Types of Mold

There are several thousand types of mold in our environment, but we typically see about 10 species of mold in our homes.  Mold can be found in homes, schools, and businesses.  If left unchecked, mold can cause several health problems for both humans and animals, with some of them being pretty severe.

Common Types of Mold

1)    Aspergillus – this is the most prevalent type of mold known to cause health problems in humans.  It is the most likely to cause allergic reactions.  It is dispersed via your air conditioning and heating systems.  Most people hospitalized with symptoms related to mold poisoning have been exposed to this type of mold.
2)    Cladosporium – This mold is found most often attached to wallboard, food, paint, dead plants, dirt, and fiberglass ducts.  It will appear to be black or dark green in color.  It is a powdery mold that will brush off and disperse into the air when disturbed.  People exposed to this mold may develop skin rashes, asthma, sinus problems, nail fungus, chronic cough, and sometimes pneumonia.
3)    Penicillium – Mold of this type is found in food, paint, carpet, fiberglass duct insulation, soil, grains and rotting vegetation.  Humans who have been exposed to this mold often show asthmatic symptoms, to name a common one.  Certain species of these fungi have the ability to produce mycotoxins, which can cause severe health problems such as liver and kidney damage.
4)    Stachybotrys – this fungus is better known as black mold.  One of the most toxic molds, black mold has a slimy consistency and is black in color.  Mycotoxins are produced by black mold and have been known to cause severe health problems in humans including fatigue, a compromised immune system, cancer, and asthma.  Black mold can be found in any indoor environment where prime conditions exist in the wake of a flood, water damage, or water leaks.

Other types of mold include Cladosporium, Alternaria, and Fusarium.  Each mold type, no matter what the species, has the ability to cause health difficulties and should be eliminated as soon as possible.  Mold also has the ability to destroy a homes’ structure, so that is another reason to get rid of mold in a timely manner.

Mold usually causes health problems before it is ever seen in the home.  Mold can be hiding behind walls and underneath appliances.  Pay attention if you detect a musty or mildew smell in your home.  Begin taking measures to look further than the surface of walls and baseboards to check for possible mold growth.

Once mold is eliminated and the home has been properly cleaned or had drywall, carpet, or furniture replaced, it is vital to keep mold from developing inside the home again.  Stick to a regular cleaning schedule.  Make sure to clean up any standing water and fix water-damaged areas as soon as possible.

Several types of mold are naturally present in our outdoor environment and do serve a purpose when it comes to rotting wood and vegetation.  However, in order to keep health problems at bay, it is important to inhibit mold growth inside the home, schools, or businesses.

Removing Mold

Removing mold from your home and your belongings following a natural disaster such as a flood, hurricane, or tornado can seem daunting. It can prove to be a long process, but there are several steps that you as a homeowner can take to get rid of the mold that is likely beginning to develop in your water-damaged home.

Mold can be a health hazard, so remember to always wear protective clothing, gloves, safety glasses, and a mask when you’re cleaning up your home and belongings. Always work in a well-ventilated area when possible. If the mold has progressed rather quickly and is prolific, you might consider leasing a respirator to wear during the clean up process, especially while pulling up carpet or replacing drywall.

Some molds are more of a powdery substance rather than a slimy one. To keep the mold from dispersing when touched, be sure to sprinkle water over the moldy areas before beginning the cleaning process. Mold spores travel in the air, so if they are disturbed, they’ll go airborne and possibly cause more of a health problem.

Carpets that have been through a flood really don’t have a chance of being saved. Mold gets into the fibers of the carpet and deep into the padding and can’t be removed simply by cleaning or steaming the carpet. The best course of action with carpet is to pull it all up, place it in a bag, seal it, and put it on the curb for trash day. Prior to laying down new carpet and padding, you’ll need to completely disinfect the surface, whether it is wood or concrete.

Effectively removing mold from drywall is also virtually impossible. The best course of action is to remove all waterlogged drywall and then go another foot up and remove that section as well. This way, you’ve eliminated the possibility of the mold seeping further up into the wall and reproducing again after the repairs are completed.

Wood furniture or wood structures within the home can be scrubbed to remove the mold. In some cases, if the wood is untreated and the mold has gone into several layers of the wood, sanding may be necessary in order to remove all the mold.

Leather on furniture or other items affected with mold can often be cleaned using a moist cloth and a solution of 1-cup water to 1-cup denatured alcohol. Wipe with the solution first and then dry it with a clean towel.

