Dealing With Black Mold
The dreaded black mold, otherwise known as
Stachybotrys Chartarum or
Stachybotrys Atra, is widely
reviled and feared when it contaminates a building.
This is because this particular species of mold is infamous for its
release of mycotoxins through its airborne spores.
These toxic particles are harmful to humans even in low
concentrations, and can poison a person’s respiratory system, before
spreading its affliction to the rest of the body.
Black mold poisoning causes a wide variety of ill effects, from
relatively mild symptoms such as headaches, coughing and the development of
rashes and hives, to much more serious signs, such as bleeding in the lungs,
liver and other internal organ damage, and urinary tract infections.
When encountering black mold, one has to be very careful not to avoid
exposure, or risk getting very sick.
Black mold in smaller quantities can probably be dealt with without having
to go to the experts, but this is not your conventional household mold, so
you had better make adequate preparations.
Purchase disposable cleaning supplies for the task, as you will most
certainly be getting rid of them afterwards, due to the contamination.
Pick up some rubber gloves, dollar sponges and handheld scrubbers, as
well. It is also recommended
that you wear an N-95 respirator to avoid accidentally inhaling black mold
particles. The clothes on your
back should probably be things that you intend to burn when you are done.
Lastly, arm yourself with a solution mix of bleach and water, or pick
up some extra strength bleach-based mold remover, and have it ready in a
spray bottle.
When you are ready, start spraying the affected areas, wait for a few
minutes, and then scrub the mold away until the surface is clean.
Leave the solution on a little longer for areas that are harder to
scrub, so that they get loosened up quickly.
A bleach-water solution should be safe on most surfaces, but if you
want to be sure, you may want to lay down some plastic sheets so that the
solution does not ruin them.
If you discover furniture, carpeting or upholstery that has been thoroughly
contaminated, you should consider discarding it entirely, as the mold spores
will be almost impossible to remove entirely.
Once every area with black mold has been cleaned out, use a dryer to
remove moisture, to minimize the chances of the mold returning.
If the black mold infestation is pretty severe, like it was in the areas
flooded by Hurricane Katrina some years back, you should leave the cleaning
work to the professionals. A
qualified mold remediator will be able to accomplish the task without
exposing himself or you to unnecessary risk.
He will be able to check for the primary sources of the infestation,
and deal with moisture concerns that may be aggravating the situation.
More importantly, he will be able to spot the black mold growths that
may be concealed behind walls or tiles, which will continue to release
harmful spores into the air even if you don’t see them.
Admittedly, there may be a high price to pay for a remediator’s
services, but it should be weighed against the cost of having to write your
home off as another black mold casualty.
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