Surprising Facts About Moulds and Mould Removal in Brisbane

What You Have to Know About Moulds in Brisbane

Are you smelling something musty in your home? Did you notice some fuzzy black or green patches on the walls and your precious carpet? Yes, your home is under mould infestation! Moulds in Brisbane can ruin your home’s aesthetic appeal and can invite allergies, aggravate asthma, and other respiratory problems. 

Make haste and get rid of that notorious new member of your home. You will want this mould to go away and never reappear! While home cleaning products can clean small mould infestations, more significant problems will need professional attention. Having a basic understanding of mould will help you to prevent and get rid of horrible mould infestation. 

How Do Moulds Spread In Your Brisbane Home?

Mould is a fungus, and various species of them can infect your home. Naturally, mould grows through asexual reproduction by mitosis or meiosis. Also, mould spores get scattered in the air during reproduction. However, they are undetectable by our naked eyes.  You might not be able to notice them but cannot avoid their ill effects. 

Now the question is, how does mould spread in your home? The simplest answer is MOISTURE! Yes, moisture or humidity controls mould growth indoors.

• Mould growth can also be affected by light, temperature, food source, and the PH balance of their breeding surface.
• Inadequate ventilation also adds up to the cause. That is why spaces like the attic, the basement, bathrooms, and cabinets are the most favourite places for mould to reside.
• Leaking and broken pipes, and damp floors can also lead to mould infestation in your home.

If you do not fix these problems as soon as you notice them, you will land in even bigger trouble. No matter what the mould species is, you will want to get rid of it immediately! Do not ignore the early signs and call the professionals at The Mould Group. We are trained to test, treat, and remediate mould issues using state-of-the-art practices and over 20 years of experience.

Getting Rid Of Moulds in Brisbane

The first step to treat a mould problem is determining if you can DIY or need large-scale professional help. Know that if the mould infestation has reached inside your HVAC system, it is best to leave the job at the hands of the professionals. The cost of mould removal will depend on the area and the intensity of the infestation. 

If you decide to call in professionals, check their reviews and experience in remediating mould issues. Inspection of moulds in Brisbane is a crucial step. The key to keep your home safe from mould is to keep it dry. Ventilate damp areas, and rely on professional mould removal from The Mould Group. 

How To Do DIY Mould Clean Up From Walls, Basements, and Ceiling?

You can handle the mould problem if it covers ten square feet or less. First, you need to determine if the infested area is porous or hard. Then you need to scrub away the surface. Remember, safety is vital as some mould can be toxic. Make sure not to just paint or caulk over mould without removing it- it will be disastrous!

Removing mould from the walls

If you have finished wood or stone walls, thoroughly dry them first. You will need two different sponges and buckets now. One bucket will have plain water, and the other should have water mixed with a cleaning solution. Use the cleaning solution to wipe down the mould-infested area and rinse off the area with plain water. Make sure the area dries off soon. You can also use a vacuum to suck up all the excess mould. If you have wallpaper, unfinished wood, or gypsum drywall, however, cleaning is difficult. You might need to get rid of the whole affected area and replace it with a new one. 

Removing mould from the ceiling

The process is just like that of the wall mould removal. However, you might find it challenging to get access to that high space and above the ceiling. Make sure no mould remains above the ceiling. 

Removing mould from the basement

A damp and poorly ventilated basement, attic, and crawlspace are more likely to be attacked by mould. Again, the process is similar, with the addition of slight difficulty. Cleaning basements and crawl spaces can be tricky! First, you have to resolve the moisture issues, then get on with mould cleaning. 

You can give using air purifiers in your home a serious thought. Why? Because air purifiers can purify the air around you by removing spores and reducing their spread.  It will also minimize the risk of you inhaling the scattered spores! Additionally, give extra care in keeping your house clean and dry, cleaning up after leaks, and ventilating moisture-prone areas in your home. 

Your Carpet And Mould Infestation

Imagine you going to visit a friend and step on their mouldy carpet? Gross, right? You wouldn’t want your guests to go through the same. Get the carpet cleaned up as soon as you notice mould growth. However, rugs and carpets are nearly impossible to get completely mould-free. You will need specialised cleaning techniques and chemicals. If nothing works, simply replace the carpet or the rug with a new one! 

Here are a few important aspects of carpet mould infestation:

• Why do carpets get mould? Mould needs moisture to grow, and carpets are excellent at trapping and retaining moisture. Thus,  damp carpet is more likely to get mould. Your carpet can get wet due to a leaking ceiling, plumbing problems, flooded basement, and high humidity. Sometimes, a carpet can get mould simply because it did not dry well after a wash. Most carpets have a weave and a backing to support the weave. If water gets in the backing, it will be trapped, creating a perfect breeding ground for mould. If you do not actively dry out your carpet, mould won’t take long to knock on your doors! Besides, there are spaces with carpets that we freely ignore- like under the furniture. If areas like these get wet, it is most likely to go unnoticed!
• Why is it a serious issue? Mould is downright notorious as it affects and degrades the air quality in your home. Various problems like eye infection, asthma, and upper respiratory diseases will haunt you. You wouldn’t want to breathe impure air, would you? Mould can also trigger severe allergic reactions. Carpet mould is especially hazardous for kids and pets. They play on the floor and carpets. This will bring them to direct contact with mould and its ill effects. Moreover, mould will damage the surface it grows on, and the mouldy, musty smell will spread throughout the house. Your entire carpet could get damaged! 

