How can you control mould growth in your home

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Mould has been there on the surface of the earth since the beginning of time. It is always present in the air and needs only some humidity and moisture to thrive. Although it is a part and parcel of nature, you obviously do not want it growing in your home and ruining your pretty walls. Below outlined are ways on how you can control mould in your home.

1. Since mould thrives in humid and damp areas, keeping a watch on the humidity level can be a good preventive measure to avoid mould growth.

2. Promptly fixing any leaks in the roof or any pipe can prevent mould from growing since you eliminate the possibility of a damp environment that mould requires to grow.

3. An area must be thoroughly cleaned and dried up after a flood. By not getting a complete or a professional cleanup done, the area might still have traces of water from the flooding which will eventually give rise to mould.

4. Since showers, laundry area, and kitchen deal with water the most, keeping them properly ventilated will allow most of the water vapours to escape thus reducing the chances of mould growth in these commonly affected areas.

Most of the times, if the mould problem is small then the cleanup can be done by yourself. If you decide to use bleach to do the cleanup, then there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Mixing bleach with ammonia or other household cleaning solutions is a big no-no. 
• Keep the windows and doors open to allow fresh air to enter. Make sure there is proper ventilation in the area being cleaned. 
• Don’t forget to wear protective gloves and eyewear. Remember, safety comes first. 
• Follow the instructions given by the manufacturer when using bleach or any other cleaning product.

See Also: Different Types of Mould that Grow at Your Home

Mould can become a serious problem if not tackled in time. It is advised to get a professional mould cleanup as soon as you spot mould in your home. We at Bio Cleanse Services provide expert mould testing and mould cleanup services. Call now on 0427 411 789 or visit our website to know more.

Is your home infested with black mould?

Black mould or Stachybotrys chartarum is a fungus which is considered to be one of the most dangerous of its kind. It grows in dark, moist/damp places in the house like on the walls, tiles, ceilings and wooden cabinets. It not only gives your house an unkempt appearance but also poses a risk of several health problems to the inhabitants. Below are signs that will help you detect the presence of black mould in your house before it’s too late.

1. Musty odour

Mould has a musty, earthy and stale smell. Even if you do not see any mould but notice a peculiar smell when you enter an area in the house, it is a telltale sign of mould's presence. It is important to have the whole house inspected as mould could be hiding and growing underneath moist wallpapers, carpets, or in washing machines, air conditioning, etc.

In many cases, the occupants get accustomed to this musty, damp smell. Hence, it is advisable to have a friend to come over and detect if there are any odd smells.

2. Visible dark spots

Another sign that tells you black mould could be growing in your house is the appearance of black or dark green spots on the ceilings or walls. Black mould appears in clusters and often looks slimy. Even if you feel these spots are anything but mould, they could be due to water damage or standing water, which could lead to mould growth.

When you notice these spots are a result of water damage, call a water damage restoration specialist to clean and remediate the site as well as to check if there are any other areas that have suffered damages to avoid mould problems.

3. Effects on health

The most common health effects of black mould are allergic reactions. The symptoms include watery eyes, runny nose, coughing, wheezing, itchy eyes, headaches, fatigue, and skin irritation. If anyone in your house has been experiencing these symptoms for a while, it is best to have the entire house checked for mould by a professional.

4. Visible mould growth

At times, the growth of black mould in your house may be easily visible. While it is usually black in colour, furry and slimy, its colour may differ. In some cases, it may have hints of dark brown, greenish-black, or even orange or white.

No matter what the colour, every kind of mould needs to be removed thoroughly and the affected area should be disinfected properly.

If you suspect you may have a mould problem, call us on 0427 411 789 and we’ll take care of the rest.

Mould growth and the need for remediation

Most people don’t consider mould growth a serious problem. But they are wrong.  Mould growth is a serious issue and any indication of mould growth at your home or office should be considered a serious issue.

Mould growth can take place due to various reasons. One of the most common reasons is by humidity and water damage. If that’s the case, then mould remediation is necessary as it can cause serious health concerns. Not only is mould bad for your health, it can severely damage and devalue your property, creating unwanted strain to your property as well.

