Older properties, damaged properties, and especially places that sit in warm, wet environments are at high risk for black mold contamination. If your property suffers from a mold infestation, you may wish to take care of the removal yourself. Is this a good idea and how do you go about doing it?

Removal or remediation?
Our world of top many lawsuits makes it more necessary to be very specific with technical terminology. While you may feel that only applies to professional cleaners or extermination teams, it could come back to haunt you if you decide to rent property to others.

The truth is, you cannot eradicate mold from property completely. Microscopic mold spores will continue to exist and will even grow in small places where they attach to moisture. You cannot remove all mold. What is possible is remediating it down to more tolerable levels.

What can you do yourself?
There are three main levels of attack when it comes to remediating mold from your home. The first level is identifying mold colonies. These are the places mold spores have attached to moisture, reproduced, and are releasing allergy-inducing toxins into the area. You can begin finding this mold using your eyes and nose. The mold will appear black or dark green in patches and will emit an odor that smells musty or damp. Examining and identifying mold colonies is the first step to being free from these infestations.

The second step is removing or repairing the source of moisture. Without moisture and humidity, mold cannot grow. If there are leaks or exposed places in your property that are causing excess moisture, they need to be repaired or the mold will quickly grow back. As a general rule, you need to keep the humidity or the area down below 45 percent to keep mold at tolerable and healthy levels.

These two aspects of mold remediation are possible to begin yourself, but it can be dangerous to attempt to clean the mold yourself.

What should you leave to the professional mold remediators?
Your attempts to remove mold colonies could end up releasing dangerous mycotoxins into the area and risk exposure to them yourself. The cleaning process involves removing any uncontaminated furniture or items, covering the areas with plastic, and using strong bleach and disinfecting cleaners. It is essential to wear clothing that protects you from environmental hazards and keep your lungs safe from breathing in mold spores or toxins. Mold spores that break loose and form colonies in your lungs can be deadly.

If you do not have specialized training or equipment to keep you safe from mold spores and toxins, it is vital that you call in professional help. Mold colonies left alone can be dangerous enough. Once they are disturbed, they will spread much faster if they are not contained quickly and carefully. Medical bills and the potential of spreading the mold to other areas of your home far outweigh the costs of professional mold remediation. Don’t try to do it all yourself.