No matter where you live, you will have an occasional problem with mold. Mold spores are everywhere, and can take root when you least expect it. The problem is generally easy to solve with cleaning products and spare time. The exception is when you have a toxic problem in your home. How to get rid of black mold is slightly different from getting rid of regular mold.
The first step is to determine if the mold in your home is actually toxic black mold. Some clues about this include how it looks and how it affects people. The color is usually black or very dark green. Its appearance may also look slick or slimy. It also emits mycotoxins that can make people sick.
If anyone in your home suffers from regular, unexplained migraines, nosebleeds, asthma or other health problems, then you might have a toxic mold situation. Have the person spend some time away from the home. If their health improves, you should be concerned about the air in your home.
Another option is to have your home tested for mold. There are several kinds of tests at your disposal. One test asks you to collect a sample of the mold on a sticky strip. You put the strip into a container, and send it off to a lab for analysis.
Another test takes a sample of the air in your home. Then someone checks the sample to see if mold spores are present. The problem with this method is it doesn’t tell you if the spores come from a toxic source or not. You can also contact a mold remediation company and ask them to inspect your home.
If you do have a toxic situation, you have to decide how to proceed. You can attempt the mold removal on your own. This option presents a few problems. If the problem is large, doing the job yourself will probably be too much. Unless you have time and patience to handle a large job, you should call in professional help.
You also have to worry about spreading the toxic spores. Can you clean the area without spreading the spores to other parts of the home? Professional cleaners often block the room so spores remain confined to one area.
If you can’t do that, you risk infecting the rest of the home. Then there’s the need to wear protective clothing to protect yourself. Protective clothing is a necessity when removing black mold. Having direct contact with the toxins can cause you to get a rash or worse.
If you do decide to handle the job on your own, make sure to take precautions. Knowing how to get rid of black mold involves careful planning. Wear protective clothing, keep the area clear of others and work slowly and carefully.
It might be in your best interest to hire professional cleaners to handle the problem. You can search online and in the phone book to find mold remediation companies. Make sure to check the reputation of any company you contact.
