Category: mold

Mold vs. Mildew: Spotting the Difference

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Exposure to dampness or mold is the estimated cause of a quarter of all asthma cases in the United States. Even for non-asthmatic homeowners, living with a mold or mildew problem can pose serious health threats. Answering the mold vs. mildew question starts with learning what to look for. The experts at RestoPros are here to share our advice on how to spot the difference.

Mold vs. Mildew: Similarities

  • Environments

-Both mold and mildew are types of fungi that flourish in moist, humid conditions with scarce light.

-Both mold and mildew grow when spores or seeds find their way into environments that are conducive to colony growth.

  •  Affected Hosts

-Neither mold nor mildew can grow on synthetic materials such as plastic and metal-based products.

  •  Odors and Physical Symptoms

-Both mold and mildew produce a similar musty odor.

-Both mold and mildew can cause similar physical symptoms to humans who are exposed.

Mold vs. Mildew: Differences

  • Appearance

-Mildew can be downy or powdery. Downy mildew starts as yellow spots that become brighter and then turn brown in color. Powdery mildew is whitish in color and slowly turns yellowish brown and then black.

-Mold is black, yellow, or green with a fuzzy or slimy texture. Severe mold growth looks like moss and can cause rot in its effected host.

  •  Growth Patterns

-Mildew is a type of mold that has flat growth patterns. Unlike mold, mildew remains on the surface of its host where is can be easily removed. Mildew is drawn to moisture and grows on damp surfaces like your kitchen, bathroom, and basement. You can find mildew growth in toilets, sinks, tubs, showers, and on bathroom walls.

-Mold is a fungus that grows in patches which penetrate beneath the surface of its host. Mold grows on living sources, including food, drywall, paper, and wood. Mold can often grow on your ceilings, window sills, and walls.

  • Effects on the Host

 –Mildew can harm the food or plants upon which it grows, but usually does not cause any lasting damage to other surfaces such as tile floors or bathroom mirrors.

 –Mold can damage entire structures because it penetrates beneath the surface of its host.

  • Effects on Exposed Humans

 –Mildew can cause similar allergic reactions to those caused by mold, such as coughing, sneezing, headache, sore throat, and respiratory problems. However, mildew is much easier to eliminate because it remains on the surface of its host.

 –Mold can pose a serious threat to your health. It can trigger sinus problems, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, sore throat, migraines, itching, rashes, fatigue, and even depression. Mold is difficult to remove because it penetrates below the surface of its host.

 

So, now you know some signs to look for when answering your mold vs. mildew question, but what should you do about your problem? Contact the experts at RestoPros for immediate mold testing and remediation today!

 

How to Identify Different Types of Mold

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Mold is the last thing you want to live with in your home, as It causes musty odors, damage to your house, and dangerous health problems. Are you are worried about mold in your home? Keep reading for some tips from the professionals at RestoPros on how to identify different types of mold.

How to Identify Different Types of Mold by Color and Physical Symptoms:

The two easiest ways to identify which type of mold is in your home is by color and correlating symptoms. Here are the color qualities and related symptoms for common types of household mold:

Yellow-green/Brown Mold:

  • Scientific Name: Aspergillus
  • Coloring: This mold is a yellow-green color on the surface with brown coloring underneath.
  • Where it Grows: in air conditioning systems and on starchy foods like potatoes and bread.
  • Potential Symptoms: allergic reactions, respiratory infections, and inflammation of the lungs.

 

Pink and Black Mold:

  • Scientific Name: Ureobasidium.
  • Coloring: pink and black in color
  • Where it Grows: in damp areas like window frames, bathroom rugs, or caulk.
  • Potential Symptoms: eye irritation or respiratory problems.

 

Black and Green Mold:

  • Scientific Name: Cladosporium
  • Coloring: This mold is black and green in color and has a pepper-like appearance.
  • Where it Grows: on surfaces like toilets, fiberglass ducts, fabrics, and wood.
  • Potential Symptoms: watery eyes, a sore throat, or respiratory problems.

 

Dark Green, Brown, or Black Mold:

  • Scientific Name: Chaetomium.
  • Coloring: This type of mold is dark green, brown, or black in color and produces a musty odor.
  • Where it Grows: in buildings that have suffered extensive water damage.
  • Potential Symptoms: This type of mold rarely causes health problems in humans who are exposed to it.

