Shower Mold: What To Do

3/6/2019 (Permalink)

Remember to turn on ventilation fans in bathrooms to lessen mold growth

Facing Mildew in Your Shower Grout?

Bathroom mildew is a common but frustrating problem, and many Overland Park, KS, homeowners do not know how to get rid of it and save their showers. However, there are several different ways to clean up this pesky mildew. Here are a few options for cleanup:

1. Natural cleaners. There are a few natural options for cleaning mildew from your shower grout. Some substances you can try include vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice or a mix of some of these ingredients. You can find ideas for making mixes online - there are even some options for ongoing maintenance. Most techniques will require scrubbing of some nature.

2. Chemical options. There are many commercial cleaners that you can choose from to clean your bathroom mildew. Keep in mind that most contain strong smells and may require ventilation in the room where you are working. Common ingredients in these cleaners - which are usually antibacterial in nature - include alcohol, bleach and ammonia. As with natural cleaners, prepare to scrub your shower and follow any other special safety guidelines or instructions on the package.

3. Professional help. If you have a more severe, damaging mold disaster on your hands, or need help with an ongoing humidity problem, your local Overland Park, KS, residential mold restoration company should be able to help. They can survey the situation and either help you find a solution or create their own cleanup plan to rectify your mold problem.

Bathroom mildew is a challenge, but it is actually one that can be overcome successfully with the right tools and knowledge at hand. Try one of the options above; if the first one does not work out in your bathroom, move on to another, and always make sure to seek professional help for serious mold growth - your bathroom will be very likely to benefit.

Mold Prevention: 3 Common Sources of Excessive Dampness

1/23/2019 (Permalink)

Mold can grow quickly, it is important to contact a professional for quick remediation

Dealing with mold in Prairie Village, KS, after it has already started to grow in your home is an extremely frustrating process. Your best line of action is to prioritize mold prevention and avoid the mess altogether! Since mold depends on water or moisture to survive, the key to preventing mold growth is moisture management. Here a few common sources of excess moisture to look out for.

Common Household Items

While people often think mold is caused by some severe issue within their home, sometimes the root of the problem is common household items they use regularly. Here are a few common culprits:

• Humidifiers
  
• Wet clothes
  
• Trash cans
  
• Household plants
  
  

Mold prevention starts with proper moisture control within your home. By keeping your humidifier at low levels, only using clothes lines outdoors, quickly taking out the trash, and not overwatering plants, you can help maintain optimal humidity levels in your home.

Leaking Pipes and Roofs

When left undetected, leaking pipes and roofs can cause serious water damage to your home that will quickly allow mold to grow. Regular maintenance and inspections of pipes in your home and your roof is essential for detecting leaks before they become a major problem. As soon as you notice any issues, it is a good idea to immediately get in contact with a water damage specialist.

Poor Ventilation

A poorly ventilated home traps moisture indoors and increases the humidity levels in your home. This is especially problematic in bathrooms and kitchens where large amounts of steam are released into the air on a daily basis. Using a bathroom fan or opening windows in is an effective way to let evaporated water escape from your home before mold can grow.

As you can see, mold prevention is a much simpler process than trying to combat mold that has already started to grow. While there are several causes of mold growth to look out for, checking out these common sources of mold are a great place to start!

Protective Gear for Mold Remediation

9/14/2018 (Permalink)

It is important to protect yourself when dealing with mold. It is best to call the professionals when remediation is needed

Mold is in the air all the time, but it is especially concentrated when you are in the process of remediating mold damage. While it is advisable to call in professional mold technicians when the area affected is larger than 30 square feet, you may decide to tackle smaller problems on your own. If you are cleaning mold in your home in Overland Park, Kansas, you can protect yourself from the extra spores in the air with face masks and other protective gear.

There are four main areas that need coverage the most.

Body

Before you begin to clean up the mold in your home, don clothing that covers most of your skin. It needs to be clothing that is washable. As soon as you are through cleaning, undress and wash what you were wearing immediately so that the spores that attach to your clothing don't multiply.

Nose and Mouth

Face masks cover your breathing passages, improving the quality of the air you actually take into your body. A mask with a respirator is an important piece of protective equipment that filters out the spores, trapping them before they get to you.

Eyes

Goggles are necessary to protect your eyes. Eyes can be sensitive to any irritant, including dirt, hair and mold. Keep spores away from your eyes by putting goggles on before you start cleaning.

Hands

Although your hands are going to be doing most of the work, you may not think of needing to protect them. After all, you can just wash your hands thoroughly after the cleaning is done, right? On the contrary, it is important to avoid contact with mold if you can. Gloves help protect your hands and forearms from mold while you scrub.

Face masks, goggles, gloves and other protective gear are necessary when you are cleaning up after mold in your home. Follow the example of remediation professionals and dress appropriately.

What Happens During Mold Remediation?

