Cities Most Commonly Serviced:

Cleaning Up Mold from Water

As a water and fire restoration company, we offer full-service mold remediation for homeowners and business owners. So, we get a lot of mold-related questions! People are always asking about how to clean mold up from water damage, so we figured we’d pull together your most common questions into a quick guide to help you get the answers you need.

The first question we get a lot is, “Can I clean up mold myself?” Like anything else, you can do it yourself instead of hiring a professional. Will you have the right skillset and tools to get it done effectively? Probably not, unless you’ve had to do this before (in which case you’re probably also not asking this question because you already have the experience needed to know you can tackle it yourself). Do you have the time needed to devote to doing a truly thorough job? Maybe. The truth of the matter is that professional mold removal specialists remove mold every day, so they are always going to be better qualified than the average homeowner or business owner because they are immersed in their trade constantly. They own the professional-grade tools needed to get rid of mold and they stay on top of the most current methods and products used in mold removal. So, while you can try to get rid of mold yourself, hiring a mold remediation business is an investment in your health because while mold removal isn’t cheap, the cost of doing it wrong can be much higher.

The second question we get is, “How does mold removal work?” Broadly speaking, a mold remediation company will take the following steps:

  1. Isolate the affected area using plastic sheeting
  2. Mist the area to help suppress mold spore travel
  3. Remove items that have mold damage
  4. Scrub and clean the remaining surfaces (walls, flooring, etc.) to remove visible mold
  5. Apply a mold cleaning solution to kill the remaining mold (and possibly a product to prevent future mold growth)
  6. Clean any other areas of the home that were exposed to mold from workers entering and exiting during cleanup
  7. Thoroughly dry out the affected space to prevent mold recurrence

All these steps will be performed in full PPE to protect the workers from the harmful effects of mold.

Speaking of which, you would be shocked how many people ask our third question: “Is mold dangerous?” Typically, this is asked out of desperation and not ignorance. People who have discovered mold in their homes are incredulous and looking for ways to avoid the steep cost of professional mold remediation services. We tell them (and now we’re telling you too) that mold is very dangerous! Breathing in mold can lead to a whole host of health problems for your family.

Lastly, people always want to know which types of materials they can get mold out of – drywall, baseboards, carpet, furniture, duct work. Anything that is found in a home can fall victim to mold growth when the conditions are right. Just like water removal, mold removal can be done on most surfaces without requiring that they be replaced. The notable exceptions are drywall and insulation. When drywall gets wet, it acts like a sponge. It’s ability to hold onto water means that water damage leading to mold growth inside of drywall will likely necessitate its replacement. The same is true for insulation.

Additional resources:
How to Tell if you have Mold
Basement Mold Removal
The Guide to Removing Mold Yourself
Attic Mold Removal
Do You Need Mold Removal?
Crawl Space Mold Removal
Is Water Damage Harmful?
The Dangers of a Flooded Home
Understanding the After Effects of a Flood
How Fast does Mold Grow after a Leak?
Are you Smelling Mold?
Is it Black Mold or Something Else?
Black Mold Removal Costs
The Cost to Get Rid of Mold in a Basement
Mold Remediation Service Cost
Clear Mold out of an Attic
How Much does a Mold Remediation Company Charge?
How to Prevent Mold in your Home
The Journey of a Mold Spore
How Do Professionals Remove Black Mold?
Local Mold Removal Services
Cleaning Products for Mold
Prevent Mold and Mildew
Who Can be Trusted to Remove Mold from a Basement?
Get Mold Out of Carpets
Getting Mold Off Rugs
How does Water Damage Cause Mold?