Harm from mold
Mold in the apartment is a common occurrence. It poses a danger to human health due to the toxic fumes produced by many types of fungus and their spores. In just one square meter, mold produces millions of spores every day, they settle on surfaces and begin to actively develop. What will happen if she stays on the wallpaper in the apartment for several months?
Moreover, spores can enter the human body through the skin, nose and mouth. In contact with the skin, the fungus can cause many diseases; it is for this reason that to visit the pool you need a certificate confirming the absence of fungus on the skin and nails. If during the brushing procedure you notice an unpleasant taste and smell of mold, it means that the toothbrush is a carrier of fungus, so it is recommended to immediately replace the accessory. A more common reaction of the body is an allergy, which especially often affects children and the elderly. Depending on susceptibility, the severity of the disease may vary.
Mold in a private home
Causes of mold on the floor
If mold appears on the floor or on the lower part of the walls, the cause is usually a damp basement, from which air penetrates into the apartment. If there are leaks in the basement, they should be fixed as quickly as possible, otherwise mold will grow at lightning speed. To prevent the problem from returning, it is better to waterproof the basement and cover its walls with anti-mold plaster.
Causes of mold on the ceiling
Mold on the ceiling or where walls and ceilings meet usually indicates a leak or dampness in the attic. Snow and rain get into the cracks and openings of the roof, as well as into the joint between the roof and the chimney. The solution is to thoroughly seal the roof.
Causes of mold on walls
Insufficient thermal insulation of walls contributes to the appearance of mold on the walls. A wooden house suffers the most: mold fungi grow so deeply into porous wood fibers that often damaged wall fragments have to be cut out and replaced with new ones.
Walls often freeze due to internal cracks and cracks. Sometimes, to find them, you need to conduct thermal imaging.
Diseases
The most common diseases in the presence of dampness and mold in the apartment are: bronchial asthma, skin rashes, pneumonia, sinusitis, gastrointestinal disorders, nosebleeds, headaches.
Many types of mold that are common in the CIS countries are pathogenic forms. Mold in the corners, on the ceiling, in the bathroom - long-term contact can lead to such serious pathologies as liver and kidney damage, emphysema.
Cleaning wet or moldy items
Non-porous items with a hard surface that do not absorb water can be cleaned with detergents. Once these items are dried, you can safely return them to your home without worrying about them introducing unwanted spores.
It is best to discard porous items that have absorbed water and cannot be thoroughly dried within 24 to 48 hours. You should also throw away any items that have mold growing on them and cannot be properly sterilized.
Clothes and bed linen can be washed in the washing machine.
Reasons for appearance
Fungal spores are found everywhere, in water and air, and once in an environment favorable to them, they begin to grow rapidly. The fungus especially loves insufficient ventilation and high humidity. “Damp” premises, apartments located next to basements, improper use of humidifiers, a lot of all kinds of indoor plants - this can lead to the destruction of mold in the apartment .
Among the finishing and building materials, regardless of their cost, it is perhaps impossible to find one that is not susceptible to the formation of fungus. It can often be found in toilets, bathrooms, refrigerators, and washing machines. Mold also often forms on the ceiling in an apartment.
The main sign of the appearance of fungus is an unpleasant smell of pungency and dampness. Then spots of whitish, black and gray shades appear.
Who will pay for mold removal after a flood?
Copper sulfate and drying with infrared heaters and lamps do not give reliable results. Antifungal treatment using multi-stage technology from specialized services is required. Their services are not cheap, nor are new repairs. You can recover funds for these needs from the guilty party: neighbors or the management company that allowed the flooding.
The PRO Bay team is ready to help with individual services or run a turnkey business. The secretary will coordinate the interaction of the disputing parties (agree on the date of the inspection, etc.). Expert appraisers will inspect the premises and draw up an expert opinion - strong evidence in court. Lawyers will prepare a pre-trial claim, claim, and achieve payment. The couriers will deliver the writ of execution to the person responsible for the leak. Payment for our services is made after receipt of money to the client's account.
How to get rid of mold
How to get her out of the apartment if she has already appeared? First of all, the problem of ventilation and high humidity should be solved. Otherwise, no matter what you do, it will appear again and again.
Deliverance requires an integrated approach. It is not enough to scrape off and wash off the fungus; it is necessary to create a certain microclimate in which mold cannot develop.
