Essential information on how to remove mold and mildew
This article provides some of the fundamental information on how to get rid of mold. You can find more detailed information about how to remove mold and mildew from various different surfaces in our more specific articles on this website.
Due to the range of materials and surfaces which allow mold to grow and their specific characteristics there is no one size fits all approach when it comes to mold removal. The mold removal from glass surfaces has different requirements than the mold removal from a sofa or settee or wooden panelling. Furthermore aspects like growth period and causes for mold growth are to be taken into account before you start to remove mold and mildew. Ultimately, efforts purely to control mold are pointless, should the reasons for the mold growth remain unaddressed.
Should you treat large-scale surfaces to remove mold, make sure that you have sufficient ventilation and you wear appropriate respirator masks. Essentially it is preferable to use wet treatment. Brushing mold away or using a dry cloth to remove mold are not a good alternative as the mold pores get airborne and contaminate the air. The application of mold cleaner containing fungicides for indoor living areas is unsuitable as it poses a health threat due to the possibility of accumulation of hazardous substances in your living areas.
It is to point out that, should you have severe mold growth on surfaces bigger than 0.5m² you should consult an expert as pure mold removal will not be sufficient in the long run. In cases like this it is recommended to localise the cause and to ensure that after the mold removal there are no hidden and undiscovered mold sources. Throughout Germany there are certified organisations, consultants and assessors, specialised on assessments, anlaysis and mold removal. Some similar organisations will be in your country , too.
As mentioned at the beginning, further information on how to remove mold and mildew from different surfaces can be found on this website.