How To Eliminate Carpet Moulds in Brisbane?

Carpet moulds in Brisbane produces foul smells, damages the carpet, and causes havoc in people living with asthma! Get rid of carpet mould following the below-mentioned steps:

• Inspection: make sure to check your carpet, especially under the furniture. You can consider hiring a professional cleaner from The Mould Group. 
• Ventilation: Ventilation is a practical step and can ensure reduced chances of lung and eye irritations. Here, the aim is to stop mould spores from spreading to other parts of the house. Make sure to ventilate the whole property. Open all the windows to ensure good airflow. It will discourage mould growth and reduce the odour. You can use plastic sheets to block out some areas on the property.  If you are using chemical cleaners, then ventilation is more important than isolating the property. If there are no windows in the room with mouldy carpet, use a fan. Turn it on and place it pointing toward a doorway.
• Cleaning: remove visible mould as much as possible using a stiff brush. Sweep off the mould into a bag and carefully discard it. You can use a vacuum to remove mould from the carpet. However, using a vacuum is discouraged as it might retain spores that can eventually spread to other parts of the house. Make sure to scrub the mould-affected area rigorously. 
• Drying: make sure to allow the carpet to dry thoroughly. If your carpet is removable, move it outside. Sunlight plays an important role here. 24 to 48 hours of direct sunlight and good ventilation will aid in drying off the carpet thoroughly and kill any remaining spores!

How To Prevent Carpet Mould? 

• A routine check-up is essential to prevent carpet mould. 
• Using a dehumidifier in areas prone to higher humidity will keep moisture at bay. If there is no excess moisture, there will be no mould in your carpet. 
• Ventilation is the key. Keep the windows open to keep your home well ventilated. 
• You can rely on steam cleaning any wet areas.  It will remove any toxins in your carpet.
• Vacuum regularly as it will remove dust and mould. 
• Choose filters that ensure to filter out allergens like mould and dust.
• Make sure to replace your home air filters regularly.
• Clean rugs or carpets in basements or bathrooms often.
• Refrain from installing carpet in high moisture areas.
• Choose moisture-resistant padding.
• Check if the padding is installed correctly.
• A/C units in homes can also help check humidity. 

Be Careful When Cleaning Mould Yourself

Are you doing DIY mould removal? Mould removal can be a time-consuming and dirty process. While the average homeowner can deal with minor mould issues themselves, safety should not be ignored! Remember, mould spores are scattered everywhere! Thus you run the risk of inhaling them and catching respiratory diseases. You would want to remove every last bit of mould spore while keeping your safety the priority. While you have read about the key steps in remediating mould in your home, you need to know how to keep yourself safe while cleaning the mould. You should maintain the below-mentioned safety precautions while doing the remediation work:

• Never forget to wear appropriate personal protective equipment and a mask while dealing with potential mould-contaminated areas and materials.
• Never touch mould affected areas with your bare hands. Why would you want to touch that thing even?  It is not only gross but utterly unhealthy also!
• Isolate the cleanup area you are working on. 
•  Do not allow unprotected friends and family to enter the cleanup area. 
• Keep children and pets away from the clean-up area.
• Make sure to be cautious while removing seals or bags. 
• Cautiously dispose of damaged materials, like carpeting, furniture, and drywall.
• Be very careful while checking for moulds behind wallpapers and other wall coverings. If you make a small mistake, mould spores might get released into the air.
• Make sure that mould spores do not disperse into the air. Other members around you might inhale it and fall sick.
• Do not paint over a mould affected area. 
• Never dry-scrape mould contaminate areas. 
• If your HVAC system is mould-affected, do not use it until thorough cleanup is done.

Handling Monumental Problems with Moulds in Brisbane

Now that we have covered the minor moulds problem aspects in Brisbane, let’s shift to handling more significant issues. Bigger problems need more extensive and more professional solutions. Are you wondering beyond what intensity you should call for help from professional mould removers like The Mould Group? You will need professional assistance when:

• the mould grows behind the walls.
• having a mould-affected area that is more than 10 square feet
• the mould growth has reached ducts or other parts of your home’s HVAC system

Essentially, if you want to save yourself from all the trouble, and spending lots of money, prevent mould formation! Prevention is always better than the hassle of curing. If, unfortunately, you end up needing mould removal, do not delay in getting help. 

Mould removal may seem like a lot of work, but it is not impossible for you to do a little DIY. Whether a hard surface or a porous one, make sure to check on the surface after cleaning it. If the mould comes back to your hard surface, repeat the cleaning process. But, if porous surfaces get infected again, you will have to replace the mouldy surface altogether! 

Let the Professionals Do the Work!

Mould removal is a complex work that only professionals can execute effectively. In Brisbane, you can get in touch with the most trusted company for the elimination of moulds from your home or office. Particularly, you will find out that Brisbane occupants prefer hiring mould removal experts with years of experience and reliable services. 

Specifically,  you can check the online reviews of local companies that provide expert mould removal services. For instance, customers highly recommend The Mould Group for their professional and friendly services. Most importantly, they provide cost-effective service with environmentally safe treatment to eliminate moulds in Brisbane.