Basic measures to eliminate mold in an apartment:
- It is necessary to mechanically clean the flooring, ceiling, walls, all cracks where there is mold;
- Treat the affected surfaces with a special product;
- Get rid of things that have become unusable;
- Regularly ventilate the room and maintain an optimal humidity level.
Advice: if wallpaper, upholstered furniture and other products made of porous material are affected by mold, you should not try to clean it, it is better to replace them with new ones.
Mold after flooding: nuances
- Fungi are easy to see on open surfaces (walls, corners). However, colonies often “hide” under wallpaper, suspended ceilings, and wall panels, where air circulation is difficult.
- The damage does not appear immediately: before mold is detected after an apartment has been flooded, it can take from 2 weeks to several months after the fact of the flood.
- To prove the connection, it is necessary, upon discovering a leak, to immediately call the management company and draw up a flooding report. An examination will help prove the extent of the damage and the cause.
Means of struggle
After the mandatory measures described above, it is necessary to treat the room with special antiseptic agents, which can be found on store shelves without much difficulty.
Important! Any preparation for cleaning fungus contains a lot of chemicals and is poisonous for humans. Therefore, work with them as carefully as possible, first protecting your hands with rubber gloves. And before you start, carefully read the instructions.
Antiseptic primer
You can get rid of mold using a special antiseptic primer. The product can be purchased at any building materials store. The primer will solve several problems at once: it will destroy mold and also prevent its occurrence in the future.
The primer is easy to use and often does not need to be diluted with water. However, when working with the product, it is recommended to strictly follow the instructions.
Before applying the product, the surface is cleaned until the top layer of plaster is removed. Apply the primer to a dry wall with a simple paint brush, and after drying you can begin wallpapering or painting.
Bleach
Using home remedies that are likely to be found in every housewife’s home, you can also eliminate mold in your apartment. For example, bleach, which is no less effective than an antiseptic primer.
Thanks to bleach, the main active ingredient of which is sodium hypochlorite, you can clean any type of fungus, including its spores. The product is easy to clean bathroom tiles, mirrors, glass and floor coverings.
Important! When using bleach, be careful - many things can lose their original color.
And you need to use it with rubber gloves, since chlorine corrodes the skin of your hands. In addition, the room should be thoroughly ventilated after treatment. Whiteness is diluted in a ratio of 1:10.
Vinegar
You can also fight mold with vinegar, which is an acid and therefore can eliminate the fungus and prevent its further development. Vinegar has a specific odor, but unlike bleach, it does not emit toxic substances. It is applied to damaged surfaces using a spray and wiped with a damp cloth. After keeping the solution for about an hour, the surface is treated with water. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to carry out the procedure weekly.
Hydrogen peroxide
Fungus in the apartment can be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, which is an antibacterial and antifungal drug. The hydrogen peroxide solution is non-toxic and does not emit harmful substances. The product is suitable for removing mold from many materials, but has a bleaching property.
Ammonia
Ammonia can destroy fungus on non-porous and non-solid materials, such as glass and tiles.
The product is diluted with water 1:1 and the resulting solution is sprayed on the walls. After several hours, rinse thoroughly with water.
Attention! The unpleasant smell of ammonia can cause severe headaches and a sore throat. It is forbidden to mix ammonia with bleach, as this mixture emits toxic gases!
Baking soda
Mold after flooding in an apartment or in any other case can be removed with baking soda. It destroys fungal spores, but unlike other products, it is a safe and natural household cleaner and will not harm humans or furry pets.
A spoonful of soda must be dissolved in 200 grams of water and the surface treated. If the item is seriously damaged by mold, you don’t have to wash off the baking soda; this will stop the growth of the fungus.
Hiring Professional Mold or Flood Remediation Experts
After a flood, the best thing you can do is contact a pest control company or water leak stop specialist who can also professionally clean up flooded homes.
This way, you can be sure that all the problems with the unhealthy consequences of flooding will be properly addressed. You'll also have peace of mind knowing that your home will be completely safe to live in after it's been professionally renovated. If the flooding occurred due to broken waterproofing, then you can read this article about what is waterproofing?
What is mold and why is it dangerous?
Mold is a fungus that forms in places with concomitant favorable conditions, such as high humidity, lack of air access and elevated temperature.
