Can You Remove Mold Yourself?

4/5/2023 (Permalink)

If you’ve discovered mold in your home, don’t run to the store, grab gloves, and attempt to remove it on your own. Although you may have found some “great” DIYs on Pinterest, performing a mold remediation or removal on your own can be extremely dangerous to you and everyone in your home. Instead, call us. We’ll take care of it. You may ask why you shouldn’t take care of it on your own. Well, here’s a list of reasons why.

First, Let’s Understand Mold
Some restoration companies advertise “mold removal” and may even guarantee to remove all mold. This is a fallacy because removing all mold from a house or business is impossible; microscopic mold spores exist almost everywhere, both indoor and outdoor. Here are some facts to help you understand a little bit more about mold:

• Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems. They can even hitch a ride on your clothing or pets.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. They can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
• Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
• Mold often produces a strong, must odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
• Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

Mold Could Be Deceiving to the Eye
If you see a small patch of mold that you think you can take on by yourself - stop. Mold is sneaky and it’s extremely deceiving. What we mean by that is, there could be a lot more that you cannot see. Mold thrives behind the walls, under tiles, etc.

A professional mold remediation company like SERVPRO understands that and we have the knowledge, skill, and technology to detect potential mold in walls and other hidden areas.

Mold Can Come Back Quickly
The risk of mold coming back is one of the biggest reasons why you should never attempt to clean it yourself. You’ll be putting yourself at risk and tiring yourself out for nothing. If the source of the mold is not repaired or replaced, mold is likely to reoccur within a few days.

You Need the Right Equipment & Expertise
Those Mr. Clean Magic Erasers and Lysol Wipes are not going to cut it when it comes to mold. Sure, it may take it off the surface - but it won’t get rid of it. Our remediation specialists are highly trained and include applied microbial remediation specialists, water damage restoration technicians, and applied structural drying technicians. Plus, they come with pretty cool, high-tech machines that will make the remediation process successful.

You Could Make The Situation Worse
Because mold spores float in the air and may land in other areas to begin growing again, you could cause the mold to spread into areas of your property that were previously unaffected by attempting to clean it.

It’s Very Dangerous
If you decide to clean the mold, you’re risking breathing in air filled with dispersed mold spores. This could cause mold allergy symptoms like wheezing and coughing, or worse, it could aggravate the risk of asthma in children and the rest of your household.

You Need to Act Quick
Don’t rush back from the store with cleaning supplies and get right into it. Instead, rush to call us. We follow specific procedures when it comes to mold remediation. We’ll assess the situation, contain it, remove, repair, and filter the air.

If you’ve found mold in your home, act fast by calling SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City. We work 24/7 every day so we can ensure the safety of you and your home.

About SERVPRO Team Harvey
SERVPRO of Hoboken/Union City is proudly owned by Lance and Jennifer Harvey - a husband and wife duo that owns three other SERVPRO locations, including SERVPRO of Lower Manhattan, SERVPRO of West Somerset County, and SERVPRO of Aberdeen/Holmdel.

We understand the stress and worry that comes with a fire or water damage and the disruption it causes your home or business. Our goal is to help minimize the interruption to your life and quickly make it “like it never even happened.”