How to Reduce Your Exposure Until Remediation
1. Remove all visible mold (boxes, furniture, books)
2. Use a HEPA air filter in all potential exposed locations
3. Use a dehumidifier or open windows for ventilation
4. Run an Essential oil diffuser- thieves or citrus essential oils are best
5. Keep house clean, remove all clutter and dust.
How to Treat Mold in Your Environment
OPTION 1: Do It Yourself
Guide:
Product Resources
Step 1. Targeting the Underlying Cause of Mold
Find what caused the mold and address it.
Address any Humidity over 60 percent and Poor Ventilation Areas
Address any Moisture/Condensation with temperature variations
Address any Water damage- flooding, leaks, poor drainage
Address any direct exposure to soil or dirt from an outside environment
Service the HVAC systems and AC units as a primary source of exposure
Step 2. Remove all visible mold and remediate structure
All mold growth on walls or building structure should be cut out and replaced if possible.
Step 3. Treat all materials exposed
Remove all carpets, clothes, furniture and objects that may have been exposed. They will all need to be cleaned or discarded
All porous materials that cannot be cleaned should be thrown out.
Bed, mattress, pillows,
Rugs
Taxidermy
Decorations
Paper or books
All Carpets that cannot be thrown out or replaced should be cleaned with a true HEPA vacuum cleaner
All Non-porous materials can be cleaned thoroughly
Use multiple rounds of disposable wipes and microfiber cloths
Use borax or products specific to mold (not bleach spray)
All clothes, linens, soft furnishings
Mix 1 cup of borax to 1 gallon of water and soak your clothes for half an hour before putting them in in the wash.
Step 4. Fogging the area of mold growth
To ensure full remediation of mold growth, consider fogging the area of exposure. Fogging is done with specific chemical compounds diffused into the air to treat all non-visible mold growth. This helps to reduce the chance of mold regrowth. Materials can be purchased through MicroBalance.
OPTION 2: Hire a Professional Mold Remediation Specialist
- Advantages of hiring a professional remediation specialist:
A profession can take the guess work out of the equation. They have experience and equipment to remediate the problem. They should be able to fix the problem without putting any stress or work on the client.
- Disadvantages of hiring a professional remediation specialist:
Unfortunately, there are varying levels of comprehensive treatments. Make sure your remediation specialist addresses the source of the problem in addition to the mold exposure. Remediation is costly. It can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands. Types of treatment used vary as well. Standard chemical fogging options can leave the environment toxic. Newer options include safer, biologic enzymes with similar success rates. Make sure you advocate for the right type of chemical treatment. Lastly, a proper remediation is only as good as the inspector and the known problem.