Do you have mold in your apartment or house? Or are you unsure whether the small dark spots on walls, tiles or window frames are really mold? Then you should do one thing above all else: stay calm.
Mold usually results from excessive humidity in rooms. This can be due to, among other things, incorrect ventilation, rooms that are too cold or structural defects. Burst pipes or leaky roofs can also be responsible.
But what do you do if you discover mold in your apartment? With us you will find helpful tips and a precise plan of what to do.
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How dangerous is black mold?
Even though there is a common opinion that white mold is less dangerous than black, this cannot be said across the board. Depending on the type of mold, any mold can be harmful to your health, regardless of whether it is black or white.
In order to determine which mold it is, it is advisable to first carry out a laboratory analysis by an expert. Black mold at least has the advantage that it can be recognized more quickly than white mold.
How do you recognize black mold?
When mold infestation occurs, small black dots are often found on the wall, which spread over time and grow into larger areas that can be dark blue/gray to black.
The mold species “Aspergillus niger” and “Alternaria alternata” are particularly harmful to health, especially when the mold spores are released into the air. If you are exposed to the mold for a long time, this can not only happenIrritate the respiratory tract and eyes, but also trigger allergies or lead to asthma.However, these types of mold are said to be rare.
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Why does mold appear on the wall, window or in the bathroom?
Mold is primarily caused by excessive humidity. This is often noticeable on windows. Condensation forms here when the humidity is too high.
In this case, you should remove the water with a dry cloth. Basically, it is completely normal for condensation to form on the window when cooking, for example. Even if there are many people in a room who are breathing, talking and laughing naturally, condensation can occur.
The reason is that the warm air from the inside hits a window pane that is cold from the outside. The phenomenon is often observed on foggy windows in cars or on the bathroom mirror after showering. As long as you keep an eye on the windows and wipe them dry when condensation forms, you don't give mold a chance.
Low temperatures indoors also promote mold.
How do I remove black mold?
You can remove mold from smaller areas yourself. Suitable protective clothing is very important. Gloves, safety glasses and a face mask or mask are mandatory.
Attention: Immunocompromised people or pregnant women should never remove mold themselves!
For example, you can tackle the mold with a hard brush or sponge. Using alcohol, denatured alcohol or hydrogen peroxide can prevent the mold from spreading further.
Expert tip:It's safest to use a dabbing motion rather than rubbing with the sponge, as this will stir up mold spores and spread them further. This takes longer, but is more effective.
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You can also use a highly effective foam spray that can be used on tiles, grout, walls or ceilings, among other things (here on Amazon)*.
The chlorine-based spray must be sprayed from a distance of 15 cm and left to work for one hour. It can then be carefully removed with a damp cloth.
Remove mold from joints and window seals
Mold on silicone joints on windows is usually difficult to remove. However, it is often the case that mold forms over time. Especially when the silicone is older, it becomes brittle and moisture settles in it. If the mold can no longer be removed, the silicone must definitely be replaced.
If you have severe mold infestation, you should contact your landlord and/or hire a professional company to remove mold.
If mold already affects furniture, it can be difficult to remove it from upholstered furniture or other items. Then, unfortunately, the only solution is disposal.
This is how you prevent mold
The best and safest thing you can do to prevent mold is, first and foremost, to ventilate and heat properly. Better than leaving the window permanently tilted, it is better to ventilate it. To do this, simply open the windows wide for 5 to 10 minutes. This means that the walls in the rooms do not cool down too much.
The ideal humidity in indoor and work spaces is 40 to 60% - depending on the room temperature.
But just cooling the air down doesn't prevent mold. Especially when there are icy temperatures outside, the walls cool down quickly and mold formation is encouraged. However, if the air in the rooms becomes warm, it also dries. Therefore, heating is also important.
Larger puddles of water on the floor, for example after a shower, should be dried immediately with a towel. By the way, plants also ensure higher humidity. Reducing this can also be a measure.
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Simple dehumidifiers can also help dry the air in rooms. If you often have problems with excessive humidity, you can consider purchasing oneelectric dehumidifier like this one from Comfee Dehumidifier on Amazon* consider.
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