All homeowners hope to avoid the nuisance of mold. Before it spreads, you must remove it as soon as you find it.

How long mold treatment takes will vary depending on the methods employed.

We’ve asked ECO in South Florida, a mold remediation specialist, how mold works and what you can do to fix it.

But in residential buildings, mold treatment normally takes 1 to 5 days to complete. But several factors, such as the size of the mold-affected region, its location, and the surface it is growing on, affect the removal process.

You shouldn’t try to remove mold on your own. A professional should handle anything bigger than 10 square feet (3 x 3 feet).

What causes mold to grow?

For mold to grow, it needs nutrients, water, oxygen, and ideal temperatures. Dead organic materials like wood, paper, or textiles have nutrients that mold can use to grow. Mold can also get nutrients from some synthetic items like paint and glue.

Although certain mold species can get the moisture they need from moist air when the relative humidity is above 70%, mold needs moisture.

Few, if any, molds can develop below 40 F or over 100 F, although many molds thrive under normal indoor temperatures. Outside of this range, molds could stay dormant or inactive; when the temperature is more favorable, they might start to grow once more.

Mold and mold spores will die at temperatures considerably beyond 100 degrees Fahrenheit, although it is unclear what temperature is necessary to remove a certain species.

Man with mouth nose mask and blue shirt and gloves n front of white wall with mold

What makes mold grow?

Mold gets into your house as tiny spores. Moisture is necessary for the spores to start growing, digesting, and destroying. Almost any surface can support the growth of mold, including;

  • Ceiling tiles
  • Wood
  • Wallpaper
  • Carpet
  • Paints
  • Insulation
  • Sheet rock

The mold grows the fastest when there is a lot of moisture, such as from a leaking roof, excessive humidity, or a flood. It is impossible to remove mold and mold spores from a house completely. But by keeping your house dry, you can prevent mold formation.

When removing mold, is it possible to remain in the home?

Depending on the extent of your mold contamination, you should decide whether to remain in your house throughout mold treatment.

Low-level mold contamination

You can remove mold infection from areas between 10 and 30 square feet without having to evacuate your entire house. During cleanup, it may be possible to stop the spread of mold spores and dust particles by sealing off contaminated areas from the rest of your house.

Severe contamination levels

To avoid the risk to your family’s health, you must evacuate your whole home in cases of severe mold infestation.

Mold remediation Proces

Side View Of A Young Woman Looking At Mold On Wall

The preparation stage

  1. To protect themselves from mold spores, contaminated materials, and dust created during the restoration process, workers put on their protective equipment (PPE).
  2. Workers deploy equipment for removing mold, including pipes, hoses, and other tools.
  3. A plumber fixes the moisture source to stop further contamination, which stimulates mold growth.
  4. The contaminated area is separated from the rest of the house by workers.
  5. All materials that have been contaminated and damaged by mold are removed for disposal by workers.
  6. Workers remove moldy removable items for cleaning and repair.

Clean-up

  1. Workers use a moist sponge, cloth, or paper towel with a detergent solution to wipe or scrub mold from non-removable surfaces.
  2. Additionally, mold can be eliminated by dry vacuuming mold-contaminated surfaces using a HEPA-equipped vacuum.
  3. Workers extensively clean porous surfaces like wood in Bandung to get rid of embedded mold.
  4. Workers spray the area with a biocide certified by the EPA to remove any lingering mold.
  5. They leave the area and wait for 24 to 48 hours to allow the chemical to do its job.

Disinfection

  1. Workers disinfect the area to get rid of any beach mold.
  2. Workers do encapsulation by applying specific coatings to the residual mold spores.

Drying

  1. The area is allowed to dry to get rid of all moisture.
  2. To speed up drying, workers might set up fans or dehumidifiers.

Clean-up

  1. The furniture and all other cleaned, mold-contaminated valuables are disinfected and returned.
  2. Waste from mold is properly disposed of.
  3. All equipment is removed, decontaminated, and stored by workers.
  4. They take off and clean their PPE in decontamination rooms.
  5. They do final visual inspections for mold odor and signs, and they could run an air particle test to check for mold.
  6. The remediation process is successful if the result is within acceptable levels.
Black mold in the corner of room wall. Preparation for mold removal.

How to keep mold out of your house

There are several types of mold, and each one requires a particular cleanup strategy. The removal of the moisture source is crucial for preventing mold growth in the future.

Once the process is complete, maintain a dry, clean environment in your house to prevent further mold infestation.

Water damage must be repaired as soon as possible since it can greatly contribute to mold formation. To stop mold from forming, it is imperative to act quickly if you have water damage.

Installing a dehumidifier in your house is another approach to stop mold from growing. This will help in maintaining low humidity levels and hinder mold growth.

Using a bleach solution is another method for killing mold. However, as it might harm the surface, you should avoid using this procedure if the mold is on porous materials like wood. Instead, you may get rid of the mold using a commercial mold removal treatment.

Frequently asked questions

After cleanup, will the mold return?

Yes, if the moisture buildup is allowed, it can return after cleanup. For instance, mold might grow in a freshly remediated basement when a water leak causes flooding.

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