Home remedies mold removal or commercial mold remediation services?
Doing a quick Google search will show you how hiring mold remediation specialists is a somewhat controversial decision. Some people claim that mold remediation is just a cash grab, while others proclaim that it saves lives. Other people say you can handle home mold remediation yourself. The truth, as with most things, falls somewhere in the middle. 
Just because you have a little bit of mold does not mean that your house has to be torn down. But, there are some scenarios when calling in the professional is a good idea. Mold can cause allergic reactions in some people and some mold—like the dreaded black mold—creates mycotoxins that are extremely dangerous to a human’s health. If not careful house mold removal can cause mold to spread and grow in other areas.
Commercial Mold Remediation Services
Mold Damage is serious and will only get worse if not taken care of. Here are a few reasons to call in professional mold / mould remediation specialists.
- You are uncomfortable identifying different types of mold. There are thousands of mould species, and many look alike. For example, not all black mold is the dangerous Stachybotrys chartarum. If you are unsure about whether the mold you see is dangerous to your health, you need to call a professional mold remediation specialist.
- If you have recently had a water event, such as a flood or burst pipe, then you should seek out a home mold removal service. Mold thrives in water, so it may be taking advantage of the recent water event to grow out of control in your home.
- You should schedule a mold remediation is you smell a musty odor or see discoloration. A lot of mold will grow on upholstery like drapes and carpets. If you see discoloration in these places, it is likely that you have a mold problem. Most molds create a musty smell. Thus, a constant musty odor in your home could indicate a mold issue.
- If you or your family begin to have unexplained health issues—especially upper-respiratory problems—you need to have a mold remediation right away. Professional services use techniques to make sure that the mold spores do not get released into your home’s air and cause further health issues.
Yes Mold and Mould are the same thing-find out all the ugly details here: What is Mold
Home mold remediation: Products for Removing Mold
If you see mold in your home, but it only covers a small area and you are not experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, then you may be able to take care of the mold by yourself. For example if you have a little area of black mold in bathroom this may be an easy fix. There are a number of products and procedures for removing mold at home. Home mold removal can be an inexpensive fix if found early. Mold can spread quickly and will cause mold damage that can become expensive to fix if not properly treated. We will discuss home remedies for cleaning up mold in just a minute. But, first, let’s take a look at some of the best products for cleaning mold available. Household mold remediation starts with getting the right products. We have written a review page on those products here
Here is our Top Pick for removing large area Mold Clean Up
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- Concrobium Mold Control Gallon Size (will need a spray bottle or tank sprayer for larger areas)
- Household Cleaners-My favorite part of this product is that its both a mold killer and mold preventer in one. I have had great success with this product. This one is the gallon size, but it does come in other quantity and even cans of spray. Find it Here on Amazon
- Here is the smaller Concrobium 027/400 Mold Control Aerosol, 14 oz
Home Mold Testing Kits
There are also a number of home mold testing kits available. While they are not as effective as a professional examining your home, they will let you know if you have mold in your home. If you are worried about having a mold outbreak, then we recommend picking up one of these kits. Finally, make sure to read the labels on your mold cleaning product of choice. The instructions will tell you how to use the product most effectively and how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. MOLD TESTING KITS Here is a top pick and comes highly recommended on Amazon: DIY Mold Test, Mold Testing Kit (3 tests). Lab Analysis and Expert Consultation included.
Home remedies for removing mold
There are a large number of mold specific products available for purchase, but if you don’t want to run to the store, there are some classic home remedies for killing mold. For light projects house mold removal may be achieved from the two most common cleaning products bleach and vinegar..
Bleach and Mold
Bleach is probably the most popular option for cleaning up small patches of mold. There are actually many different types of bleach, but all work in the same way. They break a chemical bond in the molecule that holds color, which results in the lightening of that color. This is why bleach is such a good whitening product. Bleach can also work as a disinfectant. Both the stain-removing effects and mold killing ability are why bleach is such a popular home remedy for mold.
Does Bleach kill mold?
But, does it actually work? The answer is a qualified yes. Using Bleach to kill mold works well on non-porous surfaces like glass, plastics, and metals. But, it will not work well on non-porous surfaces like untreated wood or fabric. You will not want to treat any of these surfaces with bleach, as it could even make the problem worse. Many people want to know specifically does bleach kill black mold? The answer is the same, yes using bleach kills black mold on non-porous surfaces only.
Killing mold with vinegar
Vinegar is another very popular home mold remedy. It is a very acidic substance, which has many uses in the kitchen and in cleaning products. As anyone who cooks knows, there are many different types of vinegar. When you hear about vinegar being used to kill mold, they are referring to basic white—not flavored—vinegars.
Cleaning Mold with Vinegar, Does it work?
Because vinegar is acidic means that it can kill mold quite well. The problem comes when you consider that it is only effective on about 82% of the various types of mold. This means that in almost 20% of mold outbreaks, vinegar will not work. In addition vinegar may leave a some mold spores alive. Does vinegar kill black mold? Our answer is, not effectively enough to use it. To ensure that all of the mold is cleaned properly, you should stick with a store-bought mold cleaning product or bleach.
Does ammonia kill mold?
Does ammonia kill black mold? Like bleach ammonia will only kill surface mold. Killing mold on porous surfaces is extremely difficult even with commercial products. If you only need to do cleanup on nonporous surfaces this could work. Mix a solution of 50% clear ammonia and 50% water; do not mix with bleach (mixing with bleach will cause a dangerous and deadly mix of chemicals) ***When using chemicals always use the proper safety equipment even with home chemical. Use gloves, eye protection and proper ventilation, read all bottles for proper safety guidelines. Don’t mix bleach and ammonia ever.
