Home Mold Removal

Removing Mold from the Home Can be Done by a Homeowner as Long as Precautions are Taken

By Mark J. Donovan




Mold is a serious problem and many homes are faced with it at some point and time in their lifetimes. A moist environment is the key ingredient for mold growth. By eliminating moisture within the home you can dramatically reduce the chance of home mold growth. Home mold removal can be done by the do it yourself homeowner but care is necessary to prevent spreading it, and making yourself and others living in the home ill. As a matter of fact, often a diligent homeowner can do a better job of mold removal than the pros, and at a fraction of the cost.

This said, home mold removal by the homeowner should be limited to relatively small projects. For example, a small mold growth problem in a bathroom can certainly be taken care of by the homeowner.

However, a basement or attic that has a major infestation of mold growth should probably be left to the professionals.

Before tackling a home mold removal project it is important that you first read up on the various mold removal techniques and cleaning products to use. The EPA’s website has extensive information on mold and how to remove mold from the home. It also explains the types of mold and the various levels of protection required when removing mold from the home.

Mold spreads by sending out airborne mold spores. As a result it is extremely important when doing home mode removal to first seal off and contain the affected area properly. By sealing off the area you prevent the spread of these airborne mold spore particles to the rest of the home.

Start off by sealing heat and air conditioning vents and opening up a window and installing a window fan to create a negative pressure that draws air out of the mold infected room.

Also make sure when removing mold from the home to always wear a respirator, long pants, a long sleeve shirt, shoes and socks, and gloves.

In addition, after removing mold from the home always strip down and wash the clothes immediately and take a shower to remove the mold spores from your body.

When it comes to removing mold, washing down affected surfaces with bleach is not the answer. Using bleach may remove the appearance of mold but it does not eliminate the mold altogether. The mold roots will still remain and the mold will return in all its glory in just a few days if the affected area remains damp.

If the moisture that spawned the mold growth came from sewage or grey water, the only effective home mold removal solution is to remove the affected surfaces outright. This may mean tearing out drywall and insulation for example and having to rebuild. If the moisture that spawned the mold growth came from clean water, use a wet vacuum to first remove the water. Then follow up vacuuming up the loose debris and mold growth from the affected surfaces and placing it in sealed heavy duty trash bags.

Next, use a coarse brush and/or rag, along with water and a detergent, and scrub the surfaces. Don’t, however, soak the surfaces. After scrubbing down the surfaces let them fully dry out and then go back and vacuum them again using a HEPA vacuum.

How to remove basement mold

After vacuuming up the dried surfaces place the collected material and vacuum filter in heavy duty sealed garbage bags and dispose of them properly. With a little luck, and if the affected areas are kept dry, your home mold removal efforts should be successful.


For more help on Basement Additions, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s Basement Remodeling Bid sheet. The Basement Remodeling Bid Sheet will help ensure that your hire the right contractor so that your basement remodeling project is done correctly and you get the project finished on time and budget.

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