 

Blue or Green Mold:

  • Scientific Name: Penicillium
  • Coloring: blue or green, this type of mold can easily transfer from room to room
  • Where it Grows: on wallpaper and textiles like carpets, mattresses, or curtains.
  • Potential Symptoms: This mold causes allergic reactions, sinus infections, and lung inflammation.

 

Black Mold:

  • Scientific Name: Stachybotrys chartarum
  • Coloring: It is dark in color and produces a musty odor.
  • Toxic/black mold is one of most common molds associated with health problems; it produces mycotoxins.
  • Where it Grows: in extremely damp locations (inside air conditioning systems, near leaky pipes, and on porous surfaces like drywall.)
  • Potential Symptoms: Exposure to black mold can cause allergic reactions, sinus infections, asthma symptoms, fatigue, headaches, and even depression.

 

Green or Bright Green & White:

  • Scientific Name: Trichoderma
  • Coloring: green or bright green color with white mixed in
  • Where it Grows: on wallpaper, carpets, and other porous surfaces.
  • Trichoderma produces mycotoxins causing serious health problems.
  • Potential Symptoms: allergic reactions, sinus infections, asthma, fatigue, headaches and depression.

 

Although you now know what to look for, it is always a good idea to have your house professionally tested if you suspect you have a mold problem. If you are looking for a professional to perform mold testing, remediation, or removal in your home, contact the experts at RestoPros! Call 855-587-3786 to make an appointment today!

Harmful Effects of Mold

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Harmful Effects of Mold

It’s true: there’s no place like home. It’s where you can retreat to find comfort, relaxation, peace of mind, safety, and so much more. That is, unless you have mold. Even a small amount in your living room or basement can cause great unease, and for good reason. This is because mold can greatly impact your health, not to mention it can cause structural damage to your home. While not every species of mold out there is toxic, any amount found in your home should be treated immediately. Due to the harmful of effects of mold, waiting will only lead to further problems.

How Mold Effects Your Health

Have you been feeling under the weather for some time now, but assumed it’s because of the weather? The true culprit could be mold. Prolonged exposure to damp environments can lead to variety of health problems, including:

  • Severe allergies
  • Irritation in the eyes, nose and throat
  • Irritation of the skin
  • Upper respiratory problems (coughing, wheezing)
  • Headaches

Your overall health permeates into all the other parts of your life. When you don’t feel good, it can be hard to perform even simple tasks. If you want to breathe easy again and restore your health, we recommend having your home tested for mold right away. Our licensed, experienced technicians use proven methods to locate and permanently remove mold.

Does Your Home Have Dust Mites?

Dust mites are a common trigger of allergies and asthma, and if you have mold in your home, it’s possible you also have dust mites. These tiny creatures, measuring roughly one-quarter to one-third of a millimeter, thrive in damp, humid areas, and can wreak havoc on your health. Their feces contain more than 15 aggressive allergens that can trigger allergic reactions.

Do you think you have a dust mite allergy? According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, symptoms include:

  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Itchy, red or watery eyes
  • Itchy throat
  • Skin irritation

To get rid of dust mites in your home, you need to attack the source of the problem, which could be excess moisture or mold. Check out this article from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to learn how you can help reduce their presence.

How Mold Effects Your Home

When you think of household mold, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Probably that it’s harmful to your health. But did you know that it can also cause severe damage to your home? After all, it’s important to promptly address mold issues not just for the sake of your well-being, but for your home’s (and bank account’s!) sake as well. Here’s why:

Mold loves to feed on wood, fabrics, and papers. It can eat away at anything from wallpapers, ceiling tiles and floorboards to carpets, drywall and wooden studs. If left untreated, you could be dealing with collapsed ceilings or caved in floorboards. When the growth is widespread, some contaminated items such as mattresses, carpet or insulation might need to be replaced rather than restored.

If you come across mold, don’t panic just yet. It doesn’t mean your house will fall down with you inside it. However, if you want to safeguard your home, you need to begin the removal process right away and put measures in place to prevent a return.

Restore comfort and safety to your home by scheduling an appointment with the trusted professionals at RestoPros. To learn more about our high-quality mold testing and removal services, give us a call at (855) 587-3786.

 

 

How to Keep Food from Spoiling

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Keep Food from Spoiling

Food spoilage: it happens to everyone, and it can be complete mood killer, especially if you were hoping to impress friends and family with your from-scratch guacamole. Few things are more frustrating than reaching for an item in your refrigerator only to find that it’s inedible. While it’s impossible to preserve foods indefinitely, there are measures you can take to help ensure your groceries maintain freshness. Follow these three essential tips on how to keep food from spoiling.

