Water damage is prevalent in homes and businesses, often caused by broken pipes, leaks, or flooding. When moisture, darkness, and cellulose combine, they create the perfect conditions for mold growth. That’s why it’s crucial to contact a remediation professional when you detect water damage on your property. Addressing the water damage quickly can help prevent mold from forming which can lead to additional damage and health issues from exposure.

In this article, we will explore the health risks associated with mold exposure, guide how to dry and clean mold-infested areas effectively, explain why bleach is not recommended for mold removal, and discuss the benefits of using natural cleaners whenever possible.

What Are the Risks of Mold from Water Damage?

In severe cases, floodwaters might harbor dangerous diseases like cholera, typhoid fever, and tuberculosis, and also serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes that spread malaria. Although such diseases in floodwaters are uncommon in the United States, mold-related health issues can still arise. Additionally, pathogens such as E. coli and salmonella may be present. Therefore, addressing water damage promptly is vital for both property and health protection.

Flooding often leads to excessive moisture and mold, which can pose significant problems. Mold thrives both indoors and outdoors, continually spreading once it takes root. Exposure to mold is hazardous to the body, potentially affecting the skin and respiratory system, and it can trigger asthma attacks, irritation, or more severe health issues with prolonged exposure.

Mold growth begins about 24 hours after a flood, quickly becoming a health risk as it releases spores and mycotoxins. These can cause allergic reactions and are notoriously hard to eliminate. Dormant spores can reactivate under favorable conditions, making mold growth challenging to control and remove.

Mycotoxins are a byproduct of mold growth. While often associated with fungi, several types of mycotoxins can be produced by indoor mold, including Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys. Exposure to these molds can lead to allergies and respiratory inflammation.

Is it Important to Remove Mold Quickly?

Experiencing water damage on your property poses significant health risks, especially in damp and contaminated environments where bacteria and viruses flourish, leading to mold growth. Standing water can quickly allow mold to become airborne, emphasizing the urgency of contacting a water damage remediation company. Prompt cleanup and restoration are essential to mitigate health issues. If broken pipes are the source of water damage, call a professional plumber immediately to prevent further harm.

Despite the rapid growth of mold, eliminating it is possible. Mold requires oxygen, cellulose-based food, and moisture to thrive. Removing any of these elements can help eradicate mold. Consequently, reducing humidity in your home is essential for preventing mold, as it halts its development. Therefore, it’s crucial to dry and sanitize any flooded areas promptly to avoid mold growth.

How to Clean Mold from Your Home

If you’ve experienced a flood, it’s vital to dry and clean your space promptly. A dehumidifier can simplify this task by reducing humidity and preventing future mold growth. You should keep your home’s humidity below 50% to eliminate existing mold and decrease mold-related allergies.

While dehumidifiers effectively prevent mold growth, they won’t eliminate existing mold colonies. Even with optimal humidity levels, it’s essential to remove any established colonies. This involves physically cleaning the surfaces and removing toxins and spores from the air.

Do Not Use Bleach for Removing Mold

Chlorine bleach is not an effective solution for cleaning mold. Attempting to use it can release fumes that irritate the lungs, potentially leading to coughing, watery eyes, and, in more severe cases, it can be fatal.

Mold Cleaners

A wide array of non-toxic, ammonia-free, and biodegradable mold cleaners are available on the market. To effectively tackle mold in your home, it’s important to research which cleaner best suits your needs and carefully follow its usage instructions. Additionally, choose a product that not only removes mold but also prevents its future growth.

Contact Mold and Water Damage Professionals

Mold is a dangerous substance to find in your home because of the damage it can cause and the threat it poses to your health. It generally appears in moist areas and areas affected by water damage which is why controlling the humidity level and addressing water damage is so important for preventing mold.

If you do find a small amount of mold, it is possible to remove it yourself using mold cleaners or white vinegar. However, attempting to clean mold that is spread over a large area can be dangerous as you may put your health at risk and improper cleaning can cause the mold to spread. It is best to call a mold remediation professional to handle mold growth you cannot clean yourself.

The Benefits of Calling Mold Remediation Specialists

Mold remediation professionals use the proper equipment and techniques to find and isolate all mold growth on your property and ensure that it is completely removed. These professionals can also safely remove permanently damaged materials and restore the damage caused by the mold. When you call a reputable professional for mold remediation, you can expect them to eliminate the dangers presented by mold and restore your property to its original state.

If you are facing mold growth in your home or business in Waldorf, Annapolis, St. Charles, Bennsville, Clinton, MD, and the surrounding areas, give Prime Restoration a call. The technicians at Prime Restoration use the best methods and technologies in the industry to restore your property from water damage and mold growth. They will begin the remediation process by inspecting the mold damage and containing the area to prevent it from spreading to other areas. To learn more about the water damage restoration and mold remediation processes they offer, give Prime Restoration a call at (301) 287-4283.

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.