Georgia can be a pretty humid place, and with all that humidity comes an increased risk of mold in your home. If you have a mold allergy, you probably want to nip those growing substances in the bud before they have a chance to spread too far. Depending on the severity of your allergies and the type and degree of mold, you can either clean it up yourself or hire a professional.
Cleaning Mold Yourself
You can clean mold with either undiluted white vinegar or bleach. While cleaning, you should wear a mask, gloves and goggles and open a window in case the mold releases spores. If you choose to use bleach, don’t mix it with ammonia or other chemicals, as the combination can create a poisonous gas.
To clean the mold, spray or wet it with your preferred cleaning agent and let it sit for 10 minutes with bleach or 1 hour with vinegar. Next, wipe up the mold with a rag soaked in the cleaning agent, rinsing the rag frequently as you go. Once all the mold is gone, wipe it one more time with the cleaner and let it air dry.
Signs That You Need To Call a Professional
Some types of molds release mycotoxins, which are dangerous to your health. For people with allergies, a mold doesn’t have to be toxic for your immune system to react negatively to it. If you have a mold allergy, you may react to any type of mold. The severity of your reaction should be part of your calculation for whether you need to call a professional.
Contact a professional if any of the following symptoms arise and are severe enough to make removing the mold yourself challenging:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Itchy throat
In addition to your symptoms, pay attention to how mold appears in your house. Call a professional if you notice any of the following:
- Mold that keeps returning
- Mold covering a large area
- A musty smell in your home
- Damp walls, even if there is no visible mold
- Damage from leaking or burst pipes, especially those containing sewage
A professional can safely and effectively remove mold to prevent allergies or mold toxicity. If you’re experiencing allergy symptoms, but you’re not sure if mold is the cause, contact ENT of Georgia North to schedule an allergy test.