  1. Set your refrigerator to the correct temperature.

Do you remember the last time you checked the temperature in your refrigerator? If not, it’s a good idea to peek at its current setting to make sure it’s not too warm. After all, bacteria thrive in warm temperatures. We recommend a setting of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Most refrigerators on the market today come equipped with a digital thermostat to allow for quick and easy adjusting. For older models that use a dial system, you can check the temperature with a meat thermometer. Follow this step-by-step guide from Do It Yourself on how to test the temperature.

  1. Store items in the right compartments.

Unfortunately, you can’t store your food just anywhere in the fridge and expect it to last as long as it should. Each storage bin in your refrigerator is there for a reason. Now’s a good time to take everything out, throw away what’s spoiled, and start fresh (pun intended!). Keep your food from spoiling with these storage tips:

  • Fruits and vegetables should go in the crisper bins. Place fruits in one and vegetables in the other. Separation is necessary because both require different humidity levels. Your vegetable drawer should have a higher humidity setting than the fruit drawer.
  • Raw meats, eggs and dairy products should go on the lower shelves because they are the coldest. Because raw meat contains bacteria that can spread, designate an area where only these are placed, and clean it regularly.
  • Store foods that don’t need to be cooked, like dips, leftovers, deli meats and drinks, on the upper shelves because these areas provide the most consistent temperatures.

  1. Know which items actually belong in the fridge.

Determining the best place in your kitchen to store produce and other perishable goods can be difficult. When in doubt, many people turn to their fridges because they think it can’t do any harm. Unfortunately, for some foods, the fridge actually speeds up the spoiling process. Not sure where exactly to store your groceries? We can help!

  • Keep tomatoes on the counter at room temperature, like you do bananas.
  • Onions, potatoes and squash prefer a darker, cooler environment with low moisture, like your pantry.
  • Avocados are the free spirits of produce. They can go either in the fridge or on the counter. If you’re not planning to use them for a few days, we recommend placing them in the fridge to slow down the ripening.
  • For peanut and other nut butters, it’s really up to you. If you go through a jar within a week, you can keep it in the pantry, but if it takes you a while to use it up, we recommend opting for the fridge.

If you’re tired of having to toss groceries week after week because they just won’t hold up, know that it doesn’t have to be that way. By following our simple tips on how to prevent spoiling, you will enjoy your food for longer periods, not to mention, you’ll save money on groceries too!

With more than 10 years of experience, consider RestoPros your go-to mold expert! For more information on our superior services, give us a call today at (855) 587–3786.

 

The Science of Mold

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The Science of Mold

People often talk about mold, but they usually do so in very general terms. It’s one of those things that you know of but don’t really know anything about. You may even be able to spot mold when you see it, but determining which kind and whether it’s dangerous or not is harder. Usually, these things become easier to understand and identify the more you know.

 

It’s like the old saying goes: know your enemy. For homeowners, mold is definitely the enemy – costing America millions each year in remediation costs. Fortunately for you, the leading mold, water, and bio and trauma remediation company for the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex – RestoPros – knows the enemy all too well. Today, our experts are going to teach you the science of mold.

 

  1. The Evolution of Fungi.

Fungi has been on earth for a very long time. It’s ancient, in fact. Fungi first diverged from other life somewhere around 1.5 billion years ago, with symbiotic fungi taking off roughly a billion years later. Because fungi are not biomineral (organisms that produce minerals), it does do not appear in the fossil record until the Paleoproterozoic period, which was about 2,400 million years ago.

 

Fungi held a stable but relatively unimpressive foothold on Earth for the next 2,335 million years. However, following the massive extinction of the Cretaceous-Tertiary which took place 65 million years ago, fungi basically took over the world. When the dinosaurs and plants from that event were killed off, it created the opening and conditions for a massive colonization of Earth by fungi. This is refereed as the Great Fungi Bloom, and it’s responsible for people’s mold problems today.

 

  1. How Mold Spores Travel.

Mold spores travel in very interesting ways. The spores are released and are carried by the wind, people, or pets to a new location. Mold spores are released in the greatest abundance when dried out. As the mold dies, spores are released into the air. Under UV lights, the spores look a lot like a cloud of dust.

 

However, because mold spores are relatively heavy, they are not carried too far from the original colony. If you find mold in your home, the best thing you can do to prevent it from spreading is not touch it. Call in a remediation company like RestoPros, so it can be safely removed from the home.

