Warning: do not use bleach to kill mold

Mold is extremely harmful to your health

Household mold, if left unchecked, can cause a variety of health issues, including allergic reactions, chronic coughing and sneezing, eye irritation, ear nose, and throat issues, rashes, chronic fatigue, persistent headaches, and more. The effects of mold on children, the elderly, or immune-compromised people can be much worse, and can even lead to partial paralysis or even death.

While most of us know that black mold spores are a dangerous and costly result of unwanted moisture, many of us don’t know how to get rid of it safely and effectively.

Cleaning mold with bleach does more harm than good

Most people think that, since bleach is the most effective household cleaner for killing germs, bacteria, and viruses, then it should be great for killing mold too. It’s true that bleach will kill mold on hard surfaces like glass and tile, using bleach to kill mold spores on porous surfaces does more harm than good.

Mold has roots, just like trees or plants. The black spots we can see are the spores. But anywhere you can visually see mold spores, there are roots that go down into the surface. The more porous the material, the easier it is for mold’s roots to go deeper.

Killing the surface mold spores makes the roots grow deeper

Mold spores look like little black spots, and you can usually find them in high-moisture environments like bathrooms or laundry rooms.

If you see mold spores on walls or ceilings where it’s unusual for moisture to accumulate, it’s likely that the mold is growing inside the walls, where the condensation, leaky pipes, drain lines, and sewer lines are.

If you wipe the surface mold and treat the area with bleach, you’re only killing the spores you can see. The roots of the mold inside the surface are still there, and are likely to grow even stronger, and will continue to grow away from the surface, where they’re not so easy to kill.

If you can see mold, the problem is worse than you think

If you notice that mold has started growing on the porous surfaces in your home, chances are the roots have grown much deeper. Like icebergs, where what you see is only 1/10th of what’s hiding under the surface, by the time you can visually spot mold spores, it’s likely that there’s much more in the places you can’t see.

Mold inspections are the best way to keep your family safe

There are thousands of varieties of mold out there, and some are more harmful than others. Mold is a fact of life, and every structure, no matter how clean, will have trace amounts of mold present.

There are safe levels of mold, and there are dangerous levels. The safe, acceptable level of mold in your home depends on what type of mold is present. The only way to tell the types of mold, and the levels present in your home is by getting a professional mold inspection from a certified inspector.

Find an IICRC certified mold remediation specialist 

Mold inspectors use sophisticated equipment that can identify mold and other toxins in your home, along with how much is there, and what you need to do to bring it down to safe levels. It’s impossible to completely eliminate mold, but safe levels can be achieved quickly and easily with help from a mold remediation or water damage restoration specialist. 

If your home has recently been affected by unwanted moisture, water leaks, or mold, contact Patriot Restoration and schedule a mold inspection or remediation estimate. Our IICRC trained and certified technicians are on-call and ready to inspect your home quickly, and if the levels are above the level of safety, we can often begin the mold remediation process the same day. 

Patriot Restoration is Knoxville’s most trusted mold remediation expert

For almost a decade, Knoxville homeowners have trusted Patriot Restoration for water damage restoration, mold inspections, and mold remediation services. We’re here to help, and you don’t have to go through it alone. 

Patriot Restoration is East Tennessee’s premier restoration and construction company. We take care of damage from water, fire, and mold to give you the peace of mind you deserve. We are accredited by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC),

We are ready to help you with your mold remediation needs! Give us a call at (865) 272-2350.

Or visit our mold remediation page for more info