7/11/2018 (Permalink)

Many people worry about black mold, but any mold inside of a building is bad news. Molds feed on organic building material, such as cellulose in wood and paper, and during the digestive process, some molds make odorous byproducts known as mycotoxins. Here are the basic steps for remediation so you know what to expect for your facility in Overland Park, KS.

Basic Steps for Mold Remediation.

1. Stop the source.

When you find black mold, or any other mold, stop the source of the moisture and call immediately to schedule remediation work. A professional restoration company will be available for your emergency any time of day or night.

2. Inspect.

Professionals may use detection equipment to help find mold or water damage that can't be seen with the naked eye. This ensures thorough cleaning to reduce spread of infestation.

3. Prevent the spread of spores.

Personal safety and prevention of additional contamination are key priorities for remediation specialists. Prepare for all ventilation and HVAC systems to be off during cleanup. Negative air pressure and barriers may be used to create a containment area that reduces the spread of spores during mold cleanup. HEPA vacuums and air scrubbers are also used to contain spores during the process.

4. Removal of contaminated materials and mold remediation.

When black mold digests organic food sources, those materials are destroyed. Specialists are able to assess which materials can be cleaned with biocides and fungicides, and which must be replaced.

5. Cleaning of personal items.

There are many different ways to clean items depending on the type of materials involved. Some paper documents are critical to your business, and there are several processes that can be used specifically for document drying. Specialists will determine if your documents can be restored and which method is best.

6. Restoration of Structure.

Repairs, such as replacing some drywall and painting, or full replacements of structural material will be completed.

When it comes to running a business, downtime during a major cleanup process costs you additional money in lost work. Counting on professionals for mold remediation can get you back to work faster.

For more information, please visit us at http://www.SERVPROleawoodoverlandpark.com/.

What Do You Need to Do When You Have a Mold Emergency

5/15/2018 (Permalink)

Mold damage can sneak up on you. Sure, your Overland Park, KS, home may show some early signs of mold growth, but as someone unfamiliar with this fungus, you may miss the initial clues. By the time you realize what you’re dealing with, the fungus may have spread to large portions of your house. Whether you find mildew or black mold growing in your residential space, you need to take quick action to ensure this mold emergency is taken care of.

Calling in a local remediation team should be your first step. These experts can help you make sure everything is done correctly. In case they can't get there right away, keep these tips in mind to address your mold emergency immediately.

• Stop airflow. Mold spores can hitch a ride in the air to get to new parts of your house. When you notice a patch of black mold, you may need to turn off your HVAC unit to make sure the spores can’t spread to new areas.
• Turn off water. A moisture problem may be the cause of your sudden catastrophe. If you want to get rid of the fungus, you need to cut off the water supply. If you have a leaky fixture or a burst pipe, you need to turn off your home’s water until the damage can be assessed.
• Schedule an appointment. Plumbers and mold cleanup crews may have busy schedules. Even if no one can make it out to your home today, you still want to get an appointment on the books. Call the professionals you need for your emergency and make an appointment as soon as possible.

Black mold can be a major problem for your Overland Park, KS, home. Depending on when you find this growth, you may already be in the throes of an emergency. Acting quickly can help you clean up your house and make it livable again.

You’ve Got Mold. How Long Will It Take to Remove?

4/27/2018 (Permalink)

Maybe it started as some black spots on the wall after a particularly heavy rain. Maybe there was an alarming, musty smell. Maybe a building inspector noticed it on an annual walkthrough. Regardless of how the mold was discovered in your Overland Park, KS commercial building, it needs to be remediated, and the sooner the better. How long should you expect mold removal to take?

Mold is everywhere in our world, and no building can be completely mold free — mold spores can blow in through doors or be carried in on shoes. Most spores remain isolated or are removed by filtration systems, but if there is unchecked dampness in a building, mold types, including black mold, may take hold and begin to colonize. The longer it takes to notice, the more extensive the mold growth may be and the longer it will take to remediate. In general, mold removal takes between three and seven days, depending on how extensive the contamination is.

Getting Rid of Mold, Step by Step

If the mold contamination is extensive, the following steps may be necessary:
- Installation of mold containment equipment, including negative air chambers, physical barriers and negative air pressure systems
- Installation of air filtration equipment to ensure that mold is not recirculated into the building
- Application of antifungal and antimicrobial treatments
- Removal of contaminated materials, including carpet and drywall
- Cleaning of furniture and other items affected by mold
- Replacement and repair of building materials removed during the above processes.

Remaining Vigilant About Moisture and Mold

No matter how long it takes, mold removal and remediation isn’t something you want to have to do twice. Give the professionals time to do it right the first time, and when they have gone, remain vigilant. Keep porous surfaces as clean and dry as possible and watch carefully for any signs of unchecked moisture or new mold colonies.

For more information, please visit us athttp://www.SERVPROleawoodoverlandpark.com/.