How Do I Remove Mold From My Basement?

4 min read

Mold can cause significant damage to properties and have adverse effects on your health. They play a valuable role in the natural environment, but when they take root indoors, that’s when they are destructive and dangerous.

Unfortunately, there’s a high chance that mold spores exist inside your home. Mold reproduces by releasing tiny spores that are invisible to the eye. These spores spread quickly and easily through the air and by clinging to moving objects. If you live near wooded areas or are surrounded by plants, the risk of mold in your home is even higher.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that mold can begin growing within 24-48 hours if spores land on wet surfaces. Since moisture is a common problem in basements, these rooms often become nesting grounds for mold. If this is a problem you already have, you must wonder, “How do I remove mold from my basement?” We’ll answer this question in this blog.

Essential Tools and Equipment for Mold Removal

You’ll need a couple of essential items before performing efficient and safe mold remediation:

• Head-to-toe personal protective equipment or PPE (including gloves, N95 respirator mask, and clear lab glasses or goggles)
• Plastic sheeting for isolating the contaminated areas
• Wet-dry vacuum with HEPA filter
• Mold-killing cleaning products (DIY or commercially available antimicrobial agents)
• Spray bottle
• Sponge and rags
• Scrub brush
• Oscillating fans and dehumidifiers
• Garbage bags (for throwing contaminated objects you want to throw out)

Once you have the proper equipment, you can get rid of the mold according to the EPA guidelines for mold removal.

Steps for Basement Mold Removal

How do I remove mold from my basement? Can I do it alone? The answer is yes, but it depends if the contamination is small enough to manage, and if you don’t experience any adverse health effects or allergy symptoms if you get close to mold.

1. Identify the water source and get rid of moisture.Moisture control is the best way to prevent microbial growth. Be sure to check if there are leaky pipes that may have caused water to enter your basement.
2. Remove the water-damaged materials.If there’s severe water damage to your basement, it’s imperative to remove the rotting drywall, plywood, or carpet. If not, mold will thrive on those water-damaged materials.It’s also best if you can take belongings that got wet out of your basement. Dry them under the sun and clean them or take them to a professional cleaning service to ensure they are free from harmful bacteria, viruses, and mold.
3. Remove the mold.For starters, suit up with a complete PPE outfit to protect yourself from the harmful effects of mold. Next, isolate the contaminated areas using plastic sheets or tarps to prevent spores from spreading further inside the house.Following this, use your sponges, rags, brushes, and cleaning agents to remove the mold. Do it without disturbing the fuzzy growth too much. Otherwise, you’ll trigger the mold to release spores in the air.
4. Clean and treat the contaminated surface.After removing the mold, scrub the area a bit longer to ensure there’s no trace of growth left. Spray or wipe a mold-killing, antimicrobial agent on the contaminated surfaces to prevent mold from growing again on the same spots.
5. Use dehumidifiers and fans to dry the room.After all the cleaning is done, turn on oscillating fans and dehumidifiers to ventilate your basement and ensure no traces of moisture remains.

Call Mold Removal Experts in Minnetonka

Some may wonder if it’s necessary to call professional mold remediation specialists if the job can be done on their own. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Sensitivity to mold – Do you sneeze and cough when you enter your moldy basement?
• The severity of the infestation – Is the moldy area less than 10 square feet?
• Access to tools and supplies – Do you have appropriate protective gear and equipment like HEPA-rated vacuum cleaners and mold-killing products?

If your answer to any of the above is no, then you should definitely consider professional services. The EPA advises hiring mold remediation and water damage restoration experts if the mold covers a large area or has spread to the next room or your HVAC system. Calling the professionals is also necessary if sewer water is involved or if there has been extensive water damage to address.

Restoration 1 of Minnetonka is the best company to call. The local team is equipped and trained to perform mold remediation and water damage restoration. Restoration 1 ensures your property is restored to its original condition and safe to enter for people sensitive to mold. Contact us for a consultation.