No matter how it happened—high indoor humidity, a sneaky water leak, or just heavy moisture, you've got an unwelcome guest in your home: mold.

If you've discovered mold in your house, you may be trying to figure out how to get rid of it and wondering if a mold removal company is necessary. If you're on a budget, you may be considering attempting mold mitigation yourself.

Mold is a growing threat (literally) that can damage your property and pose significant health risks to everyone involved, so it's important to act quickly. That being said, it's important to ensure that you remove mold safely and thoroughly so you can avoid more damaging mold problems later on.

What is Mold?

Mold is a fungus that thrives in damp, warm environments with excess moisture, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and HVAC systems. Often due to high indoor humidity or moisture, mold appears in various forms and colors, including black, white, orange, green, or purple.

Mold reproduces via tiny, lightweight spores that travel through the air. These spores often settle on damp surfaces and start growing. Common household places where mold can appear include walls, ceilings, carpets, furniture, and even clothing. In fact, it's particularly fond of areas that are consistently exposed to moisture, such as your basement or windowsills.

Health Risks of Exposure to Mold

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to mold can lead to a variety of health risks, especially for individuals with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions. Symptoms include allergic reactions such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, skin rash, and, in severe cases, shortness of breath.

Even if you're not prone to allergic reactions, mold exposure can irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs. It can also reduce indoor air quality if mold persists.

How Indoor Mold Can Damage Your Home

Beyond health risks, mold can also cause significant damage to your property. Left unchecked, mold can rot wood surfaces and degrade the integrity of your home's structure. It can discolor walls, ceilings, and fabrics, leading to unsightly stains that can be tough to remove.

Unchecked mold growth can lead to costly structural repairs in extreme cases. Understanding how to get rid of mold in your house protects your health and preserves your property's value.

The key to minimizing the impact of mold on health and the home is early detection. Stay vigilant, and don't hesitate to seek professional help when necessary.

Mold Detective: How to Identify Mold in Your Home

To know what you're dealing with, you first need to identify its presence. Detecting mold types is not always a straightforward process, but there are common signs you can look for:

Recognize the Areas of Mold Growth

Mold often appears as a fuzzy or slimy patch that may be green, black, white, or even pink in color. It thrives in damp areas and porous materials, so places like attics, closets, and even curtains are prime spots. You may also find it in damp parts of your bathroom, on fabrics, and wet materials such as books stored in damp basements.

Know What to Look For

Here's a quick overview of mold types and common things to look for:

  • Mildew/moldy surfaces: Mildew is a type of fungi, typically gray, white or powdery often found on surfaces like shower curtains and bathroom tiles. It smells mild and musty, like damp clothing.
  • Musty smells: If you detect a musty smell anywhere in your home, that's a telltale sign of a high concentration of mold. This odor could be coming from a hamper filled with damp towels, a damp crawlspace under your home, or even carpets with mold growing in the padding. Mold and mildew can penetrate in moldy surfaces, making removal difficult.
  • Mold inside walls or outside: Two types of mold, penicillium and aspergillus, thrive on materials like insulation, carpet, and wallpaper. It is usually blue, green, white, or yellow.
  • Damp basements or bathrooms: A type of mold, cladosporium, is often found on water stains and in damp areas like fabrics, showers, and basement walls. It appears black or dark green.

Should You DIY Mold Remediation or Hire a Mold Removal Company?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are several important factors to consider first. As you assess your mold problem in your home, ask yourself the following questions:

  • What is the size of the problem? If the area looks contained and less than 10 square feet, in most cases, you can handle the job yourself.
  • Is there water damage? If mold is due to a leaky pipe, plumbing leaks, or water issue, you may need a professional mold remediation and contractor to ensure a clean, safe repair. Call a professional immediately if there is standing water or significant water damage.
  • Is the mold due to poorly ventilated HVAC systems? If you find growth near the intake or have identified moisture issues, you may need a professional remediation company as well as a thorough HVAC/air duct cleaning and guidance.
  • Are you otherwise healthy? You should only consider tackling mold issues yourself if you do not have health concerns that could be worse from exposure to mold.
  • Have you had inspections or mold assessments done recently? If you've had a thorough inspection by a mold removal company or professional and your risk is low, you may be safe to tackle it yourself.

