Thanks to moisture and water damage, countless homes across America are dealing with harmful mold. According to ComfyLiving, a popular homeowners' resource, keeping humidity below 50% helps prevent mold growth. However, using a dehumidifier still isn't enough to keep mold at bay.

Mold is a disgusting substance that can wreak havoc on your home and respiratory health. That's why, if you see it, you shouldn't hesitate to get rid of it. However, DIY mold removal isn't a good idea, and here's why you need to call in the professionals to help.

Health Hazard

If you see mold in your home, the last thing you should do is touch it or mess around with it because it could cause painful irritation and rashes if it gets on your skin. However, mold tends to do the most damage when it reaches your lungs. Mold spores can linger in the air and latch onto your lungs, causing or exacerbating asthma, bronchitis, allergies, and other lung ailments. In other words, you may feel the presence of mold before you even see it!

Your family's health isn't something you want to risk. Call on the professionals who know how to handle it once and for all. What if you have little kids or family pets that don't understand the dangers of mold? They may inadvertently put it in their mouth and swallow it!

Mold Types

Did you know there is more than one type of mold that can grow in your home? While all mold is disgusting, some are toxic and cause greater harm to your health than others. Since there are many different types of mold, there are different ways to eliminate them. Your local mold removal professional understands how to get rid of each type safely and efficiently.

Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus are the most common types of indoor mold, according to the CDC. A professional can quickly tell the differences between these types, but you may not. If you have a small amount of pathogenic mold on your hands, you may be able to handle it with disinfectants, but large colonies require the work of professionals. In the case of toxic black mold, only professionals should handle it from start to finish, and they understand they must get rid of anything affected by it.

Source Concerns

Let's say you've successfully located some mold and think you've gotten rid of it. However, old spores can quickly grow in a wet environment, and that mold may grow back in the same position it was in. When it comes to mold, it's not just about getting rid of it at the surface level. You must handle it at the source.

Is there a leak in your home? Is the area where the mold began to grow susceptible to leaks from a regular rainstorm or flooding? How about the humidity level? Is it over 50%? These are questions a local mold removal professional will ask as they eradicate the mold that exists.

Protective Gear

Mold removal professionals have the right gear to remove mold and protect themselves. Remember, you don't want any mold to get on your skin or in your lungs, so you must protect your airways and avoid exposing your skin to such toxic substances. That's why you'll see mold removal professionals wearing a filter, face mask, waterproof boots, respirators, eye goggles, disposable hair cover, and long shirts and pants. On top of that, they also have protective overalls over their long sleeved clothing.

Proper Equipment

In addition to clothing, the type of equipment used to remove mold is vital to successfully getting rid of it. Sorry, but your regular household cleaners are not designed to stop mold! The experts use equipment such as dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, biocides, HEPA vacuuming, antimicrobial solutions, trisodium phosphate, and more. As professionals, they have access to the best tools to ensure they get the job done right.

As a homeowner, you should take mold removal seriously. Don't risk your health by treating it as a possible weekend do-it-yourself project. By calling a local mold removal company, you can save your lungs and your drywall from havoc. Call our mold specialists at Northwest Restoration today to learn how we can help you!