How To Get Rid Of Mold in Your Home

Posted on 21. Jul, 2011 by Admin in Indoor Air Quality, Purified Living

The air quality in your home can be poor from many sources. Excessive moisture, radon, combustion gases, and many other contaminants may accumulate inside your home. To improve your indoor air quality, you must stop contaminates at the source. Mold may be growing in your home, and you may not be aware of this unless someone in your family has an allergy to mold. Even if a family member is experiencing allergic symptoms, you may still not be aware of a mold infestation. If you do find you have mold growing in your home, it can be difficult to get rid of because the spores can not be removed from drywall, wallpaper, carpet, fabrics and other porous surfaces.

What is Mold?

Mold is a living organism and considered a fungus. Unlike yeast, another form of common fungus which grows in single cells, mold grows in the form of mulitcellular filaments called hypae. It reproduces through the spreading of spores which are airborne. Spores can remain airborne indefinitely, and cling to any organic material. These include fur, wood, and carpet. Once it clings to a surface you may see a black and spotty look that is extremely unattractive. Mold likes dark and damp areas, and thrives at room temperature. Some people think mold needs a hot and damp environment to grow in, but it actually prefers room temperature. Exposure to mold can cause many serious health problems including allergic reactions, colds and coughs, and it may aggravate asthma and allergic rhinitis. For these reasons it is important to address mold problems before they affect your family’s health. If you have a family member with asthma or allergies, it becomes even more urgent.

How do I get rid of Mold?

There are a number of ways how to get rid of mold in your home.

• Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), also known as Muriatic Acid, is effective for removing mold on hard surfaces such as bathroom or kitchen tiles. Mix water and HCl in equal amounts and apply to the area that needs to be cleaned. Scrub the mold off with an old toothbrush or cleaning brush. Warnings for HCl include chemical burns on your hands, and irritation to your eyes and nose. Always use a mask and rubber gloves to protect your skin, eyes, and nose. HCl should be kept well out of reach of children and you should use it with great caution.
• Bleach water is a safer alternative to HCl. Mix bleach and water in equal amounts and follow the above steps. Use gloves and a mask for bleach since it can also cause irritation to your skin, eyes and nose. Personally I find HCl is more effective and less tedious, but bleach carries less risk of irritation.

• Baking soda and vinegar is one of the safest method. Mix baking soda and vinegar in equal amounts, and apply with an old toothbrush to scrub off the mold. This method is best for use on wooden areas since the paste clings to the surface.

How can I Prevent Mold Growing in My Home?

The most important thing to remember about mold is that it spreads through spores in the air. It likes damp and wet areas, so always dry off surfaces in your bath and kitchen and clean them regularly. Use a cleaner specifically for tile and hard surfaces to ensure you get all of the dirt, grime and mold spores off of them. You may want to invest in an air cleaner with a mold filter, or install special mold filtering furnace and air conditioner filters. This will help keep the mold spores out of the air. Like the old saying, “cleanliness is next to Godliness”, and a clean house is synonymous to a mold free home.

Related posts:

1. Mold: The Silent Home Invader
2. How To Control Dust, Dust Mites, and Other Allergens in Your Home