Have you ever seen small dark specks on your ceiling or furniture that has a funky odor? Black mold is notoriously known not only for its unsightly appearance but also its negative health effects to individuals. Although black molds are relatively easy to spot in your home, they can be quite stubborn and difficult to remove. In this post, we will be discussing what is the black mold, its health effects, and what we should do to eliminate this bugger in our home.
What is the Black Mold?
There are several varieties of house molds, but one of the most known is the black mold. Stachybotrys, or commonly known as the “black mold” is the type of mold that grows on damp areas such as moist ceilings and furniture. It is a type of fast-growing fungi that exist when the following conditions are present:
- Moist area
All molds need some form of moisture to survive. The constant dampness that can be present in your home through leaks, washing, or other activities that allow moisture can cause molds to form.
- Cellulose
Do not be misled by the seemingly scientific term. Cellulose is anybody form where the molds can feed on, where cell matter is present. Examples of these are wood, cloth, cotton and food items such as fruits, meat, and vegetables.
- Dark areas
Areas in your home which are not exposed to heat and light may be more prone to molds. If a portion of your wooden ceiling or wall experienced a leak and there was not enough sun exposure, black molds may begin to form.
What are the health effects of black molds?
Molds are a form of fungi, and we all know that the presence of bad fungi in our bodies can cause several respiratory problems and allergic reactions. Here are some of the common effects of exposure to black mold:
1. Chronic coughing and sneezing
Presence of mold spores can congest the nose and throat which can cause constant coughing and sneezing. If someone in your house has asthma, it may be best to get rid of the black mold as soon as possible.
2. Skin allergies
Another symptom of black mold exposure is skin allergies. Some people are more sensitive to black mold spores and would develop rashes, dryness and cracking of the skin. The fungus is considered a foreign body and the skin forms irritations when exposed even indirectly.
3. Prolonged exposure has serious health effects
When exposed to black mold for long periods of time, an individual may develop symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and even bleeding in some respiratory parts such as throat and lungs.
Knowing that these effects are not only minor but may cause potentially life-threatening conditions, it is important to understand steps to take in order to prevent and remove black molds in your home.
How to Prevent and Remove Black Molds in Your Home
1. Inspect for leaks and areas of constant moisture
Signs of black mold appear when there is a constant presence of dampness in certain parts of your home. In order to prevent black molds, make sure to inspect the sources of leaks, and find items which are always exposed to moisture. Find a way to patch up these leaks and steer away from any items that can be prevented from constantly being damp.
2. Always keep your furniture, mattress, and clothing clean and dry
Another possible presence of black mold is when furniture is cleaned using a wet towel but is neglected to be dried off effectively. Another possibility is the washing of mattresses and clothing without drying off completely. Make sure that when drying of these items there is enough heat and light in order to prevent the presence of black molds.
3. Hiring a specialist to remove black molds in your home
Even in drying and cleaning a portion of your ceiling, wall or furniture, removing black molds can be quite difficult as they are strong-holding and can recur so quickly. In these cases, hiring an expert such as Mold Zero can help you completely remove black molds in your home. Mold Zero is a mold removal service that makes use of safe, effective, and toxic-free chemicals to apply in certain areas or your entire house to remove and prevent the accumulation of black mold.
Through these steps, you are ensuring the safety of your household from the dangers of the black mold. Not only will it improve the appearance of your home, you are also free from the health risks associated with mold growth.
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Wow, I never knew that black mold could be so resistant and could grow back when you least expect it. I feel like this is what’s been happening with my own house since no matter how much I try to deeply clean it, we still end up with stuffy rooms that cause us to sneeze uncontrollably. To fix this once and for all, I’ll look for a mold cleaning service that has the tools to exterminate the mold once and for all.
It’s good to know that you can only completely remove black mold by hiring a professional. My sister was at my house last night, and she was telling me about how she and her husband found mold in their home a couple of days ago, and they were wondering how to get rid of it correctly. I’ll make sure to pass this information along to them so that they can look into hiring a professional mold removal service.