Finding mold in your home or office can be scary. Don’t Panic!

The situation is usually fixable if treated properly. There are several things you should not do to fix the problem and some things that you can and should do to clean up the mold you have found in your space.

First, the DON’Ts

Do NOT use bleach on mold. Bleach will kill many types of molds. The problem is that killing mold does not necessarily get rid of it completely. Once mold dies or is threatened, it can release the mycotoxins (the poisons created by the mold) into your air or environment.
Do NOT just clean mold off your HVAC registers and call it good- if mold is present on your registers it is a sign that your entire HVAC unit is contaminated. TEST the mold first – Remember, not all air duct cleaning companies are the same and can easily dislodge spores in the duct lines and they will become airborne and can easily make your family sick. ONLY use HVAC licensed technicians that specialize in these problems and have the license to open and also clean the HVAC units plenums blowers and coils.
Do NOT paint over the mold except to contain it just prior to it being removed. Painting mold covered wood or sheet rock is very ineffective at containing mold from spreading.
Do NOT try to cover up a moldy smell with air fresheners or moth balls. Those release chemicals which can be very unhealthy for anyone to breathe.
Do NOT do a quick “cover up” fix over a moldy area (IE: a black mold patch). This will probably just be temporary until the source of the mold is found and fixed. Also, this cover-up will agitate the mold and can cause it to become airborne and infest your HVAC system. It is best to call in a professional to remediate any mold you find.

The DOs

DO Find the source of the mold or water intrusion. Mold is everywhere and it grows where it has water and a food source. Until the water source has been stopped, you will not be able to stop mold from growing and spreading.
DO call in a professional or use an effective DIY home kit to test your indoor air quality. If you smell or see mold, a home test kit can help. You can find them by clicking here. You can also call in a professional to do IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing if you think you have a serious issue.
DO wear a breathing mask and eye protection when looking for mold or when treating it. Any exposure to mold and the mycotoxins they produce is harmful to you.
DO use a high concentration 27% hydrogen peroxide to kill mold down to the roots. Bleach will miss the roots and allow the mold to regrow. The higher concentrations oxidizing bubbles is needed to pull the roots from porous materials – the 3% peroxide solutions sold in stores does not work very well. Be VERY careful when using high concentration H2O2 as it can burn your skin. Use good rubber gloves, a mask, protective clothing, and good eye protection and ventilate when you are using it.
DO continue to replace your air filters as recommended by the manufacturer. Dust and airborne mold will collect in them. Properly changing and disposing of the filter will help your space stay healthy.
DO consult your primary care physician if you have any symptoms of mold exposure (click for more information

For those you living in the Dallas of Fort Worth Texas area or surrounding cities such as Plano, Richardson, Grapevine, Allen and Carrollton, please see this list of resources available to help you nearby: https://iaqrx.com/resource/

Go to https://iaqrx.com/services for more information.