When it
comes to mold, there are a lot of opinions and assumptions that are made based
on what is and isn’t dangerous, how it should be handled, and what will kill
it. A lot of these assumptions, however, prove to be false. Mold is dangerous
and it is important to understand the truth. Here are a few common mold myths
that prove to be just that.
Mold is Natural, You Shouldn’t Worry About it
While mold
may be natural, consistent exposure to mold can have an extremely negative
effect on one’s health as well as weaken the walls or ceilings in your building
causing a safety hazard. Weak structures can be hard to spot and, most of time,
can go unnoticed until it is too late. If mold is growing in your home or place
of business, it needs to be safely removed by a qualified professional to
ensure that it is completely gone with no further hazards.
A Small Amount of Mold is Nothing to Worry About
Really, the
opposite is true. If even a small amount of mold is visibly growing on surfaces
in your home, you definitely have something to worry about. Mold is a lot like
an iceberg, you generally only see the tip of it while the majority remains
unseen and below the surface. If you see a little bit of mold you most likely
have more growing under the surface and out of site and will require
remediation.
Fix it With Bleach
A lot of
times mold begins growing on walls, ceilings, carpets and other surfaces
because these surfaces are porous and retain moisture, creating a cozy living
space where mold can thrive. Bleach is made to be effective on hard, non-porous
surfaces since it isn’t made to go beneath. However, mold spores spread roots
and can go deep beneath a porous surface.
Therefore, using a cleaner that will be unable to reach the mold at its
roots will be ineffective. Bleach may kill the visible mold, but it can’t
totally eradicate it.
If it Isn’t Black, You Can Relax
Black
mold can cause various problems and is typically
the mold people most associate with being dangerous. However, all mold can be
threatening and has the possibility of causing allergic reactions and
respiratory problems. Just because your mold isn’t black does not mean it can’t
hurt you. You should hire a mold remediation company to completely remove any
mold you find in your home.
Mold is Easy to Remove and You Should do it Yourself
While you
Might be able to clean up and remove small quantities and certain kinds of
mold, most people are not equipped with the right instruments and training to
perform a proper mold remediation. Getting rid of the visible, fuzzy spores and
disposing of the evidence of mold by wiping it off or with a chemical cleaner,
such as bleach, will not completely solve your problem. Mold removal
requires identifying the cause of the growth and isolating it to prevent more
spores from growing, cleaning or removing the affected surfaces all the way
down to the roots, all while remaining safe with the appropriate protective
gear and without causing the surfaces to collapse on top of you. Mold
remediation is high risk and should be handled by a trained professional to
ensure it is performed properly.
