Mold in your home can cause dangerous health problems to you and your family. If your home has been subjected to flooding or water damage recently, then it is at risk for mold growth! Mold exists just about anywhere; there is no such thing as a mold-free home. But, some levels of mold are more severe than others.
How to Recognize Mold: You can usually detect mold growth by sight or smell. A clear indication of mold is if your house has a musty odor. Mold looks like abnormal fuzzy, slimy or discolored patches growing in your home. You can also track down water stain marks on your floors or walls. If your walls and ceilings have discoloration or have any other signs of damage from water, chances are mold is growing somewhere in your home.
How to Prevent Mold: If your home has flooded or has had a leak, clean up and dry out the house within 48 hours. Open up doors and windows to air your house out, or rent industrial fans to help the drying process. Mold thrives in porous materials (carpet, insulation material, wallpaper, paper, wood, leather, etc), which are nearly impossible to clean and dry after 48 hours. So, remove these objects from your home immediately. For items that are cleanable, use detergent and water to kill off any possible mold growth. For hard surfaces, clean with a bleach solution.
The most important factor in preventing mold is to control the moisture in your home. If you have encountered any problems with water damage or leaks in your plumbing, walls or roof, fix these immediately! Mold loves moist and damp environments, so the best way to prevent mold from even proliferating is to take care of any sources of moisture.
If you have a bad case of mold in your home, please don’t try to rectify the problem yourself. Without proper experience, you could aggravate the mold, causing it to release even more dangerous toxins in the air. Instead, call up your local water damage and water damage restoration company in the Inland Empire. We can help you eradicate mold and make your home a cleaner, safer place.