Mold can form from spores, the so-called “seeds”. Such a “plant” covers the growing surface at lightning speed and can sometimes be very difficult to get rid of.
At first, mold is not dangerous to humans, but later it will be very difficult to remove. It will also increasingly influence human health. So, if you notice mold in your home, then you need to solve this problem as quickly as possible, and we will help you with this. In this article you will find up-to-date information about mold, how to deal with it and where to go in case of violation of operating rules and premises development.
How to remove mold under wallpaper?
You can also cope with the fungus using folk remedies, which are affordable and effective. If mold has formed under the wallpaper, then pay attention to the following recipes:
- Soda. You need to make a solution by taking 1 tbsp. warm water 1 teaspoon baking soda. Using a soft sponge, treat to remove plaque. There is no need to rinse anything off with water.
- Table vinegar. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle and treat the infected areas. After an hour, wipe the surface with water and ventilate the room.
- Peroxide from mold on wallpaper. The product is sprayed or you just need to wipe the surfaces. Just keep in mind that peroxide has a bleaching effect, which is not suitable for dark walls.
Wallpaper mold remover
In hardware stores you can find various products that are designed to remove fungus. You should not save on their purchase, since its effectiveness will depend on this. If you are interested in how to get rid of mold on wallpaper, then pay attention to the following preparations:
- "Olympus stop mold." The solution is colorless and it is safe for animals and people. Suitable for treating walls made of various building materials. According to reviews, this liquid is of high quality and quickly copes with the task.
- "Abedis 06". This product contains chlorine, which fights fungus well, but it is important to be careful during processing.
- "Fongifluid Alpa". An effective drug that perfectly fights all types of fungus. It can be used both on the outside and on the inside of the building.
- "Dali." According to reviews, this is one of the most effective drugs that can be used on any surface.
How to remove mold from wallpaper without tearing it off?
If the affected areas are minor and it is not possible to carry out full-scale repair work, then the following tips on how to remove mold from wallpaper will be useful:
- Paper. First you need to dry the wallpaper thoroughly using a hair dryer or iron. When the paper is dry, remove the mildew using a brush. If the wallpaper has come off, then be sure to clean the wall too, and then glue the wallpaper back in place, drying it again with a hairdryer.
- Non-woven, acrylic and washable. These types of wallpaper are moisture resistant, so thermal exposure is useless for them. The fungus must be removed using a spatula or brush, and then treated with special products. Some of them are described above.
Drawing up a complaint
Before filing a complaint, it is necessary to conduct a certain examination. First, you will need to draw up an act on the condition of the residential premises, which must be signed by the owner of the apartment, as well as a representative of the management company.
An example of an application for the Criminal Code.
If no one from the management company appears, then the act is drawn up in the presence of two witnesses who also sign. Then the humidity level is checked. This is a paid service provided by regional hygiene centers and SES. If the utility company is proven to be at fault, the costs incurred will be reimbursed.
Mandatory points of the complaint
The next step will be to draw up a complaint about mold, a sample of which can be found on the government services website or drawn up yourself in free form. It mainly contains the following data:
- Initials, place of registration and contact details.
- The text must contain a description of the problem. The information is stated essentially without unnecessary details, since this is an official document.
- At the end there should be a request to identify and punish the perpetrators.
- Date and signature are added.
Example of a complaint
If the decision was made in favor of the residents, then the utility service must fix the problem within 45 days. Some citizens also require cosmetic repairs, which are necessary after mold removal.
You can also contact Rospotrebnadzor . This organization must respond to the appeal. The main thing is to record all outgoing documents from the applicant to avoid their loss. If none of the authorities has taken any measures, then it is necessary to go to court.
ATTENTION! Judicial practice in resolving such problems shows that the court mainly takes the side of the residents. However, when it comes to a new building and residents are suing the developer over mold, the case is not always resolved in favor of the apartment owners.
Applications
You can attach photographs or video to your complaint confirming the presence of fungal mold. If the management company is inactive regarding the elimination of fungus in an apartment or entrance, then residents have the right to call the state inspection, which will invite a representative from the management company and assess the current situation.
And if you go to court, for example, as in the example of a problem with a developer, then it is necessary to attach an expert report on the situation in the house. This document is important because the judicial authorities pay attention to this and without it it will be much more difficult to win a dispute.
Watch the video: Housing and communal services: your rights. Mold in the house
