There’s so much misinformation out there on the Web that tells you what to do if you find mold.
But do you know what NOT to do?
Here’s our list:
Don’t Panic
If you’ve found mold today, chances are it was there yesterday too.
If you panic, you might be tempted to over-spend on a problem that might not be that big.
Give us a call and we’ll help you evaluate the problem!
Don’t Ignore It
If you find mold, one of the worst things you can do is ignore it.
Mold can’t grow without a water source. Long term water damage can create structural damage and provide a breeding ground for termites.
So if you’ve found mold, it’s time to look for the places that water damage might be happening in your home or commercial building.
Don’t try to clean the mold unless you protect yourself with the proper safety equipment.
Once disturbed, mold spores get liberated into the environment. The spores will stick to skin, hair, and enter your body through your nose and lungs. Without protection, you put your health at risk.
Don’t Spray It!
If you find mold, the temptation might be to spray it with cleaners. Don’t do this or you’ll liberate the spores into the air and spread the contamination.
Don’t Disturb The Affected Area Without Containing the Contamination
. If you find mold, you might be tempted to use a serrated knife to cut the carpet or dry wall. If you do, you’ll shake the contamination and liberate the spores into the air.
So don’t Remove Anything – carpets, drywall, furniture, etc., unless you’ve contained the area to prevent spread of mold spores.-
Don’t Use Bleach
. I know there’s a lot of misinformation out there on the web that recommends using bleach to clean mold. But if you use bleach, chances are you’ll only make the mold problem worse. Bleach is mostly water and mold loves water.
Don’t use fans
. If you find mold and moisture together you might be tempted to dry the area using fans.
But if you do this, you’ll only spread the mold contamination to the rest of your home or commercial building.
And one last thing:
8.
Don’t hire a contractor to do the remediation for you unless you ask them these questions:
- Does the contractor know what the S 520 is?
This is not a trick question. Any professional mold remediation contractor should know these are the IICRC professional guidelines for safe mold removal. - Does the contractor do their own testing?
If they do, this is a conflict of interest. - Does the contractor have the right insurance?
Professional mold remediation companies carry a special insurance policy that covers their work.