When you first spot mold in your home, you may think you can easily remove it yourself with some bleach and elbow grease. While this might be the case for mild, surface-level growth, most mold requires professional removal.
Mold points to a bigger issue, usually caused by leaks, high humidity levels, poor insulation, air gaps, or poor ventilation. DIY mold removal comes with significant risks, and unless the root cause is resolved, mold will keep coming back. Here’s when Chicagoland homeowners can remove their own mold, and when they should leave it to a team like ARC Insulation.
When Can You Remove Mold Yourself?
Many homeowners ask themselves, “Should I remove mold myself? Is DIY mold removal safe?” The DIY approach can be acceptable, but only if the following conditions are met:
- It’s purely surface-level. Once mold becomes embedded deeper into building materials, cleaning won’t remove it.
- The surface area is small. The EPA only recommends removing mold yourself if the area is smaller than a 3 ft. x 3 ft. patch.
- You’ve fixed the root cause first. This only works for easily identifiable problems like plumbing leaks. Complex issues like inadequate insulation will need professional help.
How to Remove Mold Yourself
If your home’s growth is mild and you’re going to tackle it yourself, there are certain things you need to know to do it as safely as possible:
- Stop the moisture source first. If you don’t fix it beforehand, the mold will just keep coming back.
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) like a mask, eye protection, and gloves. The CDC recommends wearing at least a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator.
- Isolate the area. Discard anything porous with mold on it, such as fabrics or foam ceiling tiles.
- Try to use warm water and soap first. Use a sponge or cloth to wipe off the mold. Avoid scrubbing, as this can break up and spread the spores.
- If you need to use bleach, use no more than 1 cup of bleach per 1 cup of water.
- Once done cleaning, dry the area thoroughly with ventilation and a fan. Quick drying (24-48 hours) is crucial to prevent mold from returning.
Risks of DIY Mold Removal
Successful mold removal can be challenging. Many families who try to do it themselves find that it keeps coming back. Doing it incorrectly can also lead to larger issues down the road, compromising your family’s health and your home’s safety.
Improper Removal Can Spread Mold
One of the biggest risks of DIY mold removal is spreading spores throughout your home. Without proper containment, cleaning a moldy area can mobilize microscopic spores into the air, where they may land and grow in other damp places. What started as a small mold issue in the basement could turn into a house-wide problem.
Mold Often Indicates an Underlying Problem
It’s easy to assume that once you clean mold, it’s gone for good. Most of the time, however, mold points to a larger issue, and if so, it will keep coming back.
Since mold is caused by moisture intrusion, you may have a problem with your home’s performance or construction. Air gaps could be letting humid air enter the home, poor insulation could be failing to prevent condensation, or your HVAC system could be working inefficiently and not removing humidity. DIY removal doesn’t fix these problems.
Health and Safety
While not all mold species are toxic, many can cause health concerns. Exposure to mold, especially in enclosed, damp areas like basements, can lead to:
- Chronic coughing and sneezing
- Eye, nose, and throat irritation
- Skin rashes
- Worsening asthma symptoms
- In more severe cases, respiratory infections or fungal illnesses
Some molds, such as black mold, can produce mycotoxins that are harmful to almost everyone, not just those with sensitivities. If DIY removal fails, you’re continuing to put your family at risk.
When to Hire a Mold Removal Professional
- The visible mold area is larger than 10 square feet.
- Mold returns after cleaning, suggesting there’s a bigger problem.
- You smell a persistent, musty odor in your home, but can’t identify it.
- You have wet insulation, joists, rafters, and other building materials. A professional contractor needs to replace these.
- You have visible mold growth on wooden structural components.
- Mold is in your HVAC system.
- Your moisture intrusion and mold are caused by poor insulation or air leakage.
ARC Insulation’s Time-Tested Mold Removal Process
If you do need professional mold removal, ARC Insulation uses a multi-step process to eliminate mold and prevent it from returning:
Step 1: Mold Inspection & Assessment
We start with a thorough inspection using advanced detection tools to assess the extent of mold growth.
Step 2: Identifying the Source
Mold thrives in moist conditions. Whether it’s a leaky roof, poor ventilation, or high humidity, we find and fix the moisture source to stop mold at its root.
Step 3: Containment & Safe Removal
To prevent spores from spreading, we seal off the affected area. Then, we carefully remove contaminated materials using specialized techniques.
Step 4: Cleaning & Decontamination
All surfaces are thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and treated to prevent regrowth.
Step 5: Drying & Prevention Measures
After mold removal, we completely dry the area and recommend long-term solutions like improved basement or attic insulation, upgraded insulation, or air sealing. These can help ensure you don’t experience any more moisture or mold issues.
ARC Insulation has been serving Chicagoland and Naperville for over 30 years. We are certified in mold remediation and trusted for building science background and performance-based approach. If you need professional mold removal, we’re the experts you’ll want to call.
