Tips for dealing with black mold.

Black mold is also often referred to as toxic black mold or stachybotrys. It has the potential to cause numerous health problems, and it is for this reason that it is important that black mold is dealt with effectively. This is the mold that has been liked to sudden infant syndrome, and it can also lead to toxic symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, and breathing problems. Like all molds it can trigger asthma and allergies. It can be differentiated from other forms of mold because of its slimy greenish-black color.

In many instances the best advice for dealing with black mold will be to get the professional in; a rule of thumb is that if the mold is covering an area greater than ten square feet then you are going to need some expert help. When going anywhere near black mold it is important that you wear proper safety equipment; wear a respiratory mask and eye protection in case you release any spores into the air. The process of eradicating black mold can be broken down into four parts; contain, eradicate, remove, and protect. We will next look at how this process actually works when dealing with black mold.

The first thing you will want to do is to contain the area of the black mold so that it doesn’t spread elsewhere. This means that you should remove any furniture from the room that you are sure hasn’t been affected and keep people out of the room. It is also worth doing all you can to dry your home out as this can remove the conditions that molds of all types thrive in. If the area of mold is small then you can soak it with a solution made up of half bleach and half water or half vinegar and half water; leave this to soak for fifteen minutes and this will eradicate/kill the mold. You can then rinse the area to remove the dead mold. To prevent the black mold from ever returning you can protect the area with a borate-based solution.

Black mold is dangerous so the best way of dealing with it is to prevent it occurring in the first place. You can do this by removing the conditions that mold likes to grow in. Keep your home ventilated, and prevent moisture from accumulating. Don’t forget to also ventilate those too often forgotten places like the attic and cubby holes; these are the areas where you are most likely to develop black mold.

About the Author:

Charles Boday is a Certified Mold Inspector and Contractor, graduate from Certified Mold Inspector & Contractors Institute. He has worked with some of the countries top scientists seeking alternative poison-free mold remediation techniques. He has testified as an expert foundation witness and is the Author of the books, The Ultra Dry Basement.