Mold stinks. In every sense of the word. It’s an unfortunate problem that many households have to deal with at some point and sadly, there really isn’t a non-invasive way to deal with it. Below are the steps you should take if you do every find mold or mildew in your floors.
Identify: Mold and Mildew most often appear as black spots and are usually found it areas more prone to dampness. Mold is also usually accompanied by a musty smell. Both can activate allergies so if your family is suddenly allergic to the house, you may have a mold/mildew problem. Mold will eat away at organic surfaces so any area of flooring that has become particularly weak could be infested with the fungi and you’ll want to get it removed ASAP.
Remove: Before you begin ripping up any flooring, make sure you’re wearing a mask, goggles and gloves as some mold can be extremely hazardous to your health. Wear old clothing and be sure to seal off the area including ventilation to make sure the spores stay within the room. Once you start tearing up contaminated flooring, dispose of it in a sealed plastic bag to help keep the spores contained. One trick is to wet the flooring to keep the spores tethered to the wood.
Clean: Once the flooring is removed, vacuum any leftover debris and be sure to keep the vacuum outside until you can clean it thoroughly. Next scrub everything down with a mixture of bleach and water. For concrete, you can use dishwasher detergent. DO NOT rinse the floors after scrubbing them. You want the bleach to sink into the floor to kill any mold that remains. Simply wipe it away and let it dry completely. To help it dry faster you can turn up the heat and set out dehumidifiers.
Replace: Make sure a good seal is put in place before you lay a new floor down. This will help prevent the mold from coming back.
Cleaning up mold is a lengthy and sometimes dangerous process. If you have a large outbreak, it’s best to all a professional to clean it up. To keep the mold from returning, do your best to prevent and control dampness. Clog any leaks you find and make sure you have good ventilation.