Before

After

Cleaning mold behind baseboards

What not to do after a water damage.

Many homeowners will try to clean up a water loss by themselves but don't have the right equipment to determine all that was wet.

This home has a lot of tile which was easy to cleanup with just a mop. What the owners of the home didn't know is that the drywall had wicked up the water and the baseboards were keeping the moisture trapped. The mold grew behind the wall and needed to be contained and removed.

Understanding Mold Removal

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 indoors and outdoors. Here are the facts:

• 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 or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores 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, musty 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.