Do you know what black mold is and what it can do to your health? Chances are you don’t, as many people are not even aware of what this is or have likely never been affected by it. Chances are, however, also that many people who don’t know what black mold is still have been affected by it and have blamed other circumstances for the sickness they felt.
The more you know about what black mold is and it’s symptoms, the better you can protect yourself. If you do find your home infected, you will need to scramble fast to learn how to remove mold and protect your health. Black mold can develop anywhere there is water and a saturation of water and warm air. Mold is like any other living organism in that it needs water and food to thrive and procreate/breed. The optimal conditions are a dark hidden place with plenty of moisture for it to consume. Black mold often develops behind the walls in areas like the bathroom and kitchen, washroom (washer/dryer section) and anywhere where water pipes are likely to be.
If a leak develops or even if a flood of water pours out of the washing machine for whatever reason and seeps out of sight into the wall area, hidden behind the washing machine, this can be a dangerous mold incubation area. The mold is black and only visible when it’s proliferated out of control.
A black mold colony is dangerous not in it’s living state (where you see the black mold), but when the water dries up it’s survival instinct is to produce air born spores. Much like plants release pollen to pollinate and grow more of itself elsewhere, black mold puts off spores- living creatures that are microscopic and inert until it hits moisture and food is available.
How To Remove Toxic Mold
Removing mold is not something you do yourself. The chances of your breathing in spores and getting sick are too great. You will need to get your family out of that home and into a hotel or to stay at someone else’s house. This will slowly allow your body to get rid of the spores without adding more every time you breathe in. You will need to leave everything behind including clothing, furniture, and anything the spores could land on. If possible purchase some new clothing, take a shower at the gym or anywhere you can without going home. Don’t take a shower initially in the hotel room as you need to enter that place spore free. Your very clothing could infect the room!
After taking a shower (you and your family all need to do this to remove any potential spores on your skin, hair, clothing). Put on new clothes and don’t take anything with you that could contain spores. Call a black mold removal specialist and they will take it from there. Essentially they will go into your home, determine the risk factor, then clean the mold out for you. Your body should begin to heal in time away from the spores and by the time you return home you should be back to healthy again so long as the exposure wasn’t too much.