A bleach and water solution is always a must for disinfecting your home once the mold has been removed. Use one gallon of water with ¼ cup of bleach added to sanitize appliances, bathrooms, kitchens, and floors. You can rinse with fresh water and then dry with a clean towel or rag.

Once you have finished cleaning and disinfecting your home, throw away any rags, towels, gloves, or masks used when removing mold from your home and furniture. Seal them inside a garbage bag and put them into the trashcan.

Removing mold from your home after a natural disaster or water leak can seem like a never-ending task. It simply takes time and patience to allow things to dry out and then to disinfect them properly. If you feel at any time you may not have eliminated the mold, professionals are available to assist you in this area to ensure you won’t have mold returning in your home once repairs have been completed.

Mold Exposure

Prolonged exposure to mold can prove to be a serious health hazard to some people.  One person may not be affected at all, whereas another has difficulty breathing and functioning properly.  For those with damaged or inhibited immune systems, mold exposure can be life threatening.  Elderly people and infants are especially susceptible to the effects of mold.

What are some of the symptoms of mold exposure?  One symptom is an unexplained skin rash.  Another is red, irritated, and watery eyes.  Other symptoms that may indicate you’ve been exposed to mold for a period of time might include headaches, fatigue for a prolonged time, a sore throat, asthma-like symptoms such as shortness of breath, or a bleeding nose.

There are severe health issues resulting from exposure to mold for a prolonged time.  Perhaps you work in an office, day care, church, or factory that has mold issues.  Over a period of time, your immune system can actually break down from the affects of mold in the body.  Some of the severe symptoms include:
·    Nausea
·    Diarrhea,
·    Ear infections
·    Frequent sinus infections or bronchitis
·    Hair loss
·    Coughing up a black substance or blood or both
·    Vomiting
·    Chronic fatigue
·    Difficulty breathing
·    Constant migraine headache
·    Open sores on areas of the skin
·    Sexual difficulties

If you suspect that you are suffering from exposure to mold, it’s important to track how you feel and where you are when you experience the symptoms.  It’s possible that your workplace, home, day care, or school is harboring mold and is not aware of the problem.  Let’s say the symptoms listed above are present only when you are at work and then dissipate when you return home.  Be sure to let your boss and your physician know where the symptoms are occurring the most.

If you discover that your home has mold issues, treat them as soon as possible.  In the event you find that your child’s school or day care has mold issues, notify them as soon as possible so the issues can be remedied.  Some parents may choose to pull their child from the affected environment until the mold has been removed.

Mold removal can prove to be a real challenge when it comes to commercial and residential structures.  However, there are steps that can be taken to make great strides toward making the building healthy and free of mold.  Don’t settle for less than the best efforts to make your child’s school or day care mold free.

Symptoms exhibited when someone has been exposed to mold can mimic other health problems.  Asthma-like symptoms can indicate both an asthma attack or an allergic reaction to mold.  That is why tracking where your symptoms occur can be very helpful.

Mold exposure is a very serious health hazard; so if you are experiencing several of these symptoms for no other apparent reason, don’t allow anyone to tell you you’re imagining things.  Make an appointment with your physician right away.  Some adults and even some children have died as a result of prolonged exposure to mold.  This possible health hazard needs to be handled with care and sobriety.  Make sure your physician or pediatrician understands your concerns.

How to Kill Mold

More people today than ever before are suffering ill effects from inhaling mold in their home, office, or school.  Allergy symptoms can be mild or severe, depending on the length of time someone has been exposed to mold.  Mold is everywhere and occurs naturally in the outdoors.  However, since mold spores are airborne constantly, inevitably, mold finds its way into our homes.  If you are wondering how to kill mold, read further.

Mold loves moisture and dark places.  The number one way to get rid of mold is to control the humidity and moisture levels inside your home.  If you do that, then everything you do in addition will be more effective.  If you don’t control the moisture in your home, mold will return, despite your best cleaning efforts.

How to Control Moisture in the Home

Invest in a quality dehumidifier with a HEPA filter and place it in your basement, sunroom, or any other room that seems to gather the most moisture.  Air purifiers seem to help with mold issues too, but a dehumidifier will take the excess water in the air and deposit it into a collection bucket, which is then discarded.