 

  1. How Mold Affects Your Health.

Mold affects our health in much the same manner as when it spreads. It’s not the mold itself that poses a threat to human health; it’s the spores that are the problem. When mold spores are released, we breathe them into our bodies. Generally, this just causes coughing, itchy eyes, and wheezing in people and isn’t too dangerous, though it is irritating.

 

However, when people who have respiratory problems like asthma breathe in mold spores, it can cause an acute health risk – and in some cases –  even death. That’s why it’s important to call in a professional mold remediation company if you discover a mold colony in your home.

 

While we hope this information on the science of mold will give you a better understanding of the enemy, if you discover a mold problem, it’s best to call in an experienced professional. The fact is, proper mold removal may be too difficult and dangerous for the average homeowner. The CDC recommends calling a professional mold remediation company in most cases. The mold remediation experts at RestoPros have a long-standing reputation for expertise, professionalism, and hard work.

 

If you’re looking for a skilled and highly trained technician for mold testing, mold remediation, water damage restoration, or HVAC duct cleaning anywhere in the Dallas Metroplex, call us at (855) 58-RESTO (855-587-3786) to schedule your appointment today!

Common Mold vs Black Mold

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Common Mold vs Black Mold

The irritation in back of your throat has gotten worse. You also bought some eye drops, because your eyes have been red and itchy lately. It was a wet October here in Dallas this year. You’ve even had some water damage in the house, but it was minor – or so you think. You pull back the corner of the carpet in the bedroom where the leak was the worst and see black colored mold.

 

Like some vampire from an old movie, you immediately cover your mouth and nose with your arm and run out the room. Does the color of the mold mean you’re in danger? Fortunately for you, the professionals at RestoPros – the leading mold and water remediation company for the greater DFW Metroplex – are going to teach you the differences between common mold and black mold.

  1. Molds Defined.

There are several types of mold that are black colored. Some of these molds are toxic and some are not, and not all toxic molds are black. Generally speaking, mold is the visual growth produced by filamentous fungi. Mold is sometimes confused with bacteria, but unlike bacteria, mold is a eukaryote organism with a complex cell structure. Mold serves an important role in the ecological system as a decomposer – and in some cases – mold is responsible for saving more lives than it has taken.

 

  1. Is Black Mold Dangerous?

While black mold can be harmful to humans, its reputation as a deadly killer is somewhat overhyped. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, calling black mold toxic isn’t even accurate. Some molds are indeed toxigenic and can produce mycotoxins, but the molds themselves aren’t toxic or poisonous. While black mold is definitely harmful to humans, the simple fact is there are very few links that suggest that toxigenic black mold found inside the home can cause any serious risk to your health. Black mold is mainly a problem for those with underlying medical issues like asthma or a who have a weakened immune system.

 

  1. How Common is Mold?

Mold isn’t just common – it’s ubiquitous. You will never completely rid your home of mold. Mold will happily grow anywhere this is moisture inside of the home, especially in areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements where moisture is constant companion. The most common types of mold you’ll find in your home are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. While Stachybotrys chartarum (black mold) is a less common problem for homeowners, it’s far from rare.

 

  1. What Do I Do If I Find Mold?

While black mold probably isn’t going to kill you, you should take steps to get rid of it. Molds that are on hard surfaces can usually be taken care of with a good cleaning. There are several store-bought cleaners that do a reasonably good job of this, but bleach is still the best method. Mix 1 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water and pour this mixture into a spray bottle. Molds found on porous materials like drywall, carpet, and ceiling tiles will need to be thrown away.

 

While we hope this information will give you a better understanding of mold and the risks it creates inside the home, it is no substitute for an experienced professional. The fact is, proper mold removal may be too difficult and dangerous for the average homeowner. The CDC recommends calling a professional mold remediation company in most cases. The mold remediation experts at RestoPros have a long-standing reputation for expertise, professionalism, and hard work. If you’re looking for a skilled and highly trained technician for mold testing, mold remediation, water damage restoration, or HVAC duct cleaning anywhere in the Dallas Metroplex, call us at (855) 58-RESTO (855-587-3786) to schedule your appointment today!

 

 

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.

5 Common Mold Growth Areas in Your Home

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Ever wonder where you might commonly find mold in your Dallas/Ft. Worth home? There are several different areas, the most of which have a close proximity to a water source. It’s important you’re aware of these common places, as keeping out a watchful eye will help prevent the growth and spreading of mold before it becomes out of control.

RestoPros has assembled a guide on the 5 common mold growth areas of a home.

