A Mold Inspection Is Not Just For Your Home
Mold inspection shouldn’t just happen in your home. I learned this the hard way not too long ago while grocery shopping. Without giving things a second thought I did my usual shopping never considering that mold could be lurking in the foods I’d purchased. But after putting away groceries, I noticed that the package of beef jerky I’d bought contained moldy growth!
My first thought was that the jerky had expired, but when I checked the date it hadn’t. Then I wondered if the product had been tampered with and opened, but it wasn’t. So my next thought was moisture or air had somehow gotten into the package before it was sealed and the grocery store never noticed the mold since the growth probably hadn’t occurred until after it was put on the store shelf.
Still, the store needed to know so I took my fungus found purchase back and luckily they offered a refund and an apology right on the spot. Of course I would think that all stores would handle things in such a positive manner, but there’s bound to be a few who won’t.
So in order to avoid a future issue, I’ve learned it’s always a good idea to look over your purchases before you toss them in the shopping cart. You may also want to ask the manager of the store what the policy is for returning contaminated items. Does it need to be returned the very same day or can you wait a few days before you return it?
If you’ve returned the moldy item in a reasonable amount of time and they still won’t budge, you should contact the manufacturer of the product for a refund. Be prepared to send them a store receipt for proof of purchase as well as the item that has the mold infection on it.
You should also keep in mind that mold inspection should never just stop at the grocery store. Convenient stores, fast food places and restaurants can all easily become a victim of mold growth.
Mold Removal Products and What You Should Know About Them
With the ozone layer being one of our biggest concerns, more and more people are changing their ways and cleaning with green products. And more and more people are finding a healthier route for cleaning up molds with environmentally friendly mold removal products.
Still, there are some concerns as to whether or not these cleaners are effective on mold, especially the toxic ones like black mold. And many mold remediation companies that remove mold haven’t made the green switch. Is it because they don’t believe safer alternatives can be just as effective or is it because it’s just plain cheaper to stick with dangerous chemicals?
For many companies it’s actually both. They’re aware of the dangers of chemicals just as they’re aware of the fact that the cheaper the product, the more of a profit they’ll make.
Of course not all companies think this way. Many are truly concerned over the knowledge that not every green product will pass the shoot to kill mold test. Of course that very same knowledge applies for a chemically produced product as well.
And there are a couple of tidbits of knowledge that many homeowners aren’t even aware of.
For example, manufacturers are not required to list the chemical pesticides that are used in their cleaners. You may find they’ve listed some of the ingredients and the dangers of using the cleaner, but they don’t have to list any pesticides used in the process or the ingredients.
It is illegal in some states to use a product that does contain pesticides by anyone other than a licensed mold remediation company.
Okay, so maybe a green cleaner does sound a heck of a lot safer, but unfortunately, there are some things a homeowner should be aware of with those as well.
For instance, while it’s true that some green cleaners will work on mold, they might not permanently remove them, which is just going to have you be spending a whole lot more on the mold removal cost. And while some green mold cleaners will remove some mold permanently, they may not be designed for the big jobs or certain molds like the toxic ones.
So the best thing a homeowner can do is do their research. Ask around and find out what mold removal products have worked for other homeowners and businesses. It’s better to know what you’re using than to find out that the product you’ve used was a waste of your hard earned money.
Mold in Crawl Space What Are Your Options?
If you’ve ever had a problem with mold in the crawl space then chances are you know it’s not an easy do it yourself task. And you know that hiring a specialist to remove the mold is almost out of the question due to the lack of mold insurance or if you do hire someone you’re going to be taking that cost out of your savings. So what’s a homeowner to do?
If you’re not allergic to mold, you may be able to do the work yourself, however don’t expect the mold to disappear forever since a professional is required to help insulate and remove the moisture levels that are a common problem with this area.
If there’s not a lot of mold infestation you can clean the wood surfaces of the affected areas using a product designed to permanently kill mold. Before using always wear rubber gloves, goggles and a surgical (paper) mask and always follow the manufacturer’s directions listed on the product.
If the mold seems a little stubborn you may need to repeat the directions on the product if it’s safe. If however, you find the mold is still there; you’ll need to call in a professional for help. Otherwise your mold problem can become much worse by causing severe structural damage to your home.
Once you’ve applied the product, you can wipe away any moldy residue using disposable wipes or a clean rag. Be sure you use a clean side every time you swipe at the affected area or you will just contaminate everything again.
Once the wood surface is dry, you can use the hose of a HEPA vacuum to dry and clean up any remaining fungus spores.
If you want to try to minimize moisture in the area, you can lay a film of plastic over the soil to help reduce humidity, but you should still call in an expert if you want to reduce the mold in the crawl space even further.