It’s never a good feeling when you find mold in your home. In some cases, you might be able to grab a spray bottle and scrub it away. In other cases, you’ll need a professional to ensure that all of the mold has been properly removed. Since mold doesn’t always stay where you can see it, and cleaning it the wrong way can make the problem worse, it’s important to know the difference between a do-it-yourself and a professional job.
In the Rio Grande Valley, where humidity, storms, and year-round air conditioning are the norm, mold is not an uncommon find. Here’s how to know when a small mold problem is a weekend project and when it’s time to call for professional mold cleanup services.
When You Can Handle Mold on Your Own
Not every spot of mold requires the help of a professional. According to the EPA, you can typically clean mold on your own if it meets the following criteria:
- Size. The area is about 10 square feet or less, or roughly a 3-foot-by-3-foot patch.
- Surface type. The mold is on a nonporous hard surface like glass, metal, or tile.
- No hidden damage. There’s no signs of underlying water damage, hidden leaks, or sewage contamination.
If you do choose to tackle a small area of mold on your own, be sure to wear gloves, eye protection, and a mask. There are a number of household products that can kill mold, including white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, lemon juice, or plain soap and water. Keep the space well-ventilated and make sure the area dries completely.
Most importantly, fix whatever issue is causing the moisture, otherwise the mold will grow back.
Signs It’s Time to Call a Professional
If you find mold and it’s not a DIY job, you’ll want to schedule professional mold cleanup services. Here are the signs that you’re dealing with a bigger problem.
The Mold Covers a Large Area
Mold spreads quickly. Once it goes beyond 10 square feet, cleanup becomes more complicated and the risk of spreading spores increases. In our experience, larger growth usually means there’s an underlying moisture problem feeding into it.
You Smell Mold but Can’t See It
A persistent musty odor is often a sign that mold is growing in a place you can’t see, such as behind drywall, under flooring, above ceilings, or inside your HVAC system. You’ll need a professional to find and remove hidden mold safely.
The Mold Followed Flooding or a Leak
It’s not uncommon for mold to grow after flooding, a sewage backup, or a long-running leak. What makes these situations tricky is that they tend to soak building materials or introduce contaminated water. That’s why you’ll often need to remove damaged materials in addition to cleaning the mold.
It Keeps Coming Back
If you keep cleaning the same area and mold keeps coming back, it usually means that the source of moisture hasn’t been fully resolved or has penetrated deeper than the surface. Continuing to clean the mold on your own only removes what you can see.
Someone in Your Home Is Sensitive
Indoor mold can trigger health problems, particularly in people with allergies, asthma, or weakened immune systems. Aside from allergy symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and nasal congestion, mold can also cause fungal lung infections in compromised individuals. It’s safer to let a professional handle the mold spores.
It’s in Your HVAC System
Mold in ducts or air handlers can spread spores throughout your home every time the system runs. Cleaning it properly requires specialized equipment and experience.
Common DIY Mistakes to Avoid
Even with good intentions, mold problems can get worse when homeowners try to get rid of them on their own. For example, painting or caulking over mold only hides the issue and doesn’t deal with the underlying problem. Scrubbing or sanding moldy drywall without containment can send spores into the air, while bleach won’t reach mold that has grown into the material, it only lightens stains.
And, as mentioned earlier, cleaning the surface without fixing the leak, condensation, or humidity behind it almost guarantees the mold will return. Common culprits include leaky pipes, poor drainage, clogged ventilation, and high humidity.
What Professional Mold Remediation Involves
Professional mold cleanup services are designed to remove mold safely and keep it from spreading to other parts of the home. At Texas Elite Restoration, our approach includes:
- Sampling and testing to determine what type of mold is present
- A removal plan tailored to the mold type and the materials affected
- Containment to keep spores from spreading to other parts of your home
- Air scrubbers to filter airborne particles during the work
- Final testing to confirm the mold has been removed
Just as important, professionals help identify where the moisture is coming from so it can be addressed. Without fixing the source, even the most thorough cleanup won’t last.
Get Mold Handled the Right Way
Small, surface-level mold spots can often be handled at home. But when mold is widespread, hidden, tied to water damage, or keeps coming back, professional cleanup is the safest way to protect your home and your family’s health.
Texas Elite Restoration provides complete mold remediation for homes and businesses in Harlingen and throughout the Rio Grande Valley. From testing and containment to removal and final verification, our team takes care of every step.
Not sure whether you need professional help? Contact Texas Elite Restoration or call (956) 564-1932 to schedule a mold inspection.