Month: September 2018

DIY Mold-Cleaning Products

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diy mold-cleaning products

As a homeowner, you work hard to keep mold and mildew at bay. After all, they’re not only unsightly, they can also harm your indoor air quality, which can lead to health concerns like respiratory problems as well as irritation in the eyes, nose and throat. Mold thrives on moisture and can pop up quickly in a variety of places, including bathrooms, around window sills, in leaky pipes and wherever there’s wet carpet or fabric.

Unfortunately, mold and mildew don’t just disappear on their own; they’re stubborn and can only be removed using certain cleaning products. Store-bought cleaning products containing bleach are toxic to your health, and to make matters worse, they don’t actually remove mold or mildew fully. If you want to attack the problem head-on and eradicate mold from your home, try these three DIY mold cleaning solutions instead.

1. Vinegar & Water

When it comes to eradicating mold, distilled white vinegar works wonders. Simply combine one-part vinegar and one-part water into a spray bottle. Vinegar’s high acidity helps to clean mold and prevent future growth. It can also help get rid of lime mineral deposits and rust. With the fall season upon us, consider adding a few drops of cinnamon bark or ginger essential oils to your mixture.

2. Baking Soda & Water

Another non-toxic mold remedy is baking soda and water. Not only does it kill mold, it also prevents regrowth. Add one-quarter to one-half tablespoon of baking soda to a spray bottle containing water, and shake until dissolved. After you’ve sprayed the affected area, let sit for a few minutes. Then, using a bit of elbow grease, scrub the area until the mold is gone. Once you’ve removed the mold from the surface, rinse the area to get rid of any residue. To ensure the mold has been killed and to prevent future growth, spray the area again and let dry.

3. Hydrogen Peroxide

Your mom probably poured this solution on your cuts when you were a kid. That’s because it kills bacteria and viruses. It’s for this very same reason that it’s also great at removing mold. Simply pour 3% concentration hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Cover the entire area and let sit for at least ten minutes. Then, scrub the mold away and wash the area off with water and wipe it clean.

How to Prevent Mold & Mildew Growth

Cleaning mold and mildew is just part of the process. To prevent their return, you need to take certain measures. Here are five helpful tips:

  • Repair plumbing leaks in a timely manner.
  • Monitor your humidity levels and make sure they’re no higher than 50 percent. If necessary, use dehumidifiers throughout your home.
  • Keep your ventilation fan on while you shower or bathe, and afterwards, leave it on for at least another 30 minutes. If your bathroom doesn’t have an exhaust fan, we highly recommend installing one as soon as possible.
  • It doesn’t take long for your shower curtain to grow mold. Make sure to wash it frequently.
  • If water spills on carpet or fabrics, dry and clean it immediately.

When to DIY vs. Calling a Professional

When the presence of mold is minimal and contained, you can try your hand at DIY mold cleaning. However, if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, or if you think the problem is too extensive to handle alone, leave the work to a professional. Serving Plano and Dallas, we are the mold remediation specialists, and our goal is to ensure your safety and peace of mind every step of the way. Not only do we offer fast response times (something that’s absolutely necessary for mold removal), we also use state-of-the-art equipment. No matter how big or small the problem is, rest assured we are here to lend a hand. Give us a call today at 855-587-3786.

 

3 Different Mold Colors and What They Might Mean

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It’s never a good feeling to see mold, regardless of where you come across it in your home. Whether it’s in the bathroom, pantry, garage or outdoors, spotting this fungus has a nasty habit of putting a damper in anyone’s day. And while it’s probably a good idea to have any mold you encounter removed as soon as possible, not all molds are the same.

Some molds are inherently more dangerous and harmful than others, but they’re all bad. Given the overwhelming numbers of different mold types, determining how concerned you should be about the one in your home can be tough.

Well, worry no longer! The professionals at RestoPros are familiar with the different types of molds you may stumble across, and we’ll help you figure out what it might be. We’ve put together a list of a few common colors of mold you might see at home.

There are 3 different mold colors:

1. Green Mold

There are two sides to this. One is that you’re probably going to come across green mold more than anything, so it’s probably not an exceedingly rare species. On the other hand, since it’s so common, determining which family a green mold belongs to is nearly impossible without a specialist.

To be on the safe side, go ahead and get rid of anything that has this mold on it just in case. While we can’t pinpoint the exact type without looking at it, mold of any kind isn’t welcome in your home and should be disposed of immediately.

2. Blue/Green/White

A mold that falls under one of these colors, especially one that you find in a place with food – such as a pantry – likely comes from the Penicillium genus. It’s fairly common as well, and it’s capable of causing some harsh respiratory system problems.

Again, any time you spot a mold that looks like one of these colors, do your best to remove it and call a professional!

3. Black

As a whole, black mold tends to get stuck with a bad reputation. That’s not to imply that black mold is in any way good, because it’s not. But more often than not, people will tell you that black mold is by far the worst color you could end up spotting, and that isn’t entirely the case.

Black mold that you notice outdoors on plants is probably either Alternaria or Cladosporium, and both need to be taken care of as soon as you can. Otherwise, it might be Aspergillus¸ which is a common mold we actually breathe in pretty often without knowing.

  • Cladosporium spores have been known to cause minor infections in places such as your eyes, sinuses and skin, but they’ve also been known to lead to significantly more serious complications like fungal meningitis in the brain.
  • Alternaria is also found indoors in darker areas, as well as in typical dust you see everywhere in your home. Although not as serious as Cladosporium, it’s still problematic.