Exposure to mould can have serious health issues like nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, eye irritation and in severe cases skin irritation. Often young children and elderly people and the most prone to being affected by mould.

Mould growth takes place in places with a lot of moisture. Areas around leaks in roof, pipes, areas under the sink and in bathrooms are common breeding grounds for mould spores.

See also: Different Types of Mould that Grow at Your Home 

Bio Cleanse is a professional outfit when it comes to mould remediation. We specialize in providing quality services with extremely high mould inspection standards. Our trained technicians use innovative technology and treat any area or item affected by mould. Give us a call at 042 741 1789 or visit our website http://www.bio-cleanse.com.au/services/mould-remediation/ to schedule an appointment with us.  

Mould Abatement

Mould is present everywhere - they exist indoors as well as outdoors. They are a boon for nature, as they aid in decomposing dead matter such as dead vegetation. They reproduce through tiny seeds called spores which are invisible to the naked eye and travel through the medium of air from one place to another.

Mould thrives under humid conditions. Moisture is helpful for mould to grow and multiply into colonies. If the contact between mould and moisture occurs indoors in a domestic area, then it results in mould problems for the household. 

Mould produces a near-repulsive musty odour. Nevertheless, it is hard to detect the source of mould. Mould can sneak into the rear of wallpapers or panelling, the underside of carpets, inside ductwork and roof tiles – practically any nook and cranny which it can find. The reason for mould to flourish in domestic conditions is that the domestic indoor materials are capable of moisture retention, providing an excellent soil for mould to thrive. 

Mould does not require a long time to spread. In as little as 48 hours, mould can spread through the property like wildfire, bringing damage and nuisance. Not only does it affect the walls, windows and furniture of one’s house, it also poses a serious health risk for the inmates. Mould exposure can cause conditions such as coughing, eye irritation, skin rashes, headache, sneezing, throat irritation, nasal congestion and respiratory problems. Besides these allergic and irritable conditions, mould can also produce mycotoxins, which can be potentially hazardous for health. For people suffering from asthma, the presence of mould cause asthma attacks.

The dilemma of mould abatement translates into moisture control.

• Not only the mouldy surface needs to be cleared, but promptly fixing any water problem is also essential to prevent further outbreaks in the future. 

•  Make sure that the roof, gutters, pipes, AC drip pans and pipes are all functioning properly without any water leakage or retention. 

• It is important to let moisture produced from various sources (clothes dryers, stoves, heaters) go out of your house.

• Use exhaust fans in places such as kitchen and bathroom.

• It is wise to use air conditioners or dehumidifiers when needed.

Bio-Cleanse provides professional cleaning services of mould     and mildew, besides many other services. Visit www.bio-cleanse.com.au/mould-remediation/ for more information.

Leaky Pipes? Is consulting a plumber the ultimate solution?

Has your place ever been damaged with water? Perhaps water pipe leakage? Did you repair it all by yourself or did you consult a plumber? Have you ever consulted professionals to do the cleaning? If your answer is ‘No’, then you might have noticed mould growth over the walls. What possibly can be the reason for it? Yes, it is due to improper cleaning after water damage.

Here is a list of few damages that could happen in case you do not consult professionals.

• Leaky roofs damage ceilings to such an extent that the plaster could peel off and the paint could darken. The surrounding portion of walls could also be affected. Mould could grow over the surface making it shabby in appearance and dangerous to health.

• Electrical gadgets like ceiling fans and the lights could also suffer damage. There might be a high risk of electrical shocks or fire in such cases.

• Water leaks could also tamper with the flooring. Damage to the carpet will be caused for sure and so to the flooring. If your flooring is made of wood, then there are fair chances that it could rot.

• Water leaking from corroded or cracked pipes are sometimes left unattended. A bucket or some other vessel is placed under it as a temporary solution to this problem. Have you ever thought that this bucket or vessel could turn out to be breeding grounds for mosquitoes and various other micro-organisms? You and your family could possibly be at high risk to many insect and other organism-borne diseases.

The costs to repair all these damages could turn out to be a considerably large amount. Instead, when you notice anything in its nascent stage, consult us at Bio Cleanse. We can help with all kinds of water damage.

Visit our website http://www.bio-cleanse.com.au/ for more details.