Unfortunately, none of us is protected against the appearance of how to get rid of mildew smell at our homes. And while mildew tends to be a surface phenomenon, mold may be deep rooted, thus causing more serious harm. Mold may ruin our walls and textile fibers but worse than that, it may be bad for heath. The latter is especially true for people suffering from allergies or respiratory diseases. That is why, we need to take action to remove it and prevent it from spreading as early as we can.
TIP: It is highly recommendable to call a professional if the infected area is more than 10 square feet. Keep in mind that some types of mold are highly toxic and should be treated professionally with due protection.
How To Test Whether We Have Mold
Sometimes however, it may be difficult to tell mold from dirt. That is why, it is best to do the bleach test. If in doubt, sprinkle the infected area with chlorine bleach and leave it for a couple of minutes. If it lightens, you may be sure that you are dealing with mildew. If it stays dark, then you are presented with ordinary dirt.
TIP: If you sense the smell of mold, it is good to check up for any damp areas, especially damp carpet, walls, wood or roof. It may appear if you have had a window open during rain, or if you have recently had water damage. If you however notice black mold, you best look for professional advice. It tends to cause rotten effects and may damage your home structure and affect your health.
Before starting cleaning, you better take measures to protect yourself. It is recommendable that you use old long-sleeved shirt and trousers, rubber gloves, goggles and a really good respirator. You skin, eyes and breathing should be protected throughout the cleaning process. You may also consider ventilating the room while cleaning.
There are two proven cost-effective methods for cleaning mildew at home. The first involves the application of chlorine bleach and the second – distilled white vinegar.
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Cleaning Mold With Chlorine Bleach
Chlorine bleach is really effective against mold due to its harshness and sanitizing effect. Nevertheless, before applying, it should be diluted with water in one to eight bleach to water ratio. You may pour the cleaning solution into a sprayer bottle. If applying on larger floor surface for example, you may consider the alternative of a garden sprayer.
The cleaning process involves:
- spraying the cleaning solution to the affected areas,
- leaving to take effect,
- and rinsing.
Sometimes it may require hand scrubbing. During rinsing however, it is important not to rinse completely so that you may prevent from reappearing.
TIP: Never mix bleach with ammonia due to danger form highly toxic fumes.
Cleaning With Distilled White Vinegar
White vinegar is a really effective alternative to many mold removing detergents and bleach. It is not that harsh and its best quality is its acidity without being toxic. Due to this, it usually requires scrubbing. Nevertheless, many consider it more effective than bleach in treating mold. This is due to its better penetration features.
After applying the vinegar, you should leave it to act for at least an hour before wiping the mold. If scrubbing is required, you may perform it with the help of baking soda. Complete the treatment by rinsing, spraying with vinegar again and leaving to dry.
TIP: For best effect, look for 5 or 6 percent acid distilled (cleaning) vinegar. However, acid vinegar is not recommended to be used upon aluminum, waxed wood or cast iron.
How To Treat Sporous Surfaces
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Although the above presented mold cleaning methods are more or less universal, they are most frequently applied in the bathroom, around windows, or tiles. Spotless cleaning of surfaces such as carpets, wood or walls may require real professional inspection. Sometimes, complete removal of affected carpet may be needed, or opening up of moldy walls to clean the mold inside. That is why, if unable to decide on the best cleaning method, you are welcome to call us on 02038415178.
Finally, we at SW Cleaners are often faced with mold intervention while delivering our carpet cleaning and end of tenancy cleaning service. Due to our experience in stain removal, we may be of real help to early found mold or mildew infections. Our professional equipment and expert insight allow us to tackle the problem professionally and according to its individual specifics.
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