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Non-Toxic Ways of Getting Rid of Molds

Published by 911 Restoration Lansing on January 31, 2022 in category: Uncategorized

Read on and find out the non-toxic ways of getting rid of molds!Mold is a fungus that lives outdoors and indoors, usually humid and with little light. It is a problem that poses health risks to the inhabitants since many types of fungus can be toxic. Thus, you have to act quickly to get rid of mold, but the remedy should not be worse than the disease. Using harmful chemicals to eradicate mold sounds like creating a new problem to solve the prevailing one. You can resort to more natural and safe means to get rid of it, which we will discuss through this article!

So, if you’ve faced a similar problem in your house or office and you were planning to opt for bleach and other similar chlorine-based products, it’s time you reconsider and resort to the natural ways to keep our environment safe. 

But before talking about the non-toxic ways, let’s discuss how mold can affect your health and why it is important to get rid of it immediately!

How Mold Affects Your Health?

Although most fungi that makeup mold are harmless to health, some can release toxins, or mycotoxins, which can seriously affect health. A well-known example is the so-called black mold produced by the Aspergillus fungus, one of the most toxic and the most common in boats and homes with high humidity and temperature conditions. This fungus can cause lung diseases, allergic sinusitis, infections of the skin of the external auditory canal, and onychomycosis (or ringworm of the nails), among other conditions.

Therefore, keeping the place free of humidity, fungus and mold can also serve as disease prevention.

How to Prevent and Eliminate Molds in Natural Ways?

The key is to leave aside solutions that are undoubtedly effective but based on toxic ingredients and pollutants that generate more problems in the long term. Toxic chemicals may solve the problem quickly but can be hazardous to the environment, even worse. Bleach and similar chlorine-based products are effective: they kill spores in 10 seconds. But they are also a health risk since they emit volatile compounds that damage the respiratory tract cells and increase vulnerability to infections. Therefore, one must always look for more natural ways to attack mold. 

Let’s discuss some of the non-toxic ways of getting rid of molds!

How to Remove Mold with Natural Products?

If the Mold is Not Old

When the appearance of mold is recent, one of the following three possibilities is usually sufficient:

  • 80% ethyl alcohol
  • 3-10% hydrogen peroxide
  • 5% sodium carbonate

In most cases, when applying one of these products, the mold comes off and can be eliminated.

You can do it yourself if the mold is not spread over an area larger than one square meter. Get yourself some gloves, glasses, a mask, and a brush and clean with one of the safe disinfectants proposed.

With the same products, you can clean corners where mold takes advantage of any opportunity: the rubbers on the refrigerator doors, the air conditioning filters, the window frames, or the bathroom screens.

After cleaning, you must take measures to prevent its reappearance: improve ventilation, clean more frequently and keep surfaces dry. You can also prevent its occurrence by using air purifying products.

Australian Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia) Air Purifier

Melaleuca Alternifolia is a kind of shrub that grows in some areas of Australia. Due to its properties as a broad-spectrum antifungal, antiseptic and antibiotic, the oil extracted from this plant is used in many commercial products for different purposes, ranging from anti-fungus ointments or mosquito bites repellents to drying the grains of the acne or avoiding fleas and ticks on pets.

There are many tea tree enriched air purifiers available in the market. You just have to open the jar and place it near the affected area. The tea tree vapors disinfect, purify and deodorize the environment.

If the Mold in Old

If the mold has been installed for a long time, its elimination is more complicated. The spores will have penetrated the material, and a superficial cleaning will not achieve lasting results.

Sometimes mold is a consequence of the generation of excessive humidity. This happens in the kitchen and bathrooms, where it may be a good idea to install extractors to avoid condensation. In poorly ventilated places or places with high humidity (in houses near the sea, for example), dehumidifying devices can help.

It may be enough to cover the wall with cork or wood panels, if possible of ecological and natural origin, to curb humidity and the proliferation of molds. On the other hand, it is not convenient to place wallpaper since it serves as a substrate for mold spores to multiply.

Refurbishments May be Necessary

Sometimes the necessary solutions can be more serious; for example, when mold appears due to poor insulation of the walls.

When renovating places affected by molds, one should apply the criteria of ecological and bioclimatic architecture. For example, using lime plaster and lime and silicate paints allows surfaces to perspire.

Natural and ecological products for home renovation are found in specialized stores. They are somewhat more expensive than conventional ones, but they are better in the medium and long term because they create more comfortable and healthy spaces.

The most sensible way is to seek professional help who will assess the problem and its intensity and offer you the right options to get rid of the mold. 911 Restoration of Lansing offers the best mold remediation services to eliminate mold from homes and offices. Their professionals are at the service of the residents of Lansing, offering them the safest and the most effective mold removal solutions.

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