Air flow is also a key component when it comes to controlling the moisture level in your home.  Bathrooms should always be outfitted with a fan, whether they are in the main house or in the basement.  Make sure basements and attics have good ventilation as well.

Leaky pipes can continue to provide moisture for mold growth, even with a dehumidifier in place.  Inspect your home for leaky faucets or pipes and fix any that have problems.  A professional plumber can check behind walls to make sure no water is escaping in those areas.

How To Kill Mold

Once you’ve effectively controlled the moisture in your home, it’s time to kill any residual mold that may have been left behind.  In any areas where mold is visible, spray it with water to keep the mold from going airborne.  A bleach water solution can be used to clean and disinfect surfaces.  However, if you are sensitive to bleach, there are all natural options available that are just as effective.

Your local health food store is a great resource for natural ingredients to kill mold.  Tea tree essential oil works as a fungicide and has shown to be effective for killing mold across the board.  It is on the costly side and does have a strong smell, but that seems to disappear within a short period of time after cleaning.  Simply mix a few teaspoons of tea tree oil with 2 cups of clean water in a spray bottle and apply to any areas affected with mold.

If you prefer a fragrance free natural ingredient for killing mold, grapefruit seed extract is a great choice.  Add roughly 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract to 2 cups of water and treat the moldy areas.

Plain white vinegar can be found in your local grocery store and is the least expensive of the three options, and it can be used without adding water.  Pour white vinegar directly into a spray bottle and then apply to the areas affected with mold.  This will leave a scent, but it will disappear within a few hours after application.

Now you know how to kill mold effectively in your home.  Get rid of the sources of moisture, or control the moisture levels in your home.  Then, clean everything from the ceilings to the floors and everything in between.

How To Get Rid of Mold

The very mention of mold makes most people grimace.  Not only is mold unsightly, it can pose a real health hazard if left untreated.  If you’ve ever wondered how to get rid of mold, here are several tips for ridding your home of mold once and for all.

High humidity and the moisture that creates is the reason mold can form.  If you have a water leak that goes untreated, mold can form in that area as well.  In order to get rid of mold, you must first determine how to rid your home of the moisture and then treat the affected area.  This may involve purchasing a dehumidifier or fixing a water leak.  Basements and cellars are often moist on a regular basis and can benefit from a dehumidifier running consistently.

Bathrooms and Kitchens

Although there are several products on the market today that are effective, an all- natural mold cleaner is plain white vinegar.  You’ll avoid potentially harmful chemicals in your home and lungs by using white vinegar.  In the bathroom, use a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and spray it directly onto tub tile, the shower curtains, and faucets.  The floor can be mopped or wiped down with vinegar too.  White vinegar can also be used in the kitchen.  Spray down dish strainers, cutting boards, counters, and appliances and even inside the dishwasher.  White vinegar will not only get rid of mold, but will inhibit growth when used consistently.

Carpets and Rugs

Baking soda is another great all-natural item to have in your cleaning tub.  Carpets and area rugs are notorious for holding onto moisture, dirt and other particulates from the air.  If you’d like to know how to get rid of mold in your carpet, here is your answer.  Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet and allow it to sit for several hours.  This could easily be done before you leave for work in the morning or at a time when you’ll be running errands.  The baking soda will naturally soak up moisture and dirt, essentially trapping it.  Vacuum your carpet as you would normally and you’ll be eliminating mold at the same time.

Glass, Metal, Plastic, and Ceramic

Mold on these non-porous surfaces can be eliminated with a solution of bleach and water.  Use this solution to wash walls, windows, doorframes, or baseboards.  Ceramic tile floors affected by mold respond well to this treatment as well.

Furniture

Mold can be very damaging to furniture.  Contact a professional to find out how to eliminate the mold in or on your furniture.  Depending on the materials from which the furniture was manufactured, it may be possible to have it cleaned, or it may need to be replaced.

Mold loves moisture, so make sure to check and change your home air filters on a regular basis.  It’s a good idea to have your home’s ductwork checked periodically as well.  Otherwise, mold could be spread throughout your home by your very own heating and air conditioning systems.

Mold can be a real issue in a home and can cause allergy-like symptoms for some people, such as sniffling, coughing, or sneezing.  If you discover or suspect mold in your home, find out how to get rid of mold and then prevent its return by using these simple tips.

