Staying Safe When Removing Mold From Your Home
If you find mold in your home, then the healthiest thing to do is, of course, to remove the mold. However, the removal process can be a risk in and of itself if you're not careful. Here are some ways to stay safe when you are ridding your home of mold.
Wear goggles and a face mask.
Mold spores can be really irritating to the respiratory tract. They can also make your eyes itchy and red. When you clean up mold, you are almost certain to release some spores into the air. Wearing goggles and a face mask will help protect you from these spores. Make sure the goggles you choose fit tightly against your face, and make sure the mask you choose is made from a material that is rated to block tiny particles like mold spores.
Throw out clothing when you're done.
When you're cleaning up mold, make sure you wear clothing you don't mind disposing of. Long sleeves and pants are best, as they will minimize contact between your skin and the mold, which can irritate skin. It can be tough to get clothing completely clean after it's exposed to a lot of mold, and you can release spores into the air by trying to do so. Therefore, putting the clothing in a plastic bag and throwing the whole bag away is the safest approach.
Run a dehumidifier with a good filter.
Obtain a dehumidifier, and plug it in before you even start cleaning up the mold. If you can run it for one to two days before the cleanup effort, that is ideal. Running the dehumidifier helps slow down the mold's growth rate as it will have less moisture. Less humidity also means the mold spores will settle out of the air faster, so you won't be exposed to as much mold after cleaning. Make sure your dehumidifier has a good filter to remove these mold spores from the air.
Dilute your bleach properly.
Bleach is the best option for removing mold. However, you need to make sure you dilute it properly. One part bleach per 10 parts water is plenty. If you use straight bleach or a 50/50 mix of bleach and water, you may suffer skin damage or respiratory irritation when exposed to the solution. A weaker bleach solution will kill the mold with less risk to you.
With the tips above, you can stay safe when cleaning up mold. When in doubt, call a professional mold removal team and let them handle things.