Should You Remove Mold Yourself?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers mold to be a growing problem in the United States due to the widespread presence of moisture which promotes mold growth. Should you decide to remove mold yourself? Cleaning up water damage or removing mold can be very difficult and dangerous without proper training.

This is not for you if:

1. You are allergic to molds or acute exposure.
2. The mold has spread past safe removal levels (more than 50%).
3. There’s extensive water damage present, which requires professional services anyway.
4. You do not have any experience handling projects like this before; it is easy to make a mistake if you are not experienced.
5. You do not have the proper equipment, especially for moisture damage and mold removal.

If none of the above conditions apply to your situation, then maybe this is something you can attack yourself! Keep in mind that using any chemicals without proper training is never recommended. If you have access to specialized services or equipment that will help remove or kill mold growth, it is highly worth contacting them instead of attempting the work yourself. But if these resources are unavailable… read on!

What Is Wrong With DIY Mold Removal?

Those should only do DIY mold removal with no other option because it requires professional equipment and knowledge about what you are doing, not to harm yourself. If you have mold growing in your home, then there is moisture damage. Moisture can be dangerous because it provides the right environment for this blue-green non-living organism to grow and spread. Mold spores are always present throughout our homes but do not usually grow into a problem unless conditions allow them to do so.

The EPA recommends only experienced contractors take on the task of cleaning up moldy spaces due to health risks associated with breathing in mold particles released during cleanup. Indeed, if left untreated after a terrible growth cycle, mold can be quite harmful for those susceptible or hypersensitive to molds. This applies especially to those who may already have respiratory issues such as asthma.

Mold can be difficult to recognize; its colors vary from green, blue, grey, and black. But mold will appear as a fuzzy coating on the surfaces of your walls and carpets. Moisture must be present for mold to grow; you may notice that the drywall seems wet or has a musty odor in the room. If no water damage is present, then this could only mean one thing: condensation. Mold requires air to breathe, and if there is no moisture around, it cannot survive.