When to Call a Professional

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we need to call in the pros. These are signs it's time to reach out to a professional mold remediation service:

  • Large areas more than 10 square feet: Larger mold infestations require specialized equipment and expertise to handle safely and effectively.
  • HVAC systems: Mold growth in your heating and air systems can spread spores throughout your home. This is best left to professional remediation companies.
  • Water damage: Moldy drywall, plumbing leaks, roof leaks, and other significant water damage should be saved for the professionals.
  • Black mold removal: The villainous black mold, also known as Stachybotrys chartarum, is toxic and particularly dangerous. This usually requires hiring professional organizations like a black mold removal company.

Safety Precautions: Preparing for DIY Mold Mitigation

If you've determined to tackle the mold problem yourself, your safety should be top priority. Mold can release spores into the air that can be harmful when inhaled. With that in mind, it's important to approach the cleaning process with extreme caution.

Importance of Personal Protective Equipment

Before diving in, it is crucial to wear protective gear, such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This includes:

  • Safety glasses to protect your eyes from mold spores and cleaning agents.
  • Gloves to protect your hands from mold and the use of cleaning chemicals.
  • Respirator or face mask: An N95 respirator is often recommended as it can help prevent the inhalation of mold spores. A face mask can offer some protection but may not be as effective as a respirator.
  • Protective clothing: Clothing that covers your skin can prevent direct contact with moldy items. It's often recommended to use disposable coveralls.

Containing the Area

  • Seal the area: Use plastic sheets to section off the area and help prevent the spread of mold spores during the cleaning process. This is especially important in cases of significant mold growth, as disturbing the mold can release a large number of spores into the air.
  • Treat the doors and windows: You'll also want to seal off windows and close doors. Ensure that the containment is airtight to trap spores within the work area effectively. Or, if you can create negative pressure, such as with a fan blowing air out open windows, that can also help prevent spores from spreading.
  • Bag up moldy items: All clothing, rags, and items should be sealed in bags before disposal.

Best Way to Get Rid of Mold In Your House

Let's go over how to clean up the affected area thoroughly and safely. What you'll need:

  • Sponges, brushes, and rags for cleaning and wiping down areas
  • Spray bottles and buckets for cleaning solutions
  • Plastic sheets
  • Large fans and/or air purifiers
  • Protective gear mentioned above

1. Fix Moisture Problems First

Before you can clean up the infestation, you need to make sure the root of the issue is addressed first. Fix the leak or moisture source (if applicable) either on your own or through professional organizations like a plumber.

2. Seal Off the Area

Take furniture and other items out of the affected area and store them safely in a separate place. You can then begin sealing off the area with plastic sheets to prevent the spread.

3. Start With Hard, Non-Porous Surfaces

Scrub the contaminated hard surfaces first, using strong cleaning products designed to kill mold—either a commercial solution or more natural methods such as vinegar or baking soda. Distilled white vinegar can kill 82% of mold and is a safe option.

How to make your own: Add vinegar to a spray bottle and spritz the area, letting it sit for 60 minutes. Scrub thoroughly and wipe dry with a clean, damp cloth.

4. Take Care of Porous Surfaces

Porous materials like carpet, upholstery, ceiling tiles, or drywall can be trickier to handle. Mold spores can fill in the tiny spaces and crevices, making it difficult to remove completely. In some cases, these materials may need to be thrown away if they become heavily moldy (EPA). (This is why it is recommended to replace wet materials like towels regularly.)

If you're dealing with an item of sentimental value, you may be able to gently clean these items with vinegar and run them through the wash.

Cleaning Mold Out of Fabrics

For machine-washable fabrics, brush away any visible mold and wash using the hottest water setting recommended along with a laundry disinfectant. Make sure to run it through the dryer to ensure it is completely dry afterward. For dry-clean-only items, it's best to take them to a professional cleaner.

