Toxic Black Mold Removal

The spores from the mold are very toxic you need to be very careful when you are attempting black mold removal. Always wear proper protective clothing including breathing masks and gloves. If the area of black mold growth is reasonably small you can attempt removes all yourself but for very large areas you need professional advice. It is also important that you not only remove the visible black mold that you remove any mold in hidden places, for instance in air conditioning ducts and the insulation in walls. In addition any sources of dampness which have allowed the mold to grow need to be addressed.

Identify Damp Areas

Anywhere that moisture has accumulated needs to be fixed to prevent regrowth of the mold. Condensation in bathrooms can allow the mold to grow and shower curtains and other surfaces so consider putting in some proper ventilation. Identify any leaks from items or in the roof and fix them. If you have high humidity in your area consider using a dehumidifier as mold thrives when the humidity is above about 55%. if you have had flooding water leaking then you need to dry out the walls, floor or ceiling properly using fans or other means to ensure the mold does not regrow. Black mold germinates and grows very quickly so the sooner you think any of these problems less damage you will have.

Preventing Black Mold Spores From Spreading

Before you begin black mold removal you need to consider how you are going to prevent any spores release due in the cleaning from traveling to other areas. The room needs to be properly contacting before you start. Clean each room or area one at a time sealing them off as best you can before you start. This includes shutting doors and windows and blocking any ventilation. Airborne spores can easily move between areas so you do not want to stir them and cause problems in areas that are not infected. Plastic sheeting, sealed using duct tape, spacecan be used to cover vents, under doors and any other openings. If you have any ventilation systems turn them off before you start to clean. Dust levels need to be kept as low as possible during cleaning so try not to stir up dust more than necessary.

Black Mold Removal

To prevent mold spores from becoming airborne use a light mist of water on the area to be cleaned before you start. Thoroughly clean the area with soap to remove as much of the mold as you can then treat the area with a disinfectant specially made to kill mold. Do not confine yourself just to areas where there is visible mole as tiny mold spores can be on any surface. Once surface areas are clean a need to be thoroughly dried. Non-porous materials, such as glass, metals and hard plastics and semi-porous materials such as concrete, wood etc. that have been cleaned and are still intact can be reused. Porous materials may have been so heavily damaged that they need to be replaced although if the damage is not too noticeable they can be reused after cleaning. This includes material such as installation, clothes, paper, ceiling tiles, soft furnishings, carpets etc.

Removal of Contaminated Materials

Any material that is infected with mold and cannot be reused needs to be discarded properly. Use heavy-duty plastic garbage bags and try to take them straight outside, perhaps through the window, rather than transporting them through the house where contamination of other areas may occur. Dispose on them properly in a land fill.

Prevention of Black Mold Regrowth

Most importantly, as we have already said and repeat here as it is vitally important, you must make sure that the conditions that allowed the black mold to grow in the first place are dealt with. This mainly means ensuring there are no damp areas where the mold can grow. Deal with any condensation problems also leaking from pipes or vents and be on the lookout for the first signs of any black mold regrowth and deal with it before it gets out of hand and you will not need to repeat black mold removal in the future.