The professionals know how to get rid of mold and make it look so easy, don’t they? Here, they are using the Dry Ice Blasting method.
Filed under clean mold, remove mold by on Sep 8th, 2009. Comment. 
I am interested in buying a house that may have mold.
Is there a way to get rid of the mold if it is in the walls without taking the walls down? And is all mold dangerous?
I don’t know all the details, but, the seller should be responsible for having a possible mold issue taken care of. 1. All molds can be dangerous to people and pet’s. It depends on how much mold is in the living environment and what other health issues a person or pet has. Mold may affect people that have allergies,asthma, immune problems, etc. more than so called healthy people. 2. The seller should be required to have a mold test done by a professional to determine the level of mold spores in the home. 3. If the mold is visible, some kind of remediation needs to be done. 4. Moisture is the necessary ingredient that mold needs to live. (What’s causing the moisture problem?) 5. You don’t have to tear down the walls unless the walls have been compromised by the mold. (I don’t know what your walls are made of.) I can go on an on regarding Mold issues in peoples living environments. Since I don’t know the specifics of the possible mold infestation that your asking about, it’s hard for me to give further advise. Plus, it would help to know what state you live in. New York, for example has some of the toughest guidelines regarding mold remediation.
Filed under kill mold, mold removal by on Mar 20th, 2009. 1 Comment.
How well do ozone generators work killing mold?
westwitch9
0.0.0.0
No, there isn’t. You need to clean the area, (I assume it’s block) with bleach water. Then you need to find out why there is mold there in the first place. If it is moisture from the outside, you might look into the grading of your property. If the ground slopes toward your home, you have a negative grade and water is seeping in- You will need to raise the grade by sloping the ground away from your house.
You might also look at your gutters, if they are full of debris, this can cause water to flow over the side and down into your foundation. Concrete walkways next to a foundation is another way to trap water.
References :
10 years of my life
Filed under kill mold, mold removal, remove mold by on Mar 19th, 2009. 1 Comment.
we have just discovered mold under the carpets & walls in the bedroom. We are in the process of getting it removed, however I am due to have a baby next week & want to make sure that there are no mold spores that could be floating in the air in other rooms etc that could harm my newborn… How can I ensure that all the mold spores are not present when I bring the baby home… Please help 
Mr. Peabody
0.0.0.0
Mold can only grow if there’s moisture. Unless the moisture is eliminated, mold will continue to grow whenever the moisture is present. If there is mold in the walls, it’ll keep coming through the walls and floating in the air forever. However, the more contaminated material you can remove or clean, the better it is. But unless you are extremely careful, you will spread it around when you remove the carpet. You should google “how to remediate mold” before disturbing it. A popular saying in the business is: “a bad cleanup is worse than no cleanup at all.”
Also contrary to what everyone thinks, bleach is no good because the mold will grow back almost overnight (it’s roughly 97% water (good for more mold) which is what’s left after the 3% bleach evaporates in a few minutes!) Lysol is the best product you’ll find in a retail store for exposed surfaces and small areas like bathrooms. It really works and it’s cheap.
You might also want to google “health symptoms of mold”. Many people are surprised to learn that certain kinds of mold can cause headaches, difficulty concentrating, depression, insomnia and skin rashes as well as the obvious things like sneezing and respiratory issues. And anyone with a compromised immune system (ie pregnant or on chemo) will be at a much greater risk of serious illness so you should not be present when the cleanup is going on. Good luck.
References :
Professional experience
Filed under clean mold, remove mold by on Mar 17th, 2009. 1 Comment.
I got some mold on the walls of my basement after a flood. Now, there are these somewhat red spots in the carpet, and there’s little pieces of [of what look like pasta] growing out of it. They are in shades of cream to brown. How do i get rid of that [pasta thing] and some mold on the walls without my parents finding out?
If my parents find out, I’m in a lot of trouble.
be_a_lert
0.0.0.0
You have to get rid of the moisture. You will need to run a dehumidifier for a while to get the moisture out of the concrete. Once the dehumidifier goes from running most of the time to about 2 hours in a day, you can clean everything with a strong bleach solution to get rid of the leftover mold.
The carpet will most likely have to go. If nothing else, you will be left with stains.
Whether you get in trouble or not, you will have to get rid of the mold ASAP. Some (certainly not all) kinds of mold are very toxic and can make you very ill.
.
Filed under kill mold by on Mar 16th, 2009. 4 Comments.
I had an ice dam on my house, over the past couple of days water has been slowly trickling into my laundry room which has old plaster walls covered in wall paper and paint. The wall and the edge of the ceiling is wet and a little soft in places, and I think mold might be starting to grow, in some places the water running down the walls is orange (I don’t know why, possibly dye from the wallpaper, or something in the wood framing, the house is very old). I wanted to remodel this room eventually but I don’t have the time or money to do it right now. Is there any way to kill or prevent mold growth on and in the walls without ripping them out?
I was thinking of using a spray on the walls … but I have a feeling this is only superficial and that there could still be growth behind the plaster.
I’d just like to get some opinions.
tim r
0.0.0.0
A common misnomer is that a bleach/water solution will kill mold. IT WILL NOT. You need an industrial strength bleach to accomplish this. Without removing the wall board, you will not be able to safely remove the mold. If you wait, you can only hope the water dries out so the mold doesn’t prosper.
Kilz primer will not be effective if the mold is continuing to grow. You have to remove the mold, dry things out, then and only then can you encapsulate safely.
There are many reasons mold is dangerous, and that doesn’t take in account the adverse health effects. Feel free to e-mail me with the particulars and I will try to help you further. Good luck.
References :
certified mold inspector & remediator
Filed under kill mold by on Mar 16th, 2009. 5 Comments.
An article which appeared in the Washington Post on 1 February 2009 highlights the importance of locating and removing mold from your home.
A jury in Virginia has awarded the Meng family US$ 4.75 million dollars in damages for severe health problems caused by toxic mold found throughout their home. The family does not live in the home anymore.
This is truly a tragic story and should serve as a wake-up call to those who still have doubts about the serious health hazards posed by mold. Here are some of the symptoms that the family suffered:
· Migraines
· Heart palpitations
· Headaches
· Dizziness
· Nosebleeds
· Shortness of breadth
· Memory loss
· Asthma
One thing struck me about this case which is worth mentioning and that is the house was brand new. You don’t normally expect a mold problem in a new house, do you? It seems that’s how the Mengs saw it as well. Even though Mrs. Meng started getting migraines three months after moving into the new home, it was some 15 months later that the husband, Mr. Meng actually tested for and discovered mold.
So, clearly, it seems that you can get a mold problem even though your house may be new. If you have a damp area in your house –whether it is new or not- you’d do well to check it to see if you can spot any evidence of mold growth.
But a word of caution. Unless you know what you’re doing, you should abandon any notion of removing the mold yourself if you do find some. Call a professional or get some training if you fancy yourself as a bit of a handyman.
You will find the full story of what happened to the Meng family here.
Update: In a decision which is generating robust debate and dividing opinion, the original jury award of US$ 4.75 million has now been slashed to US$ 1.4 million. The major sticking point is that the judge found that the Mengs had not suffered “permanent injury”. But note that the Mengs still won their case. This thing still has legs: the next step is likely to be the Virginia Supreme Court where the Mengs will be arguing for the original award to be restored. Stay tuned.
Read the full story here, including the many comments.
Toxic mold in new home
The Mengs talk to Fox5 News about their ordeal
Filed under black mold, clean mold, kill mold, mold removal, remove mold by on Feb 27th, 2009. Comment.