Some basic truths about Mold

We recently had Eric Anderson, Chief Operating Officer at Enviro-Clean Inc, speak at our company meeting. Eric demonstrated a high degree of expertise and shed light on some of the myths of mold. Here are some basics truths about mold the Eric would like to share: Mold is often lumped together with words like “asbestos, lead, and radon” and they all seem to make buyers, sellers and real estate agent cringe.  Often times, the level of mold contamination, like many things, is overstated.  And many times what may seem to be a problem, is no problem at all – there is of course the reverse too and that is what may seem to be a little problem, could, in fact, be much larger than anticipated. Here is a list of basic truths about mold:

1.      Not all mold is dangerous. 2.      Different people react differently to different types of mold. 3.      Mold is everywhere and has been around since the beginning of time – it is an essential part of our ecosystem. 4.      Mold requires moisture to grow in addition to appropriate food sources. 5.      Moisture sources include leaking pipes, wet and damp basements, condensation, high humidity. 6.      Food sources include wood, wall paper, drywall, carpet, bio-films (dirt, dust, oils, grease). 7.      Spraying bleach on mold is NOT a good cleaning method. 8.      The best cleaning method is through removal, whether removing the material or cleaning with a detergent. 9.      Do-it-yourself test kits will always produce positive mold levels (see #3). 10.      Be careful what you read or watch in the media – it is often over sensationalized. 11.      Mold remediation is in the Bible – see Leviticus 14. 12.      Black mold, red mold, white mold, yellow mold – mold comes in all colors. 13.      Mold grows like dandelions – a small problem can get overwhelming quickly if not corrected properly. 14.      Mold can be hidden in attics, behind walls and other areas where moisture could be present. 15.      Dead mold can still pose a potential risk to sensitive individuals.  It’s important to remove it, not just try and kill it. Should you have any questions about mold, specific to the real estate industry or in general, please call 866-530-MOLD or visit www.envirocleanmld.com