Mold, mildew, and other fungi are contaminants that can cause severe health and structural problems for you. Fortunately, with proper care, you can remove it once and for all, especially with the help of professionals. Learn about the health hazards, what you can do, and how to prevent mold from increasing inside your home through this article. Learn more about the health risks when you click here.
Before you begin any cleaning, especially after a flood or a plumbing leak, you must assess your house for any signs of mildew. These spores are floating around all day long, and they are present indoors and outdoors. However, they will thrive most in essentially warm and moist environments. When they land on a damp spot like paper, fabric, glass, wood, or plastic, they can begin to digest the material and proliferate.
About Health Issues and Damages
Mold damage is a huge and growing problem in many homes. Floors made up of wood start to rot when the issue is not appropriately addressed. Others will find their rooms to smell musty, especially if there are no windows. When it comes to health issues, here are some of the things that you may want to know about.
Mildew May Cause Breathing Problems
The organic fragments, cells, spores, and other compounds may become prevalent in the air you breathe, which could produce breathing issues. People who are more sensitive to the spores might develop symptoms of allergies, become irritated, and grow rashes because of mycotoxins. Most of them are toxic, and this is why you should try to remove them from your home as soon as possible.
A damp environment will also encourage more volume of dust and particles in the air, and it’s best to use dehumidifiers to decrease moisture in your home. You might want to call the experts in remediation and restoration from sites like https://abramoldremoval.com/mold-damage-repair-salt-lake-city/ for more information about these kinds of services. This way, you’ll save more time, money, energy, and other resources as well as prevent health issues with your other family members.
Allergies
AS mentioned, the spores may cause allergies to someone who is more sensitive to them. These may include seasonal rashes and hay fever that affects the respiratory tract. Some of the symptoms to watch out for are the following:
- Itchy Nose
- Runny or Blocked Nose
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Watery Eyes
People who have allergies will be more affected when there’s a high volume of mildew growth in the home. They can also increase their symptoms when combined with dust mites, and this is where a thorough clean-up should be considered.
Mold is everywhere and will continue to grow if it is not removed. Black mold can cause health problems such as asthma, allergies, dermatitis, headaches, or even migraines. If you notice any of these signs in your home or believe there could be mold damage inside your home, then you need to take action right away, and don’t forget to call the pros.
Prevention and Protection
One of the more critical factors in controlling the fungi is to prevent moisture in the first place. Fix any leaks on the roof, repair the plumbing system, identify possible areas where water is present, and more. It’s best to keep the rooms well-ventilated and clean, and if you’ve just recently experienced a flood, don’t hesitate to call the professionals.
They will do their best to restore your home in its previous condition and clean your carpets, furniture, upholstery, windows, doors, and more to prevent the mold from growing on them. Other factors that may cause humidity are the following:
- Using water for cooking or washing
- Breath of pets and people
- Humidor rainy days when there’s plenty of moisture in the air
- Leaks
- Living in properties where the doors and windows are tightly-sealed
How to Reduce Humidity
- If there are any spills or leaks, act quickly and dry them up as soon as possible
- Use dehumidifiers or air conditioner systems to reduce the moisture indoors
- Leave the windows open at certain times of the day to allow air circulation
- Remove moisture and use extractor fans when you cook
- Avoid activities indoors that will produce moisture, such as the use of kerosene heaters and drying clothes
- Fabrics should be dried thoroughly before you store them to avoid their musty smell
- Airing and emptying any drawers and closets that you don’t usually use from time to time
- Regular cleaning of mold so you could avoid dust and surface build-ups
- The use of mold-killing products when it comes to bathroom cleaning
- Avoid laying any carpets on dark places like attics, basements, and bathrooms
- Maintaining various facilities inside the home like drains, gutters, and others to reduce the chances of leaks
Removal of the Mold
Wipe the Hard Surfaces with a Clean Cloth, and make sure to use water, soap, and a specific bleach solution. Dilute the bleach and dry the surface to prevent the mildew from reappearing again.
Wash away any porous surfaces like carpets and curtains. Check to see if the mold has returned on these fabrics and if they do, dispose of them right away.
Ask the local store about the products and paints preventing the spores from growing and multiplying. Antifungal and antimicrobial paint products are often effective for these kinds of things.
When things begin to become overwhelming, don’t hesitate to call the professionals to mitigate the damage. They will tackle larger areas of mildew in your home and even increase the value of your property when you decide to sell it later.
You might want to see a doctor if you’re having problems with breathing or you have a health-related issue that you suspect to be caused by mold. What you can do is to get cleaning products, humidity gauges, and dehumidifiers.
You can take steps to prevent mold damage in your home and keep the spores from coming back. You can also call a professional if you feel that the clean-up and remediation is beyond your capabilities, especially if you have a compromised immune system.