| Having mold in your home is nasty business. It can | | | | bleach or any other disinfectant can be very strong, |
| cause many respiratory illnesses and the flare-up of | | | | follow directions on the bottle of cleaner, and throw |
| asthma. Mold spores can grow on any surface that | | | | open windows and doors before opening the bottle to |
| has accumulated moisture. According to control of | | | | help with ventilation. You can dilute the bleach if if the |
| moisture is what prevents mold from growing. | | | | smell is still too overwhelming for you. I would say |
| However, if moisture has accumulated and mold is | | | | three cups of bleach to one cup of water. Keep in |
| growing, you have to clean the area. You need to | | | | mind that any absorbent material will have to be |
| clean all mold within 24-48 hours to prevent mold | | | | removed and replaced, such as carpet or ceiling tiles. |
| growth. | | | | All areas need to be completely dried after cleaning. |
| The best way to clean mold and mildew really | | | | To prevent mold you should address any moisture |
| depends on how big an area we are talking about. If it | | | | issues in your home. Like properly venting all |
| is just a small area, then your basic dish detergent and | | | | bathrooms and dryers, and using exhaust fans when |
| water will do the job nicely. Still, even with a little bit of | | | | cooking or using the dishwasher. Add insulation to |
| mold, you need to take precautions. Wear gloves, | | | | windows, doors and pipes to avoid condensation. If |
| even for just a little bit of mold, you do not want to | | | | you have cleaned and fixed the moisture issues, all |
| touch mold spores with your bare hands. With your | | | | moldy smells and visible mold should be gone. Wait a |
| basic dish detergent, rubber gloves used around the | | | | few days before returning to the area in question to |
| house will do fine. Wear eye goggles that do not have | | | | be sure no more mold growth is present. Never paint |
| air holes in them, to prevent mold from getting into your | | | | over mold before properly cleaning the surface, the |
| eyes. Avoid breathing mold spores by wearing a | | | | paint will only peel, and the mold will still be present. |
| mask. The EPA advises to wear a N-95 repirator, | | | | Sometimes, even after a proper cleaning, mold can still |
| which can be purchased at any hardware store. | | | | be present. If this is the case, call someone who |
| If we are talking about cleaning a large area, you are | | | | specializes in cleaning mold, you can find a list of these |
| going to need to go with an industrial strength | | | | companies in your yellow pages. Lastly, you should |
| disinfectant, such as bleach. If you are using a strong | | | | never stay inside a home or dwelling with mold; it can |
| cleaner like this, your gloves need to be made of | | | | cause a host of health issues. Your health is more |
| neoprene, nitrile, or other natural rubber. Fumes from | | | | important. |