How to Handle Mold: A Maintenance Professional's Guide

In my years of maintenance and remodeling I've come across mold many times. There are a lot of myths about mold in today's world. It's a commonly misunderstood and underestimated problem that is widely ignored. Serious issues with mold should be left to trained and certified professionals who have experience in proper remediation. Household growth that is not out of control can be cured by following a few unsophisticated procedures and keeping up with regular preventative maintenance.

First off, mold is dangerous. Mold can in fact be very harmful, but only after prolonged exposure or exposure to certain uncommon strands of sporous growth. The most common side effects of mold are that of regular allergies. Obviously the worse the personal allergy to mold is, the worse the effects on your health will be. I have personally worked in mold infested homes and apartments on a continuous basis for a number of years and never once had a reaction. When dealing with mold, especially if you are a highly allergic person, it's always better to take precautions. The amount of protection needed varies depending on how bad the environmental issues are. If it's light growth then latex gloves and a cloth face mask will suffice. If serious spore growth exists a respirator and even a body suit may be called for. This is an individual decision and depends on your comfortability level in working under such conditions.