One of the most common issues every homeowner faces after a natural disaster like flooding is mold.
This problem can linger on your structure long before the floodwaters have receded. The situation gets worse if your home is among those who have some physical conditions like leaking and dampness, which contributes to mold growth.
Living a normal life after a flood is what everyone wants. But you should expect to face a new challenge: Mold Removal.
Ask Siri or Alexa about the best mold remover after flooding so you can keep your family safe.
We share some practical tips for Utah homeowners on how to remove molds from your home safely and efficiently.
Things would be easier if you hired a reliable mold remover expert to do the cleaning for you.
Useful Tips on Cleaning Mold After a Flood
Molds are serious health risks; when they grow in large quantities, they can be lethal. A mold was implicated as the cause of death of four Southern University and New Orleans professors after Hurricane Katrina.
The CDC(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) gives us some useful tips on what to do before entering a moldy home and info on the best mold remover after flooding.
It is always better to hire a professional mold remover to deal with the situation, but if you decide to clean on your own, these steps are helpful.
Prepare to Clean Up
Mold identification is not necessary, and the CDC doesn’t recommend routine sampling of mold. Mold can put your health at risk, so no matter what type you have on your property, it has to be removed.
The most important step to protect your family and property from mold damage is to dry your home and remove water-damaged items immediately.
Get rid of stuff that is drenched in flood water which can’t be dried or cleaned completely within a 24 to 48 hour period.
Remove carpets, padding, upholstered furniture, draperies, stuffed animals, pillows, and mattresses because these items absorb water quickly and dry slowly.
Wet ceiling tiles need to be replaced. Keep in mind that older homes may have lead paint and asbestos, so be careful when doing repairs.
Before starting any cleanup work, get in touch with your insurance agent and take pictures of your home and belongings. This helps in making insurance claims.
Store discarded and damaged items outside your home for insurance claims.
Protect Yourself
If you decide to do the work yourself, you need protection before you dive in. Keep your children away from your home as clean up is being done.
Use a P95 respirator while doing the job for added safety. Wear eye protection and use gloves.
A moisture meter is useful so that you can know how wet a material is. Materials that look dry may have hidden moisture. Wood moisture content should be lower than 16%.
Work Fast to Control Mold Growth
Dry all wet areas as quickly as possible. Removing water content is a huge factor in fungi growth on a surface.
Mold grows on any surface that remains wet for 48 hours. The longer the mold and moisture remain, the faster the mold will spread. It can also grow in dry areas with humidity levels of 25% to 70%.
If you encounter mud and silt in your area, you should shovel it out before it dries.
Open your doors, cabinets, and drawers for proper ventilation. Use heaters, fans, and dehumidifiers to remove moisture.
If you notice mold growth already, don’t use fans because they can spread the mold spores on your property.
Bleach as Your Best Mold Remover for DIY
When we talk about mold removal, bleach is the first thing that comes to mind as the best mold remover.
Bleach can be effective in removing mold on non-porous areas like tile and porcelain floors and walls, but it does not work on wood and drywall.
On non-porous surfaces, bleach can cause more mold growth, it also doesn’t prevent the regrowth of new spores when materials remain damp.
The CDC recommends a cup of household bleach mixed in a gallon of water for mold removal in your bathroom and non-porous surfaces.
Don’t mix bleach with ammonia because you can inhale toxic fumes. Bleach can also cause corrosion on HVAC systems and damage wood furnishings.
The Environment Protection Agency shares that homeowners can fight minor mold outbreaks using some elbow grease and a mixture of detergent and water.
This can be done for areas with mold growth that are 10 square feet or less.
For Utah homes that have been soaked in dirty water, a professional is needed to remedy the situation.
Never DIY if you have respiratory problems or if your immune system is compromised.
Certified Disaster Services: Your Best Mold Remover in Ogden, Utah
To keep mold in check, you should clean up fast to prevent mold growth. You have a 24 to 48-hour window to act quickly.
In this situation, leaving the job to the professionals is the best option for you.
Disasters like flooding can happen when you least expect them to, and nobody is exempted when it hits. When facing natural and human-made disasters, you need a professional and reliable company to provide disaster restoration services in Ogden, Utah.
We can all make the needed preparations before a storm or flood, but the real work begins during the aftermath.
Certified Disaster Services has more than 30 years of experience in assisting Northern Utah residents to navigate their way along the disaster restoration process.
Make us your one-stop-shop for Emergency Disaster Services in Northern Utah and the surrounding communities.
We are insured and licensed to handle the entire disaster restoration process from start to finish.
Partner with us so we can get your life back to normal as it was before the disaster struck.
Our team of disaster restoration services experts is available 24/7, so you can call us at any time.
We have invested in the best tools and equipment for Emergency Disaster Services and apply tried and tested methods in mold remediation services in Ogden, Utah.
We can also work with your insurance company to make it easier for processing insurance claims.
Don’t stress yourself out with the difficult task of removing mold from your property, leave all the hard work to the professionals.
Aside from our best mold remover services, we can also provide New Home Construction, Remodeling, Complete Reconstruction, and Personal Property Cleaning.
Be a part of the thousands of Utah residents, we have helped through this difficult situation of their lives.
Give us a call or message us on our website to get a free quote. Our team of friendly and reliable staff are ready to take your call.