1. The Bathroom

Bathrooms are where we use water the most. And mold thrives in areas that are moist, humid, and dark. This unfortunately means a bathroom is more vulnerable to mold growth than other areas of your home.

After a long shower or bath, the leftover moisture can coat the walls and mirrors of your bathroom. And if you didn’t run your exhaust fan to help remove the moisture, porous surfaces such as drywall and wood will begin to soak and allow for mold growth.

Additionally, bathrooms can also experience plumbing leaks under the faucet, which, if left unattended, can create another instance of mold growth.

2. The Kitchen

Not far behind the bathroom, kitchens are second in terms of water usage in your home. If mold growth occurs in the kitchen, it is usually the result of a leak from a faucet, dishwasher, or refrigerator. Each of these items draw and use water, and often have enclosed, hidden areas which are dark and warm enough for mold growth if moisture is present.

3. The Laundry Room

If the laundry room is meant for cleaning, how could mold growth, an exact opposite of cleaning, choose it as a common place to spawn? Mostly because of the water from your washing machine. Although it’s rare to find mold actually inside the washing machine, it can still appear if there’s a leak or loose connection with a hose. Once water starts to spill and lingers under the washer or dryer, mold can easily start to form.

4. Next to the AC Unit

While not all AC units may be the same, most provide cooling through the means of evaporation. A designated unit (simply titled the evaporator coil) traps warm air and begins to cool it, which creates condensation that forms in and around the coil. Usually, this moisture is supposed to be collected into a drip pan, which is then drained out of your home. However, if the drain becomes clogged or there’s a problem with the coil, condensation can drip into puddles, which helps create mold growth.

5. Under Carpeting

If there’s one item we don’t want associated with the term “brush it under the carpet,” it’s any liquid. Carpeting can become a common area for mold growth if any spills or moisture are not immediately cleaned. This is because once a liquid hits carpet, it slowly starts to soak through the threads and pads, eventually reaching the flooring underneath. And with the dark, warm, and now-damp environment under your carpet, mold can spawn and reproduce.

Always keep in mind the 5 common areas of mold growth in your Dallas/Ft. Worth home. And if upon checking these areas you’ve managed to find an instance of mold growth, contact RestoPros for our mold remediation services! Give us a call at 855-587-3786 to schedule an appointment and get started.

Related Links

You Can Control Mold – CDC

5 Tips to Avoid Garage Mold

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Mold is always looking for a place to grow, and your garage may be its potential new home. Garages are usually dark and warm, which are two of the three required conditions for mold growth. The last requirement is humidity, which is unfortunate as garages tend to also be exposed to outdoor weather conditions. Since we’re in storm season, chances of garage mold are higher than ever for Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowners.

If you want to avoid garage mold, you’ll need to take some advice from the mold-removal experts at RestoPros. Here are 5 tips for preventing garage mold!

  1. 1. Dry Items Before Storing in Your Garage

Garages are the usual storage for all your tools, cleaning supplies, and seasonal items. When you use any item from your garage, you’ll want to dry it completely before placing them back. Items such as umbrellas, mops, and bikes tend to get soaked after use. If you place them back in the garage while they are wet, you’re giving mold the chance to grow.

Wipe down any wet item with a towel before placing them in the garage. If possible, let items air dry to completely remove moisture. For metal items such as tools, wipe them down thoroughly if they are wet, but do not air dry them. A mix of oxygen and water can cause metals such as iron to rust. On the contrary, most bikes are made with aluminum, which does not rust, so you can air dry them. However, avoid doing this if they are made with steel.

  1. 2. Remove and Replace Cardboard in Your Garage

Cardboard soaks water like a sponge. If you are using cardboard boxes for storage in your garage, you are at risk of garage mold. Once water has soaked carboard, it will remain soggy and fragile for a long period of time. This can lead to mold growth, and possibly even ruin the contents inside the cardboard box.

Instead, switch to using plastic totes. Plastic containers are much more resilient to water than cardboard, as well as being easier to clean. They protect your items much better as well.

If you have no other choice than to use carboard, then keep the boxes above ground as much as possible. Avoid stacking boxes and ensure their area is kept dry.

  1. 3. Seal Your Garage Door

Your garage door offers little protection against weather conditions. Water can seep through the bottom, sides, and top of the garage door. To combat this, you’ll need to conceal these openings with seals and weather-strips.

