Common Myths About Mold
Mold is an unwelcome guest in any home or workspace, and when it rears its ugly head, it can trigger a wave of anxiety. But alongside this natural concern lies a swirl of misinformation that can exacerbate the situation. Many people hold onto myths about mold that can lead to unnecessary worry or ineffective responses.
In this article, we will unravel some of the most common myths about mold, providing clarity on what you really need to know. By debunking these misconceptions, we aim to empower you to tackle mold issues with confidence and knowledge. Let’s dive into the truth behind these mold myths and discover how to protect your indoor environment effectively.
Myths About Mold
There are many common misconceptions about mold, and these falsities can be dangerous. If you do not have accurate information about mold, then you may put yourself and others at risk of the potential problems the fungus can cause.
Knowing this, it is important to distinguish what information concerning mold is true and what information is false.
Continue reading to learn about mold myths and the real truth about mold and mold remediation.
Myth: All mold species are harmful.
There are thousands of different mold species that exist, but not every one of them is dangerous. Generally speaking, mold has a bad connotation, because the molds that people are most familiar with are harmful. This includes mold that grows on foods and in your home. But there are good molds as well. For example, the antibiotic Penicillin is made using the Penicillium mold, and cheese is made using the Aspergillus flavus mold.
Mold spores are naturally present in the air, both in your home and outside. So, people are exposed to mold on a daily basis.
The problem with mold is that the harmful species are the ones that often grow in your property. These molds can be toxic. People exposed to the fungus may suffer from allergies as a result. With prolonged exposure to mold, people can also suffer more serious health problems.
Myth: Mold should not be present in your property.
As aforementioned, mold spores are an innate part of the environment. We are exposed to molds every day. It is neither possible nor necessary to remove all mold spores from your property.
Mold removal is only necessary when the spores have grown into a colony. This is when the fungus can be hazardous.
Myth: Small amounts of mold are not problematic.
While large mold colonies are a concern, this does not mean small amounts of mold growth are harmless. They are simply more manageable. Even a small amount of mold can create a significant problem. The colony will start small, then continue to grow and spread to new areas as long as it has the required food and moisture sources.
Some small cases of mold are not actually minimal. The minimal amount you see could just be the only visible mold. More mold might be concealed behind wallpaper, or behind walls. Therefore, it is important to always treat such mold growth as a harmful problem.
Myth: Bleach is an effective way to kill mold.
Bleach can be effective for killing many types of mold, but it is not necessarily capable of killing all kinds of mold. Bleach can only kill specific molds that have grown on nonporous surfaces. It is unknown whether bleach is effective on porous surfaces, such as drywall or wood. Knowing this, do not expect bleach to work every time.
Myth: Mold will not return after its removed.
Mold removal is important for preventing it from spreading further, damaging property, and causing health issues. But the mere removal of mold does not guarantee that it will not return.
The key to preventing mold growth is moisture control. If the water source that triggered the mold growth is not addressed, then mold will return and grow again. With that said, you must fix the moisture issue if you wish to lessen the chances of mold returning.
You can also use mold-resistant products in your home, such as paint, to prevent mold from growing. However, because mold spores are always present, there is always some chance that the fungus will still grow.
Myth: Mold can be removed using home remedies.
This is not a complete mold myth. In some cases, it is fine to remove the mold yourself using home remedies. The problem with this route is that mold needs to be removed properly. Molds can become irritated and worsen if incorrect methods are used. Also, the visible mold may only be part of the problem.
It is for this reason that do-it-yourself solutions are not always the best route to take for mold removal.
Professional Mold Remediation Services
With these mold myths debunked, you put yourself in a better position to deal with mold growth correctly and safely. However, you should always allow professionals to help with mold removal, especially since exposure to mold may lead to health risks.
If you discover mold growing in your home or business, then seek professional help from a mold removal and remediation service. Immediate action is necessary to prevent the mold from spreading further and causing health issues.
Professional mold removal and remediation technicians have the necessary training, expertise, and equipment to remove mold in a safe and proper manner. They will also address the moisture source that triggered the mold growth, and locate all cases of mold, including concealed mold growth. Knowing this, your property will be cleaned of mold and safe to be in again.
About Vince Sandri
Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.
