Warmer temperatures are on the horizon. Once those warmer temperatures hit, new smells and aromas will enter your home. Hopefully they are pleasant aromas, but if you smell something a little musty, it just might be mold.
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 if you wish to remove mold yourself.
Identify
As we mentioned before, you might be able to smell mold, but it may be visible as well. Mold and mildew most often appear as black spots and are usually found in areas that endure moisture.
Mold can also activate allergies, so if your family is suddenly allergic to the house, you may have a mold/mildew problem.
Remove
Removal of mold can be toxic, so make sure you’re taking the proper precautions before ripping up any old flooring. This includes a mask, goggles and gloves.. 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.
Clean
You can start by vacuuming or sweeping up any remnants and lose debris after removing your old flooring. Be sure to scrub and wash your vacuum and/or broom after removing debris.
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 completely to kill any mold that remains. Simply wipe it away and let it dry completely. To speed up the drying process, turn up the heat and set out dehumidifiers.
Be Safe!!
Cleaning mold is not something to be taken lightly. Mold can be extremely hazardous to your health and may remain in the home after your attempt to remove it. If you’re unsure about removing mold, we recommend calling a professional mold removing company before putting down any new flooring.