Garage seals and weather-strips are available at almost any department store. You can find variants that go along the bottom of the garage door, as well as the floor of the garage itself. Seals and weather-strips can also be placed along the sides to further prevent water leaks.

  1. 4. Maintain Humidity Levels in Your Garage

Humidity is the missing piece that gives mold the chance to grow in your garage. To combat humidity, a dehumidifier is recommended. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity levels within their nearby area. You can run one during or after every rain occurrence. Doing so will help prevent moisture from soaking the garage walls and ceiling. This will also help prevent any fragile items such as books being damaged by moisture.

  1. 5. Remove Standing Water in Your Garage

Whether it’s a spilled drink or a parked dripping car, a puddle of water can form in your garage. As soon as it happens, you’ll want to remove all the standing water, as well as dry up any wet spots along the garage floor.

Most garage floors tend to be a higher level than the driveway. This gives you the ability to flush out standing water with relative ease. Using a squeegee, push out as much water as you can. After which, use a dry mop along with paper towels to soak up any leftover moisture. Once cleaning has finished, use a dehumidifier to ensure moisture has been eliminated.

Garage mold should be avoided at all costs, but don’t avoid contacting a mold professional if your garage has been infested with mold. RestoPros provides the mold remediation services that can restore your garage, or any part of your home, back to a safe condition. Call us at 855-587-3786 to schedule an appointment with Dallas/Ft. Worth’s leading mold removal experts.

5 Unexpected Areas for Mold Growth

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Mold infestation is sometimes unpredictable and can flourish in seemingly unexpected areas. Although Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowners should know mold tends to grow in attics, bathrooms, and drywall, you should also be aware of the more surprising locations. From the mold experts at RestoPros, here are 5 unexpected areas for mold growth.

A/C Vents

  • Ventilation is a prime target for moisture-buildup, and if your IAQ is poor, mold spores easily invade your HVAC system.
  • Condensation collects in both supply and return vents, and since your ventilation lacks any suitable lighting, mold growth can spawn.
  • Mold within your ventilation must be dealt with quickly, as your HVAC system will distribute these spores, producing more mold while reducing indoor air quality (potentially causing allergy symptoms).

Chimney

  • Although your chimney is designed to carry out smoke and gas, condensation and contaminants can still enter in the brick’s crevices.
  • Rainwater creates dampness in your chimney’s dark interior, and if the temperature is warm, mold can grow.
  • Mold growth in your chimney can also spread to your fireplace, potentially ruining firewood.
  • Combined moisture and mold growth can damage your chimney if left unattended, causing stains, weakening support, and producing foul odors. along with fireplace accessories rusting.

Dishwasher

  • Since your dishwasher is a cleaning tool, it’d be the last place you’d expect mold growth to be, but unfortunately this is still a possibility.
  • Food residue and soap can build on the dishwasher’s gasket and drain, often due to improper dish cleaning before placing them on the racks.
  • Your dishwasher holds the perfect climate for mold growth, as the interior is dark, warm, and moist.
  • Although running your dishwasher usually eliminates any mold, having lingering residue prior to the cycle can cause unwanted mold growth that lasts even after the cycle.

Major Appliances

  • Your fridge, washer, and dryer all work with water to function, and their rarely noticed locations are vulnerable to unexpected mold growth.
  • Your refrigerator’s drip pan collects moisture and food drippings, making it a perfect environment for mold growth if not cleaned. The drip pan is usually located on the bottom of the fridge, close to the floor, and is rarely inspected.
  • Gaskets located on front-loading washing machines easily stay damp after loads and provide a suitable habitat for mold growth. Additionally, the water hoses on the back can leak from poor installation, further leading to mold and even potential water damage.

Window Sashes and Sills

  • Although rain drops on your windows are a pleasant and calming sight, the condensation can reside in the sills and sashes, causing unexpected mold growth.
  • The sides of your windows, known as sashes, are designed to hold the glass panes, and rainwater can seep into their cracks and create a habitat for mold growth.
  • The bottom of your window, known as the sill, often collects rain droplets after storms, and may produce mold if the window is not dried.
  • Mold growth on window frames can further spread to the walls of your home, meaning mold-remediation should be immediate if detected.

After learning the unexpected areas for mold, you may have discovered that it has already infiltrated one or more of these areas. If you have noticed any mold growth in your home, contact RestoPros immediately. Not only will RestoPros remove the unexpected mold in your Dallas/Ft. Worth home with our mold remediation services, we will help you identify other unexpected areas for mold growth. Give us a call at 855-587-3786 to schedule an appointment.