How to Remove Mold from Wood Floors Photo Credit Nabila Fauzia via unsplash.com Mold can grow anywhere within the home, as long as there are organic food and moisture sources present. Many homeowners forget that mold can even grow on wooden floors. It is always recommended to contact a professional restoration company for safety reasons. However, small areas can be treated at home before the fungus spreads even further. If you find mold on your wood floors, check to see how extensive the damage is. Specific areas of your home need to be treated differently based on the building material. It’s essential that you use the right equipment for removing mold from your wood floors. Below is a list of what you need to remove mold from wood floors: Be Equipped Gloves Safety glasses Breathing mask 100 to 250-grit sandpaper Protective clothing and shows Spray bottle Chlorine bleach solution Micro-fiber washcloth Wood flooring finish Heavy-duty garbage bag Remove Surface Mold As long as the mold only covers a few square feet of your wood floors, you can remove it yourself. The first step all professionals take in mold remediation is wearing proper protective equipment to avoid any negative health effects. Choosing the appropriate cleaner is the next most important step in the remediation process. You want to apply a chemical that will remove the fungus completely, not just irritate it. For surface mold, you can use a chlorine bleach solution with a 10:1 water/bleach ratio. While surface mold is not difficult to clean, it is crucial to ensure that all affected areas are cleaned properly. When applying the cleaning solution, spray the bleach cleaner directly on the affected surface, allowing it to sit for 10 minutes. Afterward, wipe the mold away with an old rag and throw it away when you are done. If the mold is still present, you can use a scrub brush with strong bristles to remove the stubborn stains. Finally, you want to make sure that all of the solutions are rinsed properly before moving onto the next step as it will compromise the finish after it is applied. Cleaning Deeply Penetrated Mold For building materials such as wood floors, mold has the ability to penetrate deep within the surface that extends beyond visibility. Mold that has penetrated deep within the wood floors was likely caused by water damage that went unnoticed or untreated for a long period of time. To determine how far the mold has spread, press into the affected area with a screwdriver. If the wood is soft and spongy, it has spread below the floorboards, which will require replacing the board itself. The first step in removing mold is removing its source, the moisture. Allow air to flow through the area and evaporate the moisture. Just be sure to not place them directly in front of the mold as it will only irritate the fungus more. Allow the air to flow for three to five hours. Once you have removed the surface area of mold from the floor, apply chlorine bleach to the area. If the mold has penetrated through the wood flooring to affect the baseboards, it will need to be removed using a utility knife. Professional Mold Remediation If the mold has spread to multiple areas throughout the property, you do not have all tools or time to do it yourself, contact a professional mold specialist. At Restoration Experts, our technicians can address the situation immediately. We will inspect the affected area and apply professional products to remove the mold from its source.
Tips for Living Arrangements if a Disaster Strikes Your Home If a disaster such as a flood, fire, or water damage of any kind strikes your home, it may be necessary to make new living arrangements during the restoration process. The most common reason you cannot occupy your home after a disaster is that it is unsafe due to poor air quality from smoke or mold growth. Even after extinguishing a fire, corrosive soot particles and chemicals still contaminate the air. Moreover, residual water and moisture also cause rapid mold growth that creates an array of respiratory health issues when breathed. If you are forced to leave your home after a disaster, there are some things you should take into consideration. Below are some tips on finding new living arrangements, as well as keeping your belongings secure and managing your expenses during this traumatic time. Find New Living Arrangements: Find a new living arrangement that is close to work, school and home. You want to keep your daily routine as normal as possible. Make sure where you choose to live for the time will be comfortable for the length of time it takes to complete the home repairs. When selecting a location, your insurance company should take into consideration your previous living requirements, so that you and your family are as comfortable as possible. We recommend extended stay hotel suites or month-by-month apartment rentals. However, you should always ask your insurance if your policy covers the cost. Living with friends or relatives is a suitable choice if both parties are agreeable. Take with you as many everyday possessions as you can to make you and your family feel more at home. Secure Your Property and Belongings: Remove all valuable possessions and personal belongings from your home. Do not leave any documents behind that contain financial, banking, or medical information. Make sure all electrical appliances remaining in the home are unplugged. Have your mail forwarded to your new living location, or have the Post Office hold it for you. Make sure your damaged home is properly locked, secured, or boarded up to prevent intrusion by people or natural elements. Contact your local police department to let them know your home will be vacant and ask them to check it periodically to help prevent theft or vandalism. Manage Your Expenses and Documentation: Track your restoration expenses by opening a separate checking account. Save the receipts from any living expenses you incur during your stay away from home. Your insurance company may reimburse you for most expenses. Keep all your insurance claim documentation and receipts in a folder and store it in a safe location. Sometimes the aftereffects from putting out a fire result in more damage than the fire itself. Fortunately, our experts at Restoration Experts can help you with furniture removal and disaster cleanup. Our fire cleanup process takes care of everything, with safe, thorough, and proper cleaning and restoration. Our goal is to get you back into your home as quickly as possible. When the unthinkable happens, call GET RESTORATION EXPERTS at 1-877-503-8782. We’re local and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and will be onsite in one hour or less.
The Effects of Household Mold and Mildew on Your Health Sambeet / Pixabay Slimy black spots on your shower curtain and fuzzy white patches on the walls and floor are sure signs of mold in your home. But, did you know that mold can be black, white, orange, green, or purple? It can grow on walls, floors, appliances, carpets, and furniture; all it needs is moisture to grow. Mildew also lets its presence be known in more ways than one. Plus, it only takes 24 to 48 hours of a surface being exposed to water for mildew to appear. Both mold and mildew can affect your health in serious ways. Mold and mildew poisoning can easily go unnoticed or be mistaken for other health conditions. If you have allergies or asthma, these two components can do more harm than you realize. Even for a healthy individual, exposure to mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs. People more sensitive to mold and mildew are infants and children, the elderly, those whose immune systems are compromised, and people with chronic lung disease. All molds have the potential to affect your health. The harm depends on the type of the mold, whether it produces toxins, and how long you have been exposed. Mildew can also present a serious health threat to people and animals susceptible to respiratory concerns. The most common symptoms and health effects associated with mold and mildew are respiratory responses. However, some symptoms that are often mistaken for other conditions are: Weakness Headache Difficulty concentrating/poor memory Joint pain Skin sensations Shortness of breath Sinus congestion Throat irritation/wheezing While some individuals may not be affected by mold at this moment, the EPA reports that repeated exposure to can cause sensitivity and health problems. It’s important to invest in a company who knows the process of mold remediation. It’s impossible to get rid of all molds in your home. If you see mold, it’s important to clean it up correctly and fix the problems. However, mold remediation is not the same as mold removal. Mold remediation focuses on getting mold levels back to normal and keeping the molecules at natural levels. At Restoration Experts, we have proven methods to address your mold problems. We also have a mold remediation process proven to get results. And because mildew is not always visible, we also offer a mildew removal process. If you suspect you may have mold and mildew, call Restoration Experts at 1-877-959-8662.