Steps And Tips On Basement Mold Removal
No one wants mold or mildew in their home. It is very harmful to humans. Did you know that mold is the main cause of indoor allergies? The only perk that comes with basement mold is that the spiders, mice, and roaches won’t be looking around trying to find a nice, cozy place to call home under and around your home! Mold keeps them far away. Basement mold removal isn’t entirely easy, but it’s not extremely hard either.
Basement Mold Removal Photo by tigertwo via Flickr
Since mold and mildew go hand in hand, you probably have mildew in your basement as well. Before you jump the gun and pay money got someone to come clean up and fix everything, make sure it’s mold. There’s no worse feeling than paying a professional to come and fix something that’s not broken. Mold is most of the time white or black. Sometimes it’s a blueish-gray fuzzy spot. Mold can grow almost anywhere.
If you have anything in your basement that looks anything similar to what was previously described, then it may be a good idea to have someone come and take a look. Once you have called someone and made plans, you should clean your basement to the best of your ability. This won’t involve any scrubbing, just move your basement around so that you or the professional is able to get to the places where the mold is.
Next, you should be on the look-out for any leaking pipes. Also look for any cracks where rain and ground water are able to collect. If you are one of those people who would rather save every penny and fix everything yourself, that’s fine. The first thing you will need to do is fix all the cracks and leaking pipes. Fix them so that no moisture is able to get through.
After this, apply any kind of mold remover to the floors and walls. Make sure you clean the whole basement, even the places where mold isn’t visible. If there is carpet in the basement, decide whether you want to keep the carpet and clean it, or throw it out and get new carpet. You don’t have to go out and purchase any expensive, heavy duty equipment or cleaner. Hot soapy water will work just fine. Don’t forget to wear protective gear when cleaning!
You should use a disinfectant to get the musty smell out. Once the walls and floors are washed, you have to dry them. Dry them with a dry, clean cloth or towel. Now it’s time to turn on the dehumidifier. This will take all the moisture out of the room and leave it bone dry. Make sure the basement is completely dry before you decide to repaint or remodel anything. This is very important.
You may need to replace any insulation that was in the basement to make sure that you don’t put mold back into the basement. Be sure to check everything that you removed from the basement for mold and mildew. If you don’t, all that hard work will have been for nothing and mold will grow right back.
To make sure that mold and mildew don’t come back with a vengeance, dehumidify at least three or four times a month to keep your basement clean and dry. Depending upon where you live and the humidity, you may need to dehumidify more or less than three to four times a month.
