Black mold is a pesky problem for many households. It causes health issues, destroys belongings, and even causes structural damage.

Homeowners must pay attention to avoid mold infestations on their property, as it only needs moisture and organic materials to grow on your clothes, books, and furniture.

Read on to learn more about what black mold is, how to prevent it, and how to deal with an infestation.

What is Black Mold?

Black mold is a toxic fungus accompanied by a green or black color. Like all mold, we can find black mold in the air. However, infestations can cause severe health risks.

Black mold thrives in your home’s warm, dark, and regularly damp areas. Apart from growing in your toilets, showers, kitchens, and basements, it also grows on paper, wood, and other organic household materials.

After discovering black mold in your home, please do not attempt to clean it. It can expose you to serious health risks. Instead, call professional cleaning services like ONEighty Solutions.

How Dangerous is Black Mold?

Black mold can be hazardous because it damages health and property. 

People with asthma, mold reactions, and failing immune systems may develop multiple health issues upon contact with large quantities of mold spores. Hence, it is critical to contact mold remediation services.

Health Effects of Black Mold

Mold infestations can pose a real threat, even to people with healthy immune systems: However, people with weakened immune systems risk more severe complications. They may face sore throats, nasal congestion, and other respiratory infections.

Allergies

People living with allergies are generally more susceptible to the harmful effects of mold than others. Common symptoms of exposure may include:

• Sore throat
• Blocked or runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Dry cough
• Wheezing
• Sinusitis
• Skin rashes

In rare cases, however, people report:

• Fatigue
• Frequent, long-lasting cough
• Frequent shortness of breath

Mold exposure may also worsen asthma and other respiratory problems in people coping with lung conditions. So, in the event of a mold infestation, contact the professional mold restoration services at ONEighty Solutions. 

How to Prevent Black Mold

It’s impossible to prevent all mold from growing anywhere, but you can still actively reduce the amount in your home. Below are a few dos and don’ts for maintaining a healthy mold level. 

Do: 

• Fix cracks and leaks to reduce moisture accumulation.
• Ensure water constantly drains away from your home.
• Use a dehumidifier to maintain low humidity levels indoors.
• Clean up indoor floods within 24 hours to prevent mold growth.
• Ensure that your pipe systems are in good condition.
• Regularly inspect the property for leaks.
• Use powerful fans when carrying out moisture-involved tasks such as bathing, cooking, and washing your dishes.

Don’t:

• Don’t put carpets in your bathroom, kitchen, and basement.
• Don’t paint over mold. You are simply whitewashing the problem. 
• Leave old papers, books, and wood around your house for a long time. Mold thrives on such organic substances.

How to Deal with Black Mold

Mold remediation is a job for professional mold remediation services. Usually, any mold growth exceeding 10 square feet falls under that category. However, it is best to involve experts for all infestations.

While homeowners may choose to handle mold infestations themselves, it often does more harm than good. Professional services have the equipment and expertise to control mold infestations and keep them from returning.

Here’s how to handle a mold infestation after discovery. 

Contain

Upon discovery, you may be tempted to clean mold yourself. However, doing so can risk your health and even spread mold. Contain the area and remove unaffected materials to avoid cross-contamination. Let the professionals handle this.

Ventilate 

After containing the affected area, the next step should be to ventilate the rest of your home. Since mold is airborne, spores from the colonized space can spread to the rest of your home.

Contact the Experts for Help with Black Mold

The most crucial step of mold remediation is contacting professionals.

Handling mold by yourself is ineffective. First, mold damage escalates quickly, and attempting a DIY cleanup on large mold areas will leave you spreading the colonies. 

Second, providers like our team at ONEighty Solutions are trained to deal with mold effectively. While handling mold may seem simple, homeowners need specialized remediation tools and knowledge of how to produce long-lasting solutions to mold growth.

If you suspect black mold colonies in your home, ONEighty Solutions is here to help. Our specialists rely on extensive field understanding and eco-friendly equipment to tackle mold infestations. Contact us today!