All mold is annoying, and no matter how common or non-threatening it might look, it has the potential to cause a lot of damage. It needs to be properly removed as quickly as possible, especially if you have small children in your home or people who are susceptible to health problems.

That’s where RestoPros comes in. Our team is thoroughly qualified to handle all your mold-removal needs, and we’ll get it done safely and securely. Whether you’re in need of an emergency cleanup or just want to test your home for mold infestations, we’ve got you covered.

For the most reliable service in the Dallas area, give us a call at 855-587-3786!

6 Cleaning Tips to Prevent Mold

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cleaning tips to prevent mold

The areas of your home with the most moisture are the areas in which you’ll have to worry about mold. Here are the main areas that mold will grow in your home:

  • Your kitchen sink
  • Your refrigerator
  • Your bathtub
  • Your bathroom sink

Other areas of your home that might attract mold are your carpet, in the event of a poorly cleaned-up spill, or any area of your home that has suffered water damage from a leak.

You can’t prevent accidents, but you can use these 6 cleaning tips to prevent mold in your  home:

1. Run your bathroom fan

When you shower, moisture builds up on every surface in your bathroom. To help reduce the amount of moisture in the space, run your bathroom fan during your shower and for a few minutes afterward. You can always listen to music while you shower if the bathroom fan noise bothers you!

2. Squeegee water off shower walls

Remove water build-up from the walls of your shower and the shower door (if applicable) with a squeegee. Not only will this prevent mold and mildew from forming in your shower, but it will also reduce the appearance of unattractive water lines.

3. Store shower items on racks

Storing items like shampoo bottles or loofas on the surface of your bathtub or on the shelves can allow water to pool underneath them, creating a little pocket in which mold can grow. Instead, store your items on shower racks so that the water can drip-dry off the items after each use. You can find racks like these online or at most any supermarket.

4. Keep your sponges clean

The item to most likely attract mold in your kitchen is your sponge. Think about it: It’s just sitting there, damp from washing dishes, on the edge of the sink, stewing in old, dirty water. Sanitize your sponge with a disinfectant solution and position it so that it dries, rather than stores water. Also, be sure to replace your sponges frequently.

5. Clean out your refrigerator regularly

The most common cause of mold in your refrigerator is food that stays in one spot over time. The food itself can go bad and mold, but also, as the food decays, it can release moisture, which can build up in your refrigerator and cause mold. Further, containers may leak sauces and other liquids, which can cause mold and mildew as well. Be proactive by reviewing your refrigerator weekly, throwing out old items and wiping down surfaces.

6. Blot spills on carpets

If a drink spills on the carpet, don’t try to wipe up the puddle. Instead, take a wash rag or paper towel and blot at the spill, pressing into the padding of the carpet as you do so. Wiping at the spill not only spreads stains around, but it also doesn’t reach the moisture in the padding. If the spill is left unattended or is attended to poorly, it could seep past the padding, and mold could grow beneath it.

If it’s too late for these cleaning tips to prevent mold, call the experts at RestoPros for mold removal and remediation today. Dial the number at the top of your screen or complete the “Schedule Service” form fill to have one of our friendly representatives reach out.

4 Food Preservation Tips

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food preservation tips

There’s nothing worse than spending a ton of money at the grocery store on healthy produce just to discover that it has gone bad before you had a chance to eat it. What’s worse: Spoiled food can cause mold to grow in your home, causing a health hazard for you and your family.

But you’re already storing food in the refrigerator – What more can you do to preserve your food?

Don’t worry! The experts at RestoPros did the research for you. Here are 4 food preservation tips:

1. Make sure your refrigerator is set at the right temperature

You might have pulled out a brand-new carton of milk to discover it had spoiled. How did this happen? While reaching into your fridge one day, you might have accidentally nudged the dial that controls the temperature of your refrigerator. Check the dial to ensure that your refrigerator is keeping your food at the right temperature. It should be cooling at 40 degrees or lower, while your freezer should be set at zero degrees.

2. Store food in air-tight containers

Leftovers are a great way to save money during the week – and time! Who wants to cook dinner every single night after they get home from work? Consider this though: Are your food containers letting in bacteria that could lead to mold? Confirm that your lids are fully sealed when storing leftovers and mark them with the day’s date. If you notice mold forming in the container, even after ensuring the lid was completely closed, purchase air-tight containers moving forward.

3. Don’t wash your produce before storing it

Sounds counterproductive, right? With dangerous pesticides and chemicals that could be lurking on your strawberries, it’s important to wash them before eating them! But: You don’t have to run water over your produce before storing it. In fact, doing so can cause water droplets to collect and mold between the leaves and inside crevices. Only wash your produce right before preparing it to be served to keep it fresh.

4. Keep commonly used items in the front of the fridge

Organizing your refrigerated foods like this enables you to open the door and simply grab what you need. This way, you won’t have to keep the door open for long periods of time while you rummage around in the back to find what you’re looking for. Leaving the refrigerator door open can release the cool air that preserves your food and cause it to spoil.

With these tips, you can keep your food lasting longer and stop mold from forming in your refrigerator or pantry. Enjoy a well-preserved snack for all your hard work!

Should you discover mold anywhere in your home, however, it’s important to have it inspected by professionals who are familiar with the substance as well as skilled in its remediation. RestoPros has been inspecting, removing and remediating mold for years, keeping our customers and their families safe. Call the number at the top of the screen to schedule your mold removal appointment today.