Black Mold

moocow1088 asked:


I came back to my room after a weekend away i had left the air conditioner on. there was a strong smell when i walked in, not a disgusting one, but a bad one. It seemed to be coming from the air conditioner. I noticed this black mold on the front of the air conditioner that smeared like marker when wiped. I then found it covering everything in my room, just little black specs on everything. i shut off the ac, what should i do? What can i use to kill it? does everything need to be washed? What about clothes and sheets? thank you for any advice
should i use an air purifier or will that collect mold too?

Black Mold

moocow1088 asked:


I came back to my room after a weekend away i had left the air conditioner on. there was a strong smell when i walked in, not a disgusting one, but a bad one. It seemed to be coming from the air conditioner. I noticed this black mold on the front of the air conditioner that smeared like marker when wiped. I then found it covering everything in my room, just little black specs on everything. i shut off the ac, what should i do? What can i use to kill it? does everything need to be washed? What about clothes and sheets? thank you for any advice
should i use an air purifier or will that collect mold too?

Black Mold

Darren Lintern asked:


Once you have identified the presence of black mold in your home, it may take some effort to clear away the problem. Here are a few suggestions that may help you with the black mold clean up.

First, protect yourself from breathing in any of the mold. No matter what means you utilize as part of your black mold clean up strategy, the process is sure to stir up some of the contaminants. Purchase a breathing mask, such as the face protectors that are commonly used when painting. This will provide adequate protection in most cases. However, if you feel that some additional efforts are needed to keep down the dust and off-fly during the cleaning process, set up an air purifier in the space. The purifier will cut back a great deal on the airborne contaminants.

Next, address the current state of the mold. If the substance is dry, spritz the area with water. This will help loosen the mold as well as make is easier for the cleaning agents to permeate through the black mold. This step in black mold removal will also help to keep the airborne contamination to a minimum.

If the mold is not very thick, try good old-fashioned soap and water. Wood oil soap works well, but it is also perfectly acceptable to use dish washing detergent. Apply the soap with a sponge, slowly working off the mold until the surface appears clean. However, do not be deceived by the clean appearance. There is probably still some mold embedded in the material. In order to remove the remaining traces, coat the area with a strong disinfectant, and then thoroughly dry the area.

In some cases, black mold clean up may require the services of a professional. If the amount of mold present is very thick, or you are prone to respiratory problems, calling in an expert would be your best bet. Keep in mind that while this may cost a little extra, you will enjoy much cleaner air in your home, and as a result tend to feel much better day to day.