Mold of any sort in your home is unsightly and most definitely unwelcome! It is damaging to human health, causing all kinds of allergies, headaches, nausea and sometimes serious illness related to the respiratory tract or the autoimmune system.
Basement mold is one of the most frequent problems - let's be honest, basements are often turned into dumping grounds for disregard pieces of furniture, old carpets and much, much more. They also frequently become a bit neglected so a problem such as basement mold can be firmly established before it is noticed.
The most common tell tale sign is the disgusting "musty" odour, if you are hit with such a smell when you enter your basement you can be certain you will find mold growth.
So, what should you look for? Well basement mold and mildew will most likely black, white or a sort of blue color and will look like "furry"spots. You are most likely to find them growing on materials made up of protein or cellulose, I suppose you could put it in simple terms and say any natural or organic items for example wood, paper,cardboard, carpet, natural textiles like wool or cotton, leather - this list is endless. It is worth mentioning that mold will also take hold in insulation which is made from fibreglass.
How can you eradicate basement mold?
As I mentioned before mold can be harmful to human health so, before you begin it is essential that you have the correct protective clothing i.e. overalls, goggles, face mask and gloves.
1. Begin by emptying the basement - disregard anything which has mold growth on it. Furniture you may want to put to one side and clean up later (but before returning it to the cleaned up basement) and anything metal may be rusty but should be free from mold.
2. Check any exposed wood in the structure of the building such as rafters, if the mold is extreme and has caused a lot of damage it may need to be replaced. If the mold is in the insulation this too should be removed and replace once the basement is free of mold and dried out.
3. Now it is time to establish the cause of the mold, mold needs wet conditions to flourish so have a good look round for signs of leaking pipes, cracks or holes in walls - anything at all which will allow water to seep into the basement. If you are at all unsure it is probably sensible to have the place inspected by a professional builder or plumber.
4. The next step is vital have any repairs done to rectify the cause of the dampness because until this is done you can clean all day every day and the mold will just keep coming back!
5. Time to begin cleaning! It is essential of things you can use from commercial mold removers to plain hot soapy water. vinegar, tea tree oil and grapefruit seed oils are also very good options. If you are using chemicals make sure the area is well ventilated. If the floor has been carpeted it is probably wise to rip it up and dispose of it however, if this is not an option you could try using a mold cleaner and perhaps rent or purchase a steam cleaner which will kill off any mold spores.
6. Once the hard work has been completed and the cleaning has been executed the whole area must be properly dried out to prevent the mold returning. The best way to do this is with a dehumidifier, this will remove all the moisture from the air far more efficiently than opening windows or turning on heating.
7. Time now to get the paint brush out and repaint walls etc. You must be especially careful when returning items to the basement that they are mold free to prevent any chance of recurrence.
8. Take greater care of your basement! Be vigilant regarding leaks and use a dehumidifier regularly to prevent the basement mold from returning.
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