The spread of mould across damp areas in your walls and floors can be extremely problematic. When mould grows indoors, it can result in damage to your home, the spread of allergens or irritants, and sometimes even toxic substances. If you are curious about the water stains on your walls, it’s best to get to the bottom of things and implement the right remedial measures.
However, when it comes to indoor mould, there are a ton of questions clients have but often find answers challenging to come by. Advanced Remediation Solutions, wants to arm you with the most accurate information available to help you avoid assumptions and ineffective measures. To do this, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about mould and other hazardous material removals.
1. Do I have black mould?
The reference to black mould in the media and general understanding connects it to Stachybotrys which was involved in many court cases. The color of the mould is more dependent on the food source than the type of mould species/genus. Testing will be required to determine if you do actually have the much-maligned Stachybotrys in your home.
2. Can I clean the mould up with bleach?
Due to its ionic structure, bleach cannot soak into substances which are porous. So the chlorine stays above the surface, while the water is absorbed. It means that bleach will only kill the mould on the surface of porous materials like wood and drywall. Besides this, bleach happens to be toxic. Chlorine bleach produces fumes that pollute the air and can become harmful to both humans and pets. Chlorine bleach also generates a by-product called dioxin, which is linked to cancer.
3. Is there something I can use to get rid of the mould?
There is a rumor online that vinegar and baking soda, or borax, or hydrogen peroxide, or tea tree oil can get rid of mould. These mixtures do not even match all the supposed mould cleaners found at the local hardware stores. We have not discovered any proof to support the effectiveness of any of these products. We find the best solution is to remove the mould-contaminated materials.
4. Can I remove the mould myself?
If it’s a small area and hopefully on a non-porous surface then yes. However, that little bit of mould you can see on the baseboard may not be the whole problem. Behind the baseboard and on the backside of the drywall it may be fuzzy and black for many square feet. It’s best to have a professional with the right equipment and training come in a do an assessment.
5. Do I need to have mould testing done?
If you can see mould, then you know you have it, why then pay to test for something that is obvious. However, reasons to check for mould may resonate with the following –
- You notice continuous health issues among people in the building.
- It is part of the investigation to determine the location of the mould if it’s not visible
- Post-testing to verify the effectiveness of the remediation.
6. How do I know that the mould is gone?
This is where testing comes in, a pre-test to determine the areas and levels or types of mould and a post-remediation test to verify that the contaminated areas are cleared, and the spore counts are acceptable.
7. Will the mould come back?
Mold spores are out there in the world, and there’s no way to stop that. However, mould needs specific things to grow, like moisture, a food source, and the right temperature. Keep things dry, immediately deal with any type of water issue, if possible use mould resistant building materials, and ventilate areas that remain damp like bathrooms and kitchens.
If you have any more questions about mould and its removal, get in touch with the experts at Advanced Remediation Solutions. As the best asbestos and mould removal company in Edmonton, AB, we provide specific solutions that make sense for your particular site and situation. We help you locate the cause and origin of your mould problem then we take the best possible approach to eliminate your troubles. To learn more about how we can help you, please click here or contact us by clicking here.
