Spotting and Dealing with Mold in Your Home
The last thing anyone would want in their home is mold. However, mold is everywhere, even in the cleanest home, and it’s sometimes impossible to eliminate it.
Several factors contribute to the growth of these pesky funguses. Every time you go outside or open a window, mold can attach itself to your clothing or shoes, or get into your house through the air.
Once it’s in your house, it can grow in the carpeting, wall, upholstery, and more. The fact is, mold can replicate anywhere there’s moisture. Over the years, molds have gained several survival tricks.
Besides being a nuisance, a mold infestation can also lead to health problems, especially in people with allergies and Asthma.
Individuals allergic to indoor molds can experience symptoms such as sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, and others. To learn about the different types of molds and the dangers they carry, do a quick search on the internet.
So, what do you do once you’ve discovered mold in your home? Well, that’s why we’re here. In this short guide, we’ve provided you information on what to do if you have discovered mold in your home.
Continue reading to learn more.
How Molds Appear in Your Home
Molds grow everywhere, whether outdoors or indoors. You can discover it in several places in your home but they love damp places, like bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, and other rooms with similar conditions.
Some molds are harmless and easy to get rid of, while others are dangerous and hard to wipe away. That’s why it’s crucial to identify the type of mold you have in your house as soon as possible.
Besides visible spore, there other signs of mole infestation in your household that might elude you. Here’s a list of factors that can lead to the growth of mold in your home.
- Dark grout between your shower tiles
- A smelly air conditioner or heater
- Peeling wallpaper
- A musty smell in your home that doesn’t disappear ever after cleaning
- A flooded sink or toilet
- Using a humidifier
If your home household shows the following risk factors, then there’s a high possibility that there is a mold lingering somewhere.
To locate the mold, start your search anywhere that’s damp or where there’s water damage. Mold growth occurs 48 hours after a place is exposed to water, so ensure you look for discoloration or stains.
The Effects of Mold on Your Health
Earlier we said molds can affect your health negatively. In this section, we’re going to dive in a little deeper on that topic.
The presence of mold in your home can result in several health changes. Here’s a list of the symptoms that result from mold infestation:
- Lingering cold or flu-like symptoms
- Chronic nosebleeds
- Worsened asthma
- Trouble breathing or other respiratory issues
- Feeling itchy
- Frequent and increasing severe headaches
- Feeling fatigued
- Endless allergies
Even though some of these symptoms might not be related so much to molds, don’t rule them out.
Mold can be a factor in the cause of the health issues you’re experiencing, especially when combined with the household-related risk factors we’ve mentioned above.
That said, some molds pose no threat to humans while others do.
Individuals with immune suppression, chronic respiratory disease, allergies, or underlying lung diseases, are susceptible to health changes caused by molds. According to research, mold exposure can lead to the development of asthma in some kids.
How to Handle Mold in Your Home
Once you’ve discovered mold in your home, it’s wise to get rid of it as soon as possible. You can use home remedies to wipe them out but if they are stubborn, consider hiring a mold removal company.
To find the best company with qualified experts, start your search online. Before hiring a company, ensure they have liability insurance for mold removal.
Furthermore, the company should provide you with a copy of the mold cleanup protocol and a written work guarantee for the removal.
The right mold removal company will wipe away the molds and not cover them up. Be cautious of services that encapsulate or seal the molds.
When you select the right service, they will figure out the cause of your mold situation and will help you prevent any future growth.
Many people are surprised to learn that removing mold from your home is not that expensive if you do it the right way. It is usually cheaper in the long run to hire a professional to do this rather than trying to do it yourself and perhaps making a costly mistake.