Bathroom Mold

Would you agree that a clean and sparkling bathroom is something to behold?  Most people would like to have a bathroom that is clean all the time.  However, with the busy lives we lead, we often find our bathrooms in a state of disarray and sometimes we even find bathroom mold has taken up residence when we weren’t looking.  Despite the lack of time we have seem to have these days, it is possible to have a beautifully clean and mold-free bathroom by following just a few steps throughout the week.

Keep only the toiletries and beauty items that you truly use on a daily or weekly basis.  If possible, keep your counters as free as possible of items that may collect water underneath, such as tumblers, soap dishes, or toothbrush holders.  It’s a good idea to have a roll of paper towels handy for quick clean ups throughout the day.

Airflow is critical when it comes to controlling mold in a bathroom.  Anytime a bath or shower is being taken, be sure to turn on the fan in the bathroom.  This will draw out excess moisture, keeping the bathroom a bit drier and less likely to develop a mold problem.  Following a shower, it is a good idea to squeegee the walls down to remove excess water from the tile or shower enclosure.

Before deep-cleaning your bathroom, remove all the products, the trash can, rugs, and miscellaneous items.  This way, you can clearly see all the cracks and crevices at a glance.  Does the caulking appear loose in the shower?  Make sure to take the time to replace loose or missing caulk around the edges of the tub and shower.  This keeps moisture from hiding in unseen crevices and keeps mold from producing in those unseen places too.  Before placing the toiletries and other items back into your clean bathroom, wipe each of them completely to eliminate additional moisture and possibly the beginnings of mold.

It is possible that your slow-to-drain shower, tub, or sink drain is a breeding place for bathroom mold.  Standing water, or water that sits for a longer period of time before draining, is more likely to promote mold growth.  Make sure to keep drains running smoothly by using a bleach and water solution or a product specifically formulated to attack blockages.  If all else fails, contact your local plumber to come and snake out the drain.

Bathroom floors are best cleaned with a mold-inhibiting product such as bleach water solution or vinegar and water, depending on the type of flooring you have in your bathroom.  Use a sponge to wipe down the floor once a week along with regular cleaning.

Plastic shower curtain liners are another breeding ground for mold, especially along the bottom edge.  Consider investing in a fabric shower curtain liner that can be removed and thrown into the washing machine periodically.  In between washings, spray the liner with a product that will inhibit mold growth.

There are specific types of paint on the market today that are designed to help inhibit mold growth in areas with high humidity, such as bathrooms.  Consider painting your bathroom with one of these paints in addition to cleaning and disinfecting on a consistent basis.

Bathroom mold can be a health hazard if left unchecked.  Simply by deep cleaning your bathroom once a week and daily wiping down the shower and counter areas, mold won’t have a chance to grow, let alone stay, in your bathroom.

Mold Spores

Mold spores are tinier than even pollen grains, invisible to the naked eye, float through the air, and are capable of causing serious health problems if they are allowed to produce and grow uninhibited.  Mold spores are how mold reproduces.  Mold comes in all colors, including yellow, green, white, and black to name a few.  All molds have one thing in common however and that it that all molds need the presence of moisture or water to flourish.

Molds are found both outside and inside the home.  In order to grow, mold requires warmth, moisture or water, oxygen, and food.  Outdoors, mold can be found on rotting logs, decaying vegetation, compost piles, and on some plants.  Unfortunately, since the spores of mold can travel on air, mold is often found inside the home as well.

An indoor environment that isn’t cleaned and monitored regularly for mold can easily enable mold growth.  Inside the home, mold can most often be found in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, refrigerators, closets, furniture, trashcans, dark pantries, and inside walls and along baseboards.

Why is an understanding of mold spores important?  It has been reported that there are millions of people suffering from allergies related to mold.  These spores are so tiny that the nose can’t even filter all of them out effectively.  Mild allergy symptoms might include, but aren’t limited to, coughing, runny nose, dizziness, red or watery eyes, or sneezing.  More severe allergic reactions might manifest themselves as difficulty breathing (similar to an asthma attack), bleeding lungs, heart problems, or serious mental disabilities.  Brain damage and compromised immune systems can result if someone is unknowingly and consistently exposed to mold over a long period of time.

Mold reproduces throughout the year, but allergic reactions to the spores are seen more often during the spring, summer, and fall months.  Warmer climates will see more incidences of allergies as a result of mold given that mold loves humidity and warmth combined.

