Much has been said on the subject of mold. But there’s a lot of misinformation about mold out there and sometimes it’s overdramatized. Mention the word “mold” and some people will flee in panic. In reality, mold in a Chicagoland home or business can be a serious problem, but with a little common sense and the right information, you can learn to discern myth from fact and make wise decisions in your dealings with mold. Here are five “facts” that aren’t exactly true:
“Fact” 1: All Mold is Bad
Not true! Products such as blue cheese (Yum!) and penicillin contain mold. If you have a garden, the presence of mold will help it grow by speeding up the decomposition of organic materials like leaves and branches to help keep the soil healthy and full of beneficial nutrients.
“Fact” 2: All Mold is Unhealthy
As seen in “Fact” 1, that’s incorrect. But even among questionable molds, their effect on people varies greatly. Molds produce allergens, and while some people will be allergic to those allergens, not everyone will have a reaction.
According to the CDC, if someone is highly sensitive to mold they may show symptoms such as difficulty breathing, a bloody nose, and itchy, watery eyes. Those with compromised immune symptoms are also at risk, and some studies suggest serious health effects can crop up from repeated exposure to mold.
“Fact” 3: There Shouldn’t Be Mold in Your Home
This would be nearly impossible. Mold is all around us and is natural. There are mold spores in the air you’re breathing right now and there’s really no way around it unless you decide to live in a bubble. Problems only arise when there’s a high concentration of mold indoors, which is usually caused by too much moisture or water damage in your home. It shouldn’t be visibly growing inside your home!
“Fact” 4: Bleach Kills Mold
Bleach can kill mold, BUT it depends on the surface the mold is on. Mold grows on both porous and non-porous materials. When dealing with mold on non-porous materials such as shower tiles, tubs, vinyl window trims, counter tops, etc. you can use bleach to kill the mold and disinfect. But using bleach to remove mold from porous materials like drywall and wood can actually accelerate mold growth rather than killing it!
When bleach is used on porous materials, the chlorine is left on the surface and only the water component of the bleach is absorbed into the material, aggravating the situation as this provides more moisture for the mold to feed on, where it may then produce allergens and irritants.
“Fact” 5: Anyone Can Clean Up Mold
While you may be able to clean up certain kinds of mold in small quantities, most people in the Chicagoland area aren’t equipped to do mold remediation. To properly “cleanup” a mold problem you must identify the cause, isolate the area to keep the mold from spreading, and clean and or remove the affected surfaces. Unless you’re trained, know how to setup a containment unit, own commercial sized HEPA air filtration units, protective gear, HEPA vacuums, and specialized cleaning agents, you should call the professionals at ServiceMaster Disaster Restoration By Simons.
About Us: ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, is a 2020 recipient of the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, and recipient of the 2020 Skokie Business of the Year Award, Honorable Mention Category. ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons (MBE/WBE) is a family operated, IICRC & OSHA Certified company serving Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest, and the North Shore. We provide commercial disaster restoration services including Water & Flood Damage Restoration, Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration, Mold Remediation and a wide range of interior specialty cleaning including COVID-19 Cleaning Services, Hoarder & Clutter Cleaning, Post-Construction Cleaning, Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning to residential and commercial customers. For more information, call 773-376-1110 or visit www.servicemasterbysimons.com or info@servicemaster-rbs.com
