Monday, May 16, 2011

How To Handle Mold On Different Surfaces...

Mold is one of the most common and dangerous byproducts of flood damage.  To prevent health hazards like allergic reactions or breathing problems in your home, mold removal is a matter of utmost importance. Soggy and moist corners of your home or basement can be the perfect breeding ground for mold growth.  The good news is that different mold removal techniques are available that eliminate the mold growth effectively. To apply these mold removal methods successfully you should know a few different characteristics about different types of surfaces.

 Type 1# Vinyl, Ceramic Tile and Grout Surface

For mold removal from vinyl, ceramic tile and grout, a mixture of chlorine bleach (1 quart) and water (1 gallon) is considered quite effective. Before applying the solution for mold removal in a particular area you should wear rubber gloves. Then you should coat the area with mixture using a scrub brush. After allowing the mixture to soak ten to fifteen minutes, use the brush for mold removal by scrubbing the surface area.

 Type 2# Fabrics, Clothing, and Cloth Curtains Surface

For best use when working with fabrics, cloth curtains, fabrics, a solution of Dawn dish detergent and warm water is used at preliminary stages. If any portion of the stain remains then a combination of lemon juice and salt is used. Bleach mixture also works for mold removal from clothes but it can damage colored fabrics. To prepare the solution for mold removal first you should mix Dawn and warm water. Then gently rub the cloth to remove the stains without damaging the surface. Once the stains are gone you can dry up the clothes in the sun. If the stain remains then use the lemon juice solution to wash the spotted places and dry in the sun again.

 Type 3# Leather Surface

Mold removal from leather surfaces can be done easily by using appropriate mixtures. The mostly used solution for mold removal from leather is a concoction of rubbing alcohol (1 cup) and water (1 cup). You can simply apply the solution on the leather surface with a piece of cloth and then leave it to dry. If the mold removal is incomplete i.e. stains remain then wash the surface with dawn detergent to get better results.

 Type 4# Raw wood Surface

In case of mold removal from unpainted raw wood a solution of one quart bleach and three quart water is used. The procedure if applying the mold removal solution is quite simple. Just use the solution to clean the surface by scrubbing and then leave the surface to dry up. Again you can paint up the wooden surface with mold resistant paints to get rid of mold growth.

Mold removal techniques in different surfaces are quite different. The main difference is in the making of the formula suggested for the affected surface. So if you don’t know which solution to apply on which surface then mold removal can be a fairly daunting task. But of you just know the exact solution for the right type of surface then mold removal will be a trouble free task indeed.

1 comment:

  1. I’d make one alteration to your recommendation on which type of detergent to use. In most cases Borax works better than regular detergent. In fact, years ago borate based solutions were the primary mildicide used by professionals. More effective chemicals are implemented today, but borates are still a good choice for a DIY project.

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