Removing Mold

What is mold?  Mold is a type of fungus made up of tiny microscopic organisms that can grow practically anywhere - ceiling tiles, wallpaper, wood, paints, carpet, and insulation.  It multiplies via spores and shows itself in a variety of colors - greens, browns, grays, blacks, and even yellows.  The most common mold growth in the house is the bathroom, since mold grows on moist materials.

What can sellers do about it?  Identify the problem area, then creat a plan for a safe and complete removal.  If the mold is found in a small area, less than 10 sq ft, removal can be a do-it-yourself project:

1. Wear a face mask, goggles, and rubber gloves.  Don't touch mold with bare skin.

2. Seal off the area to prevent the tiny spores from spreading to other parts of the house during the removal process.  Open the windows and cover heat registers and vent ducts.

3. Wash the area with a mild detergent solution, such as laundry detergent and warm water.  As an added step, wipe the area with a solution of quarter-cup bleach and one qt a water.  Do not mix ammonia and bleach; the fumes can be toxic

4. Dry the surface completely. 

5. Apply a borate-based detergent solution.  Don't rinse.  This will help prevent the mold from growing again.

6. Don't take shortcuts.  Never paint or caulk over moldy surfaces.  the paint will peel and the mold will resurface.

7. Call a professional.  Just when you think you won the battle, you might see dormant spores reappear or even spread to clean areas of the house, particularly if proper removal procedures weren't raken  You may need to call a mold remediation company to resolve the problem.

http://www.epa.gov/mold/