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Preventing Black Mold Growth in Your Home

At some time or other, many homeowners in the Northern Virginia and Maryland area will find themselves dealing with black mold. Black mold is a thin, black fungal growth, more properly known as Stacybotrys Chartarum, that can usually be found in places with a high humidity or too much dampness or poor ventilation. Black mold spores occur naturally in the atmosphere and settle and grow wherever conditions are suitable for them. Black mold can grow on just about any kind of surface - clothes, books, shoes, bags, curtains, rugs, carpets, mattresses, wood furniture, bathroom tiles, walls, ceilings, and so on. Usually, synthetics fabrics like nylon, polyester, and acrylic are immune. Given its toxic nature and its ability to fatally affect the lungs, black mold is not something you should be growing indoors inside your home if you can avoid it. The moment you see the fungi anywhere on your clothes or household items or room walls or ceiling and so on, it should be removed immediately.

Black Mold and Health

How does black mold affect your health?

Black mold spores are easily inhaled and this can lead to nose bleeds and internal bleeding in the lungs. People affected by long term exposure to black mold can develop respiratory problems, sinus problems, headaches, asthma, skin problems, and mental deterioration and instability. For these reasons, black mold removal, mold remediation, and mold abatement becomes all the more important.

Black Mold Removal

How do you remove black mold?

Brush off all black mold from the surface. Preferably take the object outside your house before you brush off the mold. If it is not possible to carry the object or go outdoors, spread newspaper sheets on the floor and brush the mold onto that. Or vacuum clean everything. Just make sure that you bin both the newspapers and the vacuum cleaner bag afterwards. This will prevent the mold spores from lingering around and regenerating.

In case of fabrics, brushing off the mold won't be enough, you may have to apply bleach to remove the mold stains. Just make sure beforehand that the said fabrics can withstand bleaching - silks and woolen items should never be bleached; non-chlorine bleaches usually work fine with all other fabrics. You will also need to wash the clothes with a good detergent or, if they are not washable, get them dry-cleaned. As much as possible, after normal washing, clothes should be allowed to dry naturally in the sun. Never put away soiled or still-wet clothes in the closet. That's asking for trouble.

Vacuum clean carpets, mattresses, upholstery, rugs, etc. You can also apply soap suds and then wipe clean with a damp cloth. So long as you don't get too much water on them. Dry well and preferably in natural sunlight.

Clean leather goods - bags, shoes, and so on - with a mixture of alcohol and water. Polish them with a little wax if possible.

For black mold removal from books and papers, clean them gently with a soapy cloth, then with a clean moist cloth, and then dry.

Scrub bathrooms, walls, ceilings with a good brush. Same with furniture. Scrub enough to bring about mold removal, not enough to damage the surface.

How do you bring about black mold remediation and abatement in the long run?

Well, obviously, as mentioned, you should remove black mold as soon as you see any developing. Mold removal is tedious, but it is easy enough to get rid of it in the early stages. If the contamination is too ancient and too wide-spread, you may have to consult professional cleaners. Check your home for leakages in the walls, the basement, the roof, and in any other possible places. In order to prevent future growths of black mold, you will have to eliminate the basic source of dampness and this may require some major overhauling of your home. Black mold remediation and abatement will protect your health and save all your stuff from being damaged or destroyed.

While black mold removal and remediation is possible, prevention is a better option. Keeping your home and your belongings clean and dry, well-swept and well-brushed is the main thing. Installing air-conditioners, dehumidifiers, and electric fans will help prevent black mold growth. Black mold generally does not take root in dry and well-ventilated homes. Placing moisture absorbing chemicals like Silica Gel, Anhydrous Calcium Sulfate, etc. and protective, mold-inhibiting chemicals like Paradichlorobenzene crystals or Paraformaldehyde powder amongst your belongings, and cleaning floors and walls with chlorine bleach or ammonia will mitigate mold development to a large extent.

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