The spores that cause mold are tiny and invisible to the naked eye, so how do we combat them and keep our chances of an allergy attack or infestion at bay?  It is crucial to keep a clean and dry home in order to effectively fight mold.  Bleach and water are the perfect disinfectant and cleaner for your home.  Use a spray bottle with a mixture of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water on sinks, counter tops, showers, tile, tubs, window frames and sills, floors, and appliances.

Your basement should be kept as dry as possible.  An air purifier and/or dehumidifier in your basement will go a long way toward controlling the moisture level and inhibiting mold growth.  Water leaks or damage should be cleaned immediately, preferably within 24 horus.  During the warmer months, keep an air conditioner running regularly to help keep the humidity down inside the home.

Mold spores are going to keep reproducing, floating through the air and invading our homes.  However, we can fight back by cleaning our homes and appliances regularly and by maintaining a dry (less humid) indoor environment.  Doing these simple things can help to eliminate possible allergic reactions to mold and inhibit mold growth in our homes.

How To Get Rid of Black Mold

Once you’ve discovered that you have black mold in your home, it is crucial to eliminate it as quickly and as effectively as possible.  If you’d like to learn about how to get rid of black mold, read on for preventative measures and cleaning tips.

Mold, whether it’s black mold or another type of fungi, lives and grows best when there is a combination of moisture and darkness.  Homeowners who reside in states where the humidity is high on a regular basis must take special care to keep their home dry.  Homes with basements and cellars are good candidates for black mold too if they aren’t kept dry.

A Few Preventative Measures

A dehumidifier unit will effectively reduce the level of humidity (moisture) in your home when used properly.  The dehumidifier essentially draws the moisture hanging in the air of the home and deposits it into a collection bucket.  The bucket should be checked a few times daily and emptied in order to prevent mold from developing in the dehumidifier unit or water collection bucket.

Bathrooms are a hot spot for black mold growth if the right conditions exist.  It’s important to have a fan installed and running in a bathroom, especially when hot water is running and producing steam and moisture on the walls and floor.  If you have a bathroom in the basement, make sure you have good airflow and a dehumidifier running regularly.

How To Get Rid of Black Mold

Black mold has been discovered in your home.  How can you effectively clean it up and keep it from spreading further?  Bleach is an all-around cleaner and sanitizer and can be used on several areas.  Add about ¾ cup of bleach to one gallon of water.  Fill a spray bottle with the bleach solution.  Wearing gloves and a mask, spray the solution directly on the moldy area.  This is especially effective in bathrooms, kitchens, and linoleum floors.  Protect your carpet before using this solution on baseboards!  Discard all sponges, rags, or gloves used to clean black mold.

If you had a water leak or floor inside the house and your carpeting was affected, be sure to check for black mold by pulling up the tack strips and areas of the carpet.  If you find black mold, you’ll most likely need (and want) to replace the carpet, padding, and tack strips.  Mold spores are difficult to remove simply by steam cleaning, so it’s best to begin with brand new materials in order to completely eliminate the black mold.  Prior to laying down new carpet and padding, use bleach and water solution to clean the entire area.

Furniture may be salvaged, depending on the extent of black mold in the piece.  Consult with a professional cleaner to see what he would recommend.  Drywall is best replaced if black mold is found behind the walls.  There just isn’t a completely effective way to clean drywall once black mold has gotten hold, so it’s best to replace it as soon as possible.

Prevention is the best way to keep black mold from ever forming inside your home.  However, if you have discovered black mold, with the cleaning tips provided above, you have a better idea of how to get rid of black mold once and for all.

Black Mold Symptoms

Black mold is an extremely toxic type of mold.  Black mold appears as a powdery or downy-like substance on everything from walls, food, carpeting, showers, wood, fabrics (including clothing), and baseboards, to name a few.  Black mold wreaks the worst havoc when it gets into the heating and air conditioning systems.  There are a variety of black mold symptoms that could appear if you have been exposed to this toxic type of fungi.

At first, symptoms indicating black mold poisoning can mimic flu or cold symptoms, such as a cough, red and watery eyes, and runny nose.  However, if left untreated, our bodies can absorb high levels of what are called mycotoxins, which are toxic to human beings and animals.  Molecular compounds called mycotoxins are sometimes produced by black mold.  If you are experiencing the following symptoms, black mold may be present in your home or workplace.

