One of the most common places for the growth of mold in any home is in a basement where leaking water or the accumulation of moisture breeds rapid mold growth. Mold, which looks like black, white or bluish-black fuzz, is most likely to grow on organic materials such as wood, carpeting, textiles, paint and cardboard surfaces.
Failure to notice where mold growth is thriving in basements and taking steps to clean it thoroughly can be hazardous to the health of all occupants of the home. Breathing in mold spores can cause allergies, worsen asthma attacks and cause headaches and flu-like symptoms.
The first step in how to clean basement mold is discovering the source of moisture that is causing it and eliminating that so that no more mold is encouraged. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and a face mask when cleaning basement mold. You have to especially careful to not breathe black mold spores. Go to black mold symptoms for a list of ailments caused by too much exposure to black mold.
There are numerous safe and reliable organic mold cleaning products and solutions available in the market at hardware and home supply stores. If you prefer not to use a commercially prepared fungicide to clean basement mold, hot soapy water can also do a good job. Follow the directions carefully when using commercial fungicides once you have discovered the places in your basement where you see the tell-tale fuzzy signs of mold growth. Be sure that once the mold has been eliminated that the surface of the area is left clean and dry so that new mold growth is not encouraged.
Since mold can even grow in fiberglass insulation, it’s important to check if your basement insulation needs to be removed and replaced with new layers. Throw away any stored items which are growing mold if the mold cannot be cleaned off the item completely. Be sure to check behind stored boxes and into crevices, corners and up in the rafters to see if there is mold that needs to be cleaned. For wall to wall carpeting that has mold growth, either steam clean it thoroughly or rip it out and replace it with new floor covering.
Use a dehumidifier in the basement to help dry things out completely after cleaning away mold. Consider repainting walls, floors or ceilings if the mold coverage was extensive.To prevent future mold outbreaks in the basement, use an air purifier or a dehumidifier on a regular basis and do a monthly inspection check for any new leaks or water damage.
