If you find yourself glancing the other way when you notice a mold substance growing in dark and damp areas of your house, then keep reading this post for tips on black mold removal. If the substance you find yourself ignoring is a dark greenish-black colour, then you shouldn’t be, as it’s known as Stachybotrys atra, and it’s very toxic and more importantly, it’s deadly! When you are dealing with molds, you need to make sure you know everything about the particular mold you are dealing with, and if you’re dealing with black mold removal, then you need to be up to date on the dangers of dealing with this fungus, and how to best remove it from your home, safely.
Stachybotrys atra is a dangerous substance, and if you’re dealing with it then you should be aware of the symptoms it may cause; these include difficulty breathing, urinary tract infections, nausea, memory loss, coughing, dizziness, bronchitis, asthma and in some cases, even infertility.
Stachybotrys atra is responsible for over 100 different types of lung condition. The worst effect of Stachybotrys atra is that it can cause respiratory bleeding – this is fatal in young children and infants. This is why black mold removal is so essential.
More and more people don’t believe that there is any possibility of finding this nasty substance in their home, especially if it’s kept clean… but this is not the case, unfortunately even the most clean of homes can be the perfect breeding ground for fungus to grow and spread and then require black mold removal techniques.
For example, areas that have very humid temperate are much more likely to be prone to toxic fungi, this is because moisture in the air causes molds to become more susceptible to that area, however, you will find that the risk of finding Stachybotrys atra in your house is even greater if your home is NOT in a high humidity area.
A humid environment is not the only factor that can create a perfect home for Stachybotrys atra to grow. Damp areas can be too, for example a pipe with a small leak (that could easily go unnoticed) is a potential toxic hazard for the fungus. To make the fungus even harder to spot, it can attach itself to the inside of the pipes, which makes removing black mold there practically impossible.
Because Stachybotrys atra likes damp places, you will also find that any place that is flooded also makes a perfect breeding ground for the fungi. It doesn’t make any difference on the size or cause of the flood (i.e. a major flood caused by a rainstorm, or a small flood caused by an overflowed toilet are both as good as each other as far as the fungi is concerned). What makes things worse is that it can take a number of days for flooded areas to dry out, which gives the fungi a greater chance of survival – with time to grow and spread. Don’t wait, start the black mold removal process as soon as you can.
Here are some indications that might mean you have a fungus growth in your home; stains on the walls or ceilings of your home. Stains are the first indication of a fungus growth, they are normally a dirty yellow colour with hints of black, green or brown, stains like these more than likely mean you have a fungi problem in your home.
Tips on Treating and Removing Black Mold
Watch the video below for a visual demonstration on how to correctly remove black mold and cleaning toxic fungal growths.
Another give-away of deadly fungus is the odor it lets off. If there is a musty smell or a smell of mildew present, then you could have mold growing in your home, specifically check in your closet and around any heating or air conditioning units.
Discovering you have a mold problem is just the very tip of the iceberg. Next you face the challenge of actually removing the dangerous fungi. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is an easy task, you need to take extreme care and caution when handling materials contaminated by this substance.
As well as the above products, using a dehumidifier will help to control the humidity in the air which causes the Stachybotrys atra fungus to appear in the first place. If the problem is so severe that store bought products and a dehumidifier do not work, then you should hire a professional black mold removal firm to remove it for you.When dealing with black mold removal or removing black mold, there are a few essential items you need; a respiratory mask, as well as suitable eye protection and gloves. You will find there are many products in your local DIY store that remove black mold, the most common is bleach.
You can also find some paints these days that deter the growth of fungi (this is something to consider if you live in an area particularly prone to fungi growth).