Mold and mildew quite regularly appear on various surfaces within the home which have been exposed to moisture on a regularly. These molds are microscopic fungi which flourish in areas where there is high humidity or dampness. In many homes mold can be a problem all year round due to high humidity in summer months and condensation when the temperatures are low in winter. You are most likely to find mold and mildew growing on cellulose bases materials like For example wood, cotton and paper. Protein materials like leather, wool and silk are also prone because these Like the cellulose based materials are materials on which mold can feed, synthetic materials usually escape.
Mold will also attack and grow on carpets, rugs, shower curtains, walls and ceilings - the actual fabric of your home. Remember, mold and mildew spores are very hardy and will lie dormant long periods. If the moisture level in the you home rises to a sufficient level they to begin to grow. Not only will they cause ugly blackish stains and a horrid musty odour but they will actually eat into fabrics etc. for mold treatment is no carried out.
The best mold treatment is no mold treatment it is actually prevention! Here are some things you can do to prevent mold in the first place.
1. Building maintenance - check regularly for anything which may allow water to penetrate into your home things like leaking pipes, blocked gutters, cracked outer walls - all of these will contribute to damp conditions and lead to mold growth
2. Good housekeeping - a good place to start, dirt and grim provide mold with the food it requires to grow and multiply remove it and you remove a food source.
3. Use wax as a barrier on leather items. This will stop moisture getting into the leather and therefore protect it against mold. Alternatively there are commercial sprays available.
4. Don't leave dirty, wet clothing lying around your home - put it in the laundry basket!
5. Open out your shower curtain and allow it to dry thoroughly.
6. If you have a problem with moisture or condensation in closets etc. storing clothing along with moisture inhibitors is a good idea as this will help prevent mildew. If the weather is favourable, air your clothes outside in the sunshine every now and then.
7. Make Ventilation a priority - keep air circulating. Open windows, switch on an electric fan. Air which is moist and stagnant is just what mold likes!
8. Leave your closet doors open to let air circulate and never put clothes which are not completely dry in the closet.
9. Lastly but very importantly dry out the areas of dampness or excess moisture which is accumulated through normal daily routine or through leaks etc.
Any problems should be repaired and then remove the moisture either with a dehumidifier, absorbent silica or something similar or simply by heating and opening windows.
There is different Mold treatment for different types of materials. Here are a few suggestions:
Fabrics and Clothes:
It is important that you start mold treatment as soon as you discover a problem. The first, brush the item to remove as much of the mold as possible - Remember, do this outside to prevent mold spores travelling throughout the house. Wash the item using detergent and where possible allow to dry outside in the sunshine. There are organic detergents such as Molergent which is a combined mold treatment and laundry detergent available on the market and is proven to be very effective.
However there are alternatives which you may already have at home. Try lemon juice and salt which you apply to the item of clothing and leave to dry in the sun. Chlorine bleach is another option. Dilute 2 tablespoons in about a quart of warm water and leave the stain to soak for between 5 and 15 minutes, then rise and allow to dry. The big draw back with using bleach is that it should not be used on wool or silk items and it can take the colour out items so caution should be taken if going for this option.
Carpets, Rugs, Upholstery and Mattresses.
Mold treatment in soft furnishings can be a real pain. There are a few options however, first step is the same no matter what you are trying to remove mold from. Take the item outside and brush loose mold off, then use a vacuum cleaner and suck up as much mold dust as possible. Remember - mold dust can be toxic so be sure to wear a face mask, goggles etc. The next step is to dry the item out preferably outside in the sun but if this is not possible you could use a heater or a dehumidifier would be useful for this task.
In the case of mattresses and upholstery the mold treatment involves using a cloth which is soaked in an alcohol solution and wiping the mold infected area then allow to dry thoroughly. If your piece of upholstery is particularly badly affected the only real method of mold treatment to consider is fumigation which will have to be professionally done.
For carpets and rugs you could try using a carpet shampooing machine or a detergent and damp cloth. Steam cleaners can also help. There is one detergent that you can use on all of these items called Molderizer - an organic product it works my changing the DNA make up of the mold. It is also completely safe to use in homes where children and pets are around.
Wood.
Where you have wood which has not been treated or painted you will have a greatly increased risk of mold and mildew forming if the surface is subjected to wet or damp conditions. Using enamel or oil resin paints should give the wood resistance.
Mold treatment for wood involves scrubbing the area down with something like washing soda or another detergent like Molderizer. It is important that the area is dried out as quickly as possible and then painted or sprayed with a protective substance like one called Safe Shield which will prevent mold spores germinating in the same area in future. If you have wood which is very badly affected by mold the best plan is to remove it and have it replaced.
No comments:
Post a Comment