If you find mold in your home, you need to clean it up immediately. But how do you do that? How dangerous is the mold and what precautions should you take? There are many questions when it comes to mold, so take a moment and learn about mold safety and removal.
What is Mold?
Molds are fungi. There are over 100,000 different types of mold, and they come in a wide variety of colors including black, green, orange, and white.
Molds reproduce by producing spores. These spores are tiny and float through the air, often into your home. If spores land somewhere dark, moist, and warm, they might grow until they form a visible mold colony. Mold will not grow without moisture, so to prevent mold keep your home dry.
Mold Toxicity and Mold Safety
Most molds are not known to cause infection in healthy adults. However, scientists only have good information for a few number of molds, and people’s reactions to mold vary greatly. There are people who are more susceptible to illness from mold than others. Overall, mold’s effect on humans is still little understood, so all molds should be treated as if they are toxic. Mold-induced illness can affect the respiratory system, throat, eyes, and skin. Wearing protective gear (goggles, mask, gloves) is recommended whenever you clean mold.
A few mold genera with toxic or suspected toxic species : Fusarium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Stachybotrys. Again, we stress that because of the uncertainty surrounding mold, all molds should be treated with caution.
How to Clean
We cover how to clean mold and prevention in other articles, but basic tips are to wear protective gear and make sure the area is well-ventilated.
Our Recommendation
We strongly recommend hiring a professional mold removal service for your mold clean-up needs. A professional will have the right equipment, will be familiar with common types of mold and their dangers, and know how to handle the situation. Do research to find the most qualified service provider in your area.