If you have ever spotted a fuzzy, greenish-black substance growing somewhere in your home, you are not alone. You’re likely looking at a small patch of black mold and wondering how it could have ever gotten into your home. The answer is simple and yet it can also mean that you have some repairs you need to make.
What Is Black Mold?
Mold is a type of fungus. Mold is everywhere, even in your home regardless of how well you clean. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mold is most likely to grow in areas that are warm and damp. Rooms of your home that have high humidity levels or that are extremely damp are the most likely locations for mold to grow.
What Can You Do about Black Mold?
The first thing that you need to do is to assess how bad the mold growth is. In some cases, cleaning the mold and reducing humidity levels is enough. If your windows are leaking and mold is consistently growing, though, you have a different situation. You’ll need to repair or replace the windows to completely correct the problem. Professional window installation is always the best choice because that ensures that you won’t just have the same issue all over again.
Hard surfaces can almost always be cleaned. If there is any decay or rot, however, you may not be able to get all of the mold. In places like your shower or tub, you might need to clean the area thoroughly with chlorine bleach. Make sure that you properly ventilate the area so that you don’t breathe in too many fumes from the bleach.
Where Does Black Mold Show up in Your Home?
Black mold can show up in almost any part of your home, especially if there is any sort of damage. Holes in your roof, damaged windows, clothes dryers that vent inside rather than outside, and even steam from cooking or showering can all contribute to black mold growth. You’ll need to be aware of the areas in your home that are susceptible to moisture so that you can be on the lookout for mold growth.
Is Prevention Possible?
After cleaning as thoroughly as you can, preventing mold regrowth is all about keeping the moisture at bay. Since the humidity is what the mold thrives on, you have to do whatever you can to reduce humidity levels. It might be a good idea to invest in a dehumidifier as well as a humidity monitor that allows you to see at a glance how damp a particular space is.
What Are the Symptoms of Black Mold Exposure?
Some people react badly to black mold after exposure to it. If you have family members who have asthma or other lung issues, black mold can be a serious concern. Talk to your family doctor if anyone is complaining of eye irritation, trouble breathing, headaches, or other unusual symptoms. It’s especially important to talk to a doctor if those symptoms go away when your family member isn’t at home around the mold any longer.
Black mold can be a serious problem that you don’t want to overlook. the good news is that you can at least take some steps to manage the impact of the mold and get it under control.
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