What Causes Mold to grow in your House
Don’t forget to find THE CAUSE. Mold needs food, air, darkness, warmth, and MOSITURE. More often then not mold is a sign of other problems. Here are few things to consider as the cause: not enough ventilation, leaky roof, leaky pipes, toilet drain issues, water getting in through walls and windows, HVAC line leak. Clean up is priority, but finding the cause will prevent it from starting all over again. For small clean up of mold and mildew SEE all of our top picks for mold removal
Removing mold, Home Remediation Overview
The exact procedure for removing mold will depend on the surface. Below we’ve listed the most common places where mold will need to be removed and some quick tips for getting the job done properly.
How to remove mold from drywall
Got black mold on drywall? Scroll down for treating surface mold on painted drywall. Removing mold from drywall can be a pain because it is a porous surface. This allows the mold to get inside the drywall as well as being on the outside. Cleaning mold on drywall is not a solution for a 100 percent fix. It has to be removed for 100% cleanup. Make sure to check behind the wall for mold. Remove any moldy insulation—which cannot be cleaned. Drywall can never be fully rid of mold, so you will need to remove all of the moldy sections and replace them. Check the flooring next to the wall, inspect the opposite side of the wall for signs of mold. Treat the area behind and surrounding the drywall you removed with a mold killer and mold preventer. Treat mold with 
How to remove mold from painted walls
When mold grows on painted walls, it is actually better for you. The paint usually turns a porous surface like drywall or wood into a non-porous one. Essentially, this means that it is unlikely any mold got into the actual wall. It is likely only present on the surface. To be 100% sure it didn’t spread you will want to check behind the wall just to ensure that there is not mold there. You may also be able to scrape paint off and tell if it’s in the surface of the drywall. Check the floor as well. Surface Mold on drywall often occurs behind trim next to high moisture areas. If it hasn’t spread you should be able to use a mold cleaning product and scrub brush to clean the infected area. Repainting will probably be necessary after the clean up.
How to remove mold from inside walls
Especially when walls are made from drywall, it is possible for mold to penetrate the entire surface of the wall and get behind it. The best way to check for mold behind your wall is to cut openings every few feet, remove the insulation, and use a mirror and flashlight to look at the area behind the wall. This will tell you if there is mold that needs to be cleaned. To get rid of mold inside walls you will have to remove as much of the mold damage as possible-that means removing any insulation and effected drywall. If it is on wooden or support beams, clean that areas as best as you can. Inspect wood and support beams for other signs of damage. Make sure the area is dry and will not continue to get moisture in it. Treat effected area with mold preventer and killer.
How to remove mold from wood
Untreated wood is a porous surface, while stained and treat wood is considered non-porous. In general, any type of wood can be cleaned of mold. Use you mold cleaning product of choice and a scrubbing brush to completely remove the mold from the surface of the wood. Not all wood will be salvageable, some wood may have damage and rot that will force you to replace it. 
If the mold has left a stain on your wood, you can use a stain remover or sand the area. A stain does not mean that there is still mold spores present. So, you can leave the stain as long as you don’t mind looking at it. There are stain blockers you can apply to the surface. For the most effective stain blocking and sealing I would recommend These, Clicking on them will take you to Amazon where you can get them delivered quickly. 
How to remove mold in shower: Black mold in shower?
I would prefer to have my black mold in the bathroom or any mold for that matter. It’s the easiest place to clean up. Mold loves water, so it should come as no surprise that it can most often be found in bathrooms and showers in particular. Thankfully, mold can be cleaned easily from a shower; although, it may leave a stain. The best way to clean the mold in the shower is to use a scrubbing brush and a mold remover. If there are stains after you are finished cleaning, you could try removing them with bleach. These cleaners will also work to get rid of the black mold on shower curtains. Anywhere there is water could be a potential problem for mold. Have you checked out the office water dispenser lately? learn how to clean it here
How to get mold out of carpet
Carpet is clearly not a hard surface, but it often gets mold. Mold will most often appear in on the bottom side and padding of the carpet. Unfortunately, carpet is extremely porous and so make it impossible to remove all the mold. The best you can do is to wear your mold removal safety equipment and pull up all of the affected carpet and padding. You will need to remove it from the house and replace the carpet. After it has been removed treat the subfloor underneath with mold cleaner and preventer. I have even seen people apply an oil based sealant (kilz) to the entire subfloor after cleanup.
Precautions when doing Mold Remediation
The biggest precaution to take when you are removing mold is safety. You don’t want to spread the mold spores to the rest of your house, because then it will not be completely gotten rid of. Keeping the mold contained will also ensure that you and your family remain safe and healthy. Even if you’re just cleaning up a little black mold in the bathroom in order to keep yourself safe while removing the mold, you should always wear protective gear. Some jobs may require N-95 face mask, gloves, hair and shoe covers, and a Tyvek suit. It okay to feel overprotected, but undergoing it can cause health problems. If you have a lot of mold to remove and/or want to do remediation like the professionals, you need to set up a negative pressure work area. You can do this by setting up a heavy plastic barrier and using a shop vac to remove all of the air pressure from the area. Go here to learn more about creating negative pressure in the work area. This process will create air flowing into the work area, but not flowing out, which stops any mold spores from escaping. A final precaution to take when cleaning up mold infestations is to remove any item that cannot be cleaned. This is especially important for porous surfaces like fabrics and carpets. These items will never be able to be fully free of mold and should be removed and replaced. If you don’t do this there is a chance that mold could reassert itself in your home and erase all of your hard work.