Black Mold Symptoms
·    Respiratory difficulties – hard to breathe, itchy nose, frequent drainage from the nose, asthma-like symptoms
·    Skin irritation – hives or rashes on the skin
·    Red eyes
·    Intense headaches for seemingly no reason
·    Consistent cough
·    Feelings of nausea and dizziness
·    Difficulty recalling details or general fogginess resulting in lack of concentration
·    Lethargic behavior
·    Blood pressure levels are irregular

Prolonged exposure to black mold has even been known to cause bleeding in the lungs, internal pain of the organs, urinary tract infections, and in some severe cases, infertility.  Research has shown that both elderly people and infants are especially sensitive to the presence of mold in a home.  It is vital that a physician checks you if you are experiencing any of these symptoms for no apparent reason.

A home that has mold and is primarily closed up can be an especially dangerous environment, causing black mold poisoning more quickly due to no fresh air entering the space.  Black mold can hide behind walls and not actually be seen for several months before it is discovered.  If you happen to notice stains on walls that appear in colors of yellow, black, green, or even brown, and the walls are damp, you may already have mold in the process of growing on or behind the walls.  Black mold could be a result of a water leak or consistently high levels of moisture in an area such as a basement, enclosed shower, or even an office.

Trust your nose!  If you seem to notice a musty or mildew smell in your home or office, mold may be in the early stages.  Keep your eyes open for more noticeable signs of the mold.  Look in corners of rooms, around the baseboards, and around ceiling areas for stains or what appears to be dirt (and may actually be mold).

Some people are very sensitive to mold and may experience respiratory problems before they ever see visible signs of mold.  If symptoms are experienced inside a house or office, but not outside of those areas, there may be mold present.  For some people, an allergic reaction to black mold can mimic asthma.

Black mold symptoms are an indication that you have black mold poisoning.  It is vital a physician examines you as soon as possible.  He will be able to determine if your symptoms are a result of mold or something else in the environment.

Basement Mold

Basements are a wonderful extension of living space for many homeowners. However, whether your basement is finished or simply a storage area, it’s important for homeowners to realize that basement mold can be a real problem. Basements are typically damp. Basements often store items that are paper based or contain wood, which provides an excellent food source for mold. Pipes, heating and air conditioning systems, washing machines and dryers are often located in a basement, bringing humidity and moisture to the area. Mold loves darkness and moisture!

Find the Mold in Your Basement

Your nose could be a good gauge to let you know if you have mold in your basement, but by the time you can detect a mildew or mold smell, the mold may have a pretty good hold. So, how do you know if you have basement mold? Regular inspections are the key to preventing mold from developing in your basement.

Regularly check drywall, ceilings, and baseboards, ceiling tiles, joists, carpeting and baseboards for signs of mold or stains that could indicate a water leak.

Check regularly areas that could be affected by a water leak, such as areas under the kitchen or bathrooms.

Pipes and the areas around them should be looked at periodically to ensure that water isn’t leaking slowly and providing the right conditions for mold growth.

The drywall around your dryer should be checked now and then too given that dryers produce heat and moisture every time they run.

Heating and air conditioning ductwork should be cleaned and checked on a regular basis to make sure mold spores aren’t being spread throughout your home every time the air conditioning or heat kicks on.
Check stored furniture and boxes too (undersides) to make sure mold hasn’t begun to develop in unseen places.

Prevent Mold in Your Basement

There are ways to prevent mold from forming in your basement.

One inexpensive tool is a humidity meter. Purchase one from your local hardware store and place it in your basement. A safe reading is anything below a 60% humidity level.

While you’re at the hardware store, purchase a dehumidifier too. A dehumidifier will help to control the humidity level by drawing moisture right from the air.

Wrap your basement pipes with insulation.

A well-ventilated basement is less likely to develop mold issues.

The ground area outside your home should slope away from the basement, not toward it.

If you have a water leak or flood, clean it up and get your basement dry as soon as possible!

An exhaust fan should be installed if there is a shower in the basement. Moist air will then be pulled outside the home instead of building up inside the basement.

The cost of drywall, new furniture, carpeting, and anything else affected by the mold would be far more costly and time consuming than a trip to the hardware store. You’ve heard the saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, haven’t you?

The investment you’ll make in a dehumidifier, humidity meter, exhaust fan, and yearly duct cleaning can’t compare to what it would cost to get rid of basement mold once it has appeared and taken hold in your home.