may 29 
Question by Cynthia N.
Send this post to a friendI've recently purchased a new home. The basement is quite damp and has signs of mold. Can you recommend any non-toxic mold treatments? Also, in spite of the traces of mold, we'd like to make the basement a family den. Is it safe to spend many hours in a damp basement with traces of mold?
Comments (6) |  |
1. 08/10/2007 09:55:54 AM
No, it's not safe to spend hours in a damp basement with signs of mold!
If your basement's damp, then that's the problem you should focus on, rather than the mold. It's critical that you work on finding ways to dry out the basement. First, figure out if you have a water intrusion problem. If not, perhaps you could try a dehumidifier. Dampness in homes (regardless of the presence of mold) has been linked scientifically to respiratory problems among inhabitants. So try to figure out the source of the moisture and get rid of it. There are relatively inexpensive instruments to test for humidity, so it's worth putting one in the basement. It’s best to keep the humidity between 30 and 60 percent.
If there's mold on permeable surfaces (such as carpets, sheetrock, etc), then the material needs to be safely removed and thrown away. If the mold is on hard surfaces (studs, concrete), then it can be cleaned with a wire brush and a 10 percent bleach solution. Studs should be sanded down as well. If the moldy area is larger than about a yard in diameter, then please make sure whoever does the work is a professional and that they use appropriate protection for themselves and for your own sake. If it’s a small area then you could probably do it, but wear an N95 mask from the hardware store.
If your basement's damp, then that's the problem you should focus on, rather than the mold. It's critical that you work on finding ways to dry out the basement. First, figure out if you have a water intrusion problem. If not, perhaps you could try a dehumidifier. Dampness in homes (regardless of the presence of mold) has been linked scientifically to respiratory problems among inhabitants. So try to figure out the source of the moisture and get rid of it. There are relatively inexpensive instruments to test for humidity, so it's worth putting one in the basement. It’s best to keep the humidity between 30 and 60 percent.
If there's mold on permeable surfaces (such as carpets, sheetrock, etc), then the material needs to be safely removed and thrown away. If the mold is on hard surfaces (studs, concrete), then it can be cleaned with a wire brush and a 10 percent bleach solution. Studs should be sanded down as well. If the moldy area is larger than about a yard in diameter, then please make sure whoever does the work is a professional and that they use appropriate protection for themselves and for your own sake. If it’s a small area then you could probably do it, but wear an N95 mask from the hardware store.
2. 08/10/2007 10:00:15 AM
I have two dehumidifiers in my basement and I've hooked them up by a hose to a drain in the floor. It's made a huge difference! I recently put them on timers (like you use on lamps when you're out of town) so that they turn off after 6 hours and then turn back on again 6 hour later.
3. 10/30/2007 04:53:29 PM
I would love to hear about an option for killing mold that does not involve bleach. I consider the bleach to be as potentially harmful as the mold itself. Any other options? Anything using vinegar, lemon juice, etc?
4. 01/25/2008 04:15:17 AM
Carpet cleaning companies and Fire&Smoke damage companies often have mold cleaning products.
Keeping the natural humidity in the basement is a key factor in controlling mold growth. An automatic basement dehumidifier is a must. Look on http://www.b-dry.com/basement-dehumidifiers.html for some good advice.
Keeping the natural humidity in the basement is a key factor in controlling mold growth. An automatic basement dehumidifier is a must. Look on http://www.b-dry.com/basement-dehumidifiers.html for some good advice.
5. 01/31/2008 09:39:12 AM
an old wooden skylight window in my home has black streaks of (mold)? on it, i've been told that to test if it's mold and not just rot, to put a q-tip of bleach on it and if the spot turns color immediately it's mold, and can be killed or cleaned away as well with bleach. PLEASE get back to me ASAP THANX
6. 02/24/2008 05:15:13 PM
There is a safe way to kill mold in homes - What you need is a Essential Oil diffuser and Theives Essential Oil - diffuse for 24 hours and the mold will die!!! You can order these products from www.youngliving.com - a source of pure, therapeutic-grade Essential OIls - also check out this web site. www.moldrx4u.com which tells exactly how to use these products by a professional!!! Yes, you can!!!!!
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