5. Dry the Area Thoroughly

When you've done the heavy scrubbing and cleaned the moldy area, you can rinse the area with clean water and rags to wipe away cleaning solution and residue. If you live in a moist climate, use fans or open windows to make sure the area will dry completely. You can also run a HEPA filter to maintain clean indoor air quality.

6. Remove the Contaminated Items

After you've finished cleaning, make sure to dispose of the contaminated materials in plastic bags before disposal.

How to Clean Mold with Natural Cleaning Remedies

There are a variety of natural methods that are strong enough to kill mold:

  • White vinegar: Known to kill 82% of mold. Apply with a spray bottle, leave for an hour, and wipe clean.
  • Hydrogen peroxide: Known to remove mold and disinfect, hydrogen peroxide is an effective removal solution. It is also safer than bleach and can penetrate porous materials effectively. Apply with a spray bottle and wipe clean.
  • Baking soda: Can work as a mold killer and deodorizer. Mix a teaspoon with water in a spray bottle then spray, scrub, and rinse.

Avoid Using Bleach to Remove Mold

Bleach is often used to remove mold, however, it can be harmful if mixed with other household cleaners. For this reason, we recommend opting for vinegar or another safe cleaning solution designed to kill mold.

Pro tip: Never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia. Always use protective equipment like rubber gloves and goggles when using bleach.

Preventing Future Mold Growth in Your Home

Now that we've covered how to identify and remove mold from your property, it's time to share some tips on preventing mold growth in the future. The key to stopping mold is having favorable conditions that keep excess moisture and mold at bay.

1. Keep Humidity Levels Low

High humidity levels provide an ideal environment for mold growth, so it's important to keep these levels as low as you can. Using an air conditioner or dehumidifier can help you achieve and maintain humidity levels below 50%. If you find yourself frequently battling mold issues, investing in a hygrometer, which measures humidity, can also be beneficial. As humidity levels can fluctuate throughout the day and with the changing seasons, it's recommended to check levels frequently.

2. Allow Proper Ventilation

It's important to have proper ventilation in your home, particularly in moisture-generating areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. Using exhaust fans that vent outside your home can help to control moisture and mold growth. Make sure to promptly repair any leaks in your home's roof, walls, or plumbing to prevent water accumulation.

3. Conduct Regular Cleaning and Maintenance

Regular cleaning and maintenance of your home can also help prevent mold growth. Be especially vigilant about cleaning up and fully drying areas of your home. If carpets and upholstery have been soaked and cannot be dried, consider removing them to prevent mold growth.

Conclusion

Eliminating mold from your home might seem like an overwhelming task, but with the right knowledge and tools, it can be done effectively and affordably. Always perform regular checks for mold and mildew, and if you decide to tackle any issues yourself, make sure to prioritize your safety by wearing appropriate personal protective gear.

Keeping your home dry and well-ventilated can significantly prevent mold growth. If you see signs of mold or mildew, act quickly to prevent costly and harmful situations down the road.

How TenantCloud Can Help in Mold Prevention

If you own a home or manage rental properties, it is important to take measures to prevent mold problems. Regular inspections, prompt response to maintenance requests, and keeping a keen eye on humidity levels are key practices that can help keep mold at bay.

Our property management software simplifies all your rental-related tasks for you, including handling maintenance schedules, tenant repair requests, and property inspections. Schedule service work, find service professionals, message tenants about upcoming repair appointments, and more. Try TenantCloud for free today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a professional mold removal service worth it?

Yes, a professional mold removal service is generally worth it for homes with large areas of mold, typically over 10 square feet. A company can also assess for hidden mold issues and safely remove mold that would have harmful effects if exposed to non-professionals.

How can I prevent mold growth in bathrooms?

Consider applying mold inhibitors or sealers designed for porous, concrete materials such as showers and tiles. This helps prevent mold growth in the future.

How much does professional black mold removal cost?

Professional black mold removal can cost anywhere from $500 to $30,000+, depending on the size and damage of the area. Large areas, such as basements and attics, will typically be more expensive to mitigate than a small bathroom or area of drywall.