows, and comforters. These materials require replacement rather than restoration. This is because no amount of restoration technique can completely eliminate molds hiding inside crevices of fluffy materials.

4. Ammonia and bleach shouldn’t ever be mixed together. You’d create toxic chlorine gas if you do so.

If you have asthma, skin allergy, or poor resistance, then you should set aside money for mold remediation services. Of course, doing mold removal yourself is less costly solution to eliminating molds from your home. However, you should take the do-it-yourself option only when you are fit for doing so.

Mold remediation Method on Wood Surfaces

Mold remediation method would always depend of the type of material contaminated. Non-porous materials, for instance, would only require scrubbing, cleaning, and disinfecting. Porous materials, on the other hand, require disposal: no amount of cleaning can eliminate molds that have saturated sub-surfaces of such materials. Semi-porous materials like woods and plywood need to be evaluated whether they can still be salvaged before starting mold cleanup method.

Most houses interior is made up of wood, and majority of house materials are also made of woods. Because woods can collect moisture, they are also like places for mold growth. Woods are semi-porous materials. How, then, does one proceed with mold remediation on woods?

As it is with other materials, mold remediation is done with the objective of removing every inch of mold material on woods. Now, there are woods with smooth surfaces, and those with hard-to-reach, irregular surfaces.

To clean woods with surfaces, mold remediation methods that can be used include damp wiping or power washing. To wipe contaminated surfaces, use detergent-water mixture. Use a clean rag or towel, and replace towel as often as needed. See to it that you don’t wipe moldy rag on uncontaminated surface. Do not use the same rag over and over again to remove mold from every surface. This is in order to prevent spread of molds and mold spores. What you can is to fold towel, and use the clean part to wipe a new spot.

For mold remediation of molds on hard-to-reach surfaces (such as when you need to clean surfaces with nail edges sticking out), hand wiping is not possible. The best way to clean such surfaces is to use power spray cleaning or media blasting using dry ice or baking soda.

If media blasting with liquid would create water leaks on surface below, dry process blasting is recommended. Dry process blasting involves use frozen carbon dioxide or baking soda. The process should be followed by HEPA vacuum cleaning.

To clean surfaces created by cross-bracing or wood trusses, media blasting/power spray cleaning is also recommended. The process should be followed by HEPA vacuum cleaning.

How effective is sanding in mold cleaning wood surfaces? Sanding is a slow and laborious mold remediation option. It may be used for small surfaces, but where contaminated area is a whole room, sanding is impractical.

After moldy surfaces have been cleaned, drying the areas is absolutely necessary. Mold spores are always present in the environment. No amount of cleaning can wipe out mold spores from the surrounding. If you leave the surfaces dry, you don’t give mold spores a chance for new growth.

Application of fungicide sealant is one method that some mold remediation companies use to prevent future growth of molds. Fungicide sealants prevent buildup of moisture on wooden materials. They, thereby, prevent molds from growing again.

Regardless of whatever mold remediation method you use, it is also absolutely necessary that you seal contaminated area to prevent mold spores from spreading into other areas of your home or property.

Everything You Need to Know About Sewage Backup

There are many things that a property owner should know about sewage backup. It is easy to get lost in the terminology. There is no need to get technical when it comes to this situation. However, there are some bits of information that should be considered as vital. You can forget everything that you know about sewage backup – except for these.

While there is no need to learn the jargon, it is necessary to be well-informed in order to know how to handle the presence of wastewater, if it ever happens in your home.

What is it?

Sewage backup is basically contaminated water that flows backwards and exits at the most convenient outlet. These can range from manholes to toilets. Sewage backup usually has a dark color and has a strong, putrid smell. You will know it when you spot it because it will look exactly how it smells like. Along with the water, sewage backup can also contain solid waste, discarded items, and other debris.

It is important to note that because of what it is composed of, you should not go near the wastewater if you find it in your house. In this situation, it is always better to call a pro.

What causes it?

Sewage backup is caused by the blockage in the pipelines. When water cannot flow easily within the system, due to debris or any other cause, the wastewater has nowhere to go. The pressure builds up which causes the water to backtrack and look for a possible exit point.

There are three culprits usually associated with blockages in the pipes. The first one is flushing solid materials such as toilet paper, trash, and tampons down the toilet. These solid objects can block the pipes between the residence and the city’s main sewage pipes.

The second cause of blockage is by problems found in the pipe itself. Known as structural defects, they can develop naturally as time progresses. Wear and tear can occur in the pipes, which is to be expected. This is usually remedied by regular maintenance and inspection of the system.

Finally sewage backup can be caused by the presence of trees and other plants near the property’s pipelines. The roots of the trees can actually grow into and infiltrate the pipes causing blockages. The best way to remedy this is to plan ahead. Avoid planting anything near the pipes of your house.

Why is it dangerous?

Finding wastewater in your property is dangerous because of its very nature. It is a health hazard. Because this material is composed of waste products, they contain bacteria and parasites that can make you and your family sick. Hepatitis, gastroenteritis, and respiratory problems are only some of the illnesses that can be caused by wastewater in the home. It should be emphasized that the presence of wastewater inside the house is a serious matter. Aside from being unsightly, it can contaminate your home, lessening its value and endangering the health of its occupants.