The answer to this question depends on the surfaces the mold has been growing on and how severe the mold problem has gotten.
Mold in or on windows:
If Mold has grown on windows, in most cases you can it on your own. However, if the mold is growing on the window sill or window frame and is penetrating the surface further remediation will most likely be required.
What can I use to clean molds?
You will want to use soap and water, or a mold product often available in stores. If using a mold product, read the label, apply it for the right dwelling time (how long it needs to stay on the surface before cleaning), clean the mold, wipe it down, bag the cloth /paper in a bag and seal it of (tie it up), then throw it away. Not it is also good to help vacuum and clean all surfaces. Also, make sure you have lots of fresh air coming into the area you are cleaning.
Do not use Bleach! To read more about why not to use bleach you can find an article on our web site.
It’s better to know how to prevent mold on windows:
- Wipe down the condensation that is on and around your windows; further more prevent condensation in the first place: If you see condensation on your windows it is a good indication that your heat is too high compared to the temperature outside in the winter or your air conditioning is too high compared to the temperature outside in the summer. Thus causing your humidity levels to be too high in your house, when the heat in your house meets the cold window this causes condensation and vice versa in the summer. It may also be an indication that your windows were improperly installed or improperly insulated or caulked, allowing water to penetrate and build up between your windows and allowing cold spots where it is not insulated. This also may affect the drywall below your window. In this case, this is no longer situation that you can handle yourself and it is a good idea to call us, we will provide a free visible mold inspection and a free estimate.
- Clean the dust that always finds a way to build up on your windows, sill and window frames. Dust is a food source for mold and if there isn’t a food source mold will not grow on a non-porous material (example: Glass). Mold grows behind the screen (net), in between the windows, the frames, and one of the reasons this occurs is the dust buildup, giving mold a viable food source and allowing it to continue to grow. It is a good idea to take apart your windows depending on the type you have and vacuum, wipe them clean with soap and water and dry them completely before reinstalling them. Also vacuum your window screens and spray them clean with soap and water and again allow your screens to fully dry before you reinstall them. This is a good chore to add to your spring cleaning list. If water is penetrating your windows it is a good indication your windows were not properly installed and if the same person installed all of your windows you may have similar problems below and around all of your windows.
If your suspect that water is penetrating your windows or that they were not installed properly contact us today and have one of our experienced and certified inspectors come check it out for you we also have thermal imaging which can help aid our inspection and give you a better idea of what is going on behind your walls.
Clean Molds from Dry wall:
In Most CASES it can not or should not been done alone, mold on drywall usually penetrates since it is a porous material, and therefore is not just surface mold. Generally there is more than meets the eye if it is on the front of your drywall there is a good chance you will find more mold on the back of your drywall. Because of this by disturbing the mold on your drywall you are causing it to go into defence mode and it will release millions of spores into your air and may spread to other areas of your home. Just like when a maple tree is under stress it will drop thousands of keys as a defence mechanism to try and reproduce itself, it is the same when it comes to mold on your drywall.
Clean mold from concrete:
If you can clean it – If your basement is not finished scrub all of the concrete with a steel brush and T.S.P and then wipe down entirely, you still need to disinfect and hepa vacuum. In a lot of cases when you see white on your concrete it is commonly mistaken for mold, but it is actually efflorescence. Efflorescence occurs when excess water meets concrete (calcination) and in most cases is a good indication that you have foundation or waterproofing issues or a leak coming from another source in your home. If the white areas continue horizontally around the perimeter of your basement it is most likely a foundation problem. If the white marks are coming down your wall then the source is coming from somewhere else. However there is white mold and without mould testing we can’t be certain if it is mould or not.
If you require testing or need a foundation expert give us a call and we can make an appointment or have a foundation/waterproofing expert contact you.
Clean mold in showers:
On the grout do it your self……… don’t spend money, it’s not harmful just make sure you do a thorough clean of your bathroom after you have cleaned the mold. However if there are areas where your grout is damaged or missing, or if your shower is not properly sealed it is more than likely that water has penetrated and the walls behind your shower are affected with mold.
If you suspect your drywall behind your shower is affected call us and we can perform a free visible mold inspection.
How to Clean Molds in your Attic or Floor Joists
This is not a “do it yourself “project you should take on. When mold is on your floor joists or attic ceiling the only effective way to remove it is with media blasting; either ice blasting or soda blasting with your attic sealed from the rest of your house. First if your attic has insulation it needs to be sucked out first, then media blasting, then every surface needs to be hepa vacuumed, then cleaned and then hepa vacuumed again. After the remediation process the source that caused the mold in the first place needs to be identified. There are a number of reasons why you will find mould in your attic: not enough or improper ventilation, not enough soffits in ratio to the square footage of your attic, no vapour barrier or your vapour barrier is not installed properly, leaks, if your attic was not properly insulated creating cold spots and we all know that hot air rises so when it meets the cold spots this will cause condensation, your baffles improperly installed, insufficient out take air, other vents from your house venting into your attic instead of outside. These and many others may be the cause for mold in your attic and this is an area that needs an experts eye to determine the source or sources and to know how they can be properly solved so the mold doesn’t return.
Canada’s Restoration Services : There are many things that can go wrong in your attic let an expert make them right, we have done 100’s of attics and understand how your attic is supposed to be to create proper air movement and eliminate cold spots and will identify any other problems you may have in your attic and solve them. Contact us for an attic inspection with one of our experienced and IICRC certified and trained inspectors, we can help solve any mold issues you may have.