The Facts About Mold in New Milford, CT Homes

8/1/2018 (Permalink)

Not only is "black mold" toxic - all shades of mold -gray, black, purple, yellow, white- can be harmful to your health.

An internet search on household mold will result in a plethora of conflicting information on what mold is and how it can be removed from a home.  There are some facts about mold that are indisputable and good to know in case you find mold in your Newtown home.  

1. Bleach does not kill mold

This myth is so prevalent that we've been advised to use bleach against mold from everyone including our neighbors, plumber and numerous google sites.  While mold can be killed by bleach on hard surfaces such as bathroom tile, it does not kill mold on porous surfaces such as walls and wood. Mold spores present in the air are not affected by topical bleach use.  What’s more, because it is made up of 90% water, removing mold with bleach can actually make mold regrow even faster.  

2. Mold can start to grow in 24 to 48 hours 

If there has been water damage in your home or business, mold can begin to grow in as little as 24-48 hours. We typically see this when a home has been vacant while the owners are away on vacation. We've even responded to jobs in which the water damage was in a basement and not discovered until the following day. To avoid mold growing after a water damage, do not delay in calling a water damage remediation company after a flood.   

3. There are over 100,000 different types of mold

The term usually used when referring to dangerous mold is "black mold" however mold can come in a variety of colors, including brown, green, yellow and white.  In fact, there are over 100,000 known species of mold, most of which exist outside the home. Some molds are helpful to the environment and others are harmful. The most common form of molds found in homes are Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Stachybotrys and Alternaria. 

4. Mold is naturally everywhere 

Mold exists everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. Mold helps decompose organic matter and plays a vital role in maintaining a balance in our environment. Healthy levels of mold are not harmful to your home or your health.  When you see mold growing on surfaces of your home, however, it is probable that conditions exist that are causing an accelerated rate of growth. Typically, this is due to high moisture levels in the home. 

When SERVPRO of Newtown and Southern Litchfield County performs mold remediation in a structure, our goal is to bring the level of mold spores to healthy levels. In fact, complete mold spore removal is not possible and if a restoration company claims that they will eradicate mold in your home, you might consider hiring a different company.  Look for a business who has an IICRC certification  to ensure that your mold restoration company is educated and equipped in identifying and treating household mold.