Mold that keeps recurring can be very disturbing especially when you have done everything you could to eliminate the problem. Exposure to mold often leads to minor allergic reactions such as sneezing, watery eyes and sniffling. People react differently to mold exposure and some who may experience severe reactions such as asthma attacks or difficulty in breathing. It is important to address the root cause of the problem so that you can never experience recurring mold. If you are having a hard time with mold that keeps coming back after removal, then you need to understand why the problem is recurring.
The Reasons Why Mold Keeps Coming Back After Remediation
1. Using Bleaching Products
Most people have the belief that bleach can kill mold. This is just a widely believed myth that can never get rid of mold because it only works to change the color to a white or clear shade. Instead of eliminating the problem, you will have created an environment with favorable conditions for continued growth of molds. It is also a bad idea to use bleaching products because you will ingest airborne mold spores and bleach fumes during the process.
2. Using Mold-Resistant Paint on Existing Paint
If your old walls were affected with molds and you thought of applying mold-resistant paint, it might act as a quick fix to the problem but it does not eradicate the mold completely. Tiny mold spores that are still present underneath the paint will continue to grow and will become visible after some time. This makes it difficult to remove the existing mold and you will spend a lot on your remodeling project because you need to eliminate the entire mold on your walls.
3. Poor Ventilation and Leaky Pipes
Mold is a fungus that likes to grow in wet or cold areas with poor ventilation. Mold spores find a perfect area to grow especially when you have leaky pipes. Moisture is one of the major conditions required by molds to grow and failure to cut off any sources of moisture or condensation may never solve the mold problem. Even if you remove the mold but your pipes keep leaking, you will only be creating room for new molds since nothing prevents them from growing. A room that is stuffy with no good ventilation accelerates the growth of molds making it a recurring problem.
4. Failure to Replace Wet Items
Some people are usually obsessed with the items in their house, and often feel difficult to throw them away when affected by molds. Many would prefer to clean their flooded carpets, mats or clothing and take them back in once they seem dry and free from molds. This is a wrong perception because for molds to be visible, they need to create a large network around their food source making it difficult to eradicate them. There are very high chances that you may fail to clean your flooded carpet or mats properly because using bleaching products will only change their color or appearance. After some time, the molds will recur making it difficult to control their spread.
How to Eliminate Mold
Identify the Source of Mold Growth
It is important to know the root cause of mold growth in your home. Leaky plumbing or very cold pipes are some of the common sources that create a favorable condition for the growth of molds. These can be as a result of consistent moisture in a room, poor water drainage, and leaks in the roof. Once you have identified and fixed the primary sources of mold, you will be certain about removing them completely.
Replace Wet Items
Wet items affected by mold should not just be dried and brought back into the house. Instead, you can consider disposing them to get eliminate the problem. Carpets or mats that encountered mold growth due to floods or stagnant water should be replaced, rather than cleaned using bleaching agents to keep molds from recurring.
The major reason why molds keep coming back after being removed is excess moisture and failure to cut off all favorable conditions for their growth. It is important to monitor the moisture levels in your home and keep the area well-ventilated using fans. Replace old windows that let in moisture and make sure professionals seal your leaky pipes. You can always seek help from professionals if the molds are recurring and you cannot identify the source of the problem.