Mold is never fun to encounter, especially when it is creeping across the walls of your home!
Not only is clean up a hassle, but mold can also cause a variety of health issues. This is particularly important because mold can react with certain kinds of cleaners and become even more toxic.
That is why it's important to understand how to get rid of mold in apartment buildings in a safe way.
In this post, we will share some steps you can take to get rid of mold in an apartment building as well as cover the best way to prevent mold from developing.
How to get rid of mold in an apartment building
It is important to note that it is always a good idea to consult a professional contractor before attempting any type of mold cleanup yourself. They can help you understand the size of the issue and determine if you are dealing with a potential health hazard.
Once you’ve determined if this is an issue that you can tackle on your own, then you will want to make sure you have the proper personal protective equipment on hand and any additional tools.
Here are some common steps people take to get rid of mold:
Put on personal protective equipment such as googles, a face mask, and gloves
Dry the area, ideally using fans
While wearing gloves, use a brush to wipe away flakes
Apply a mixture of detergent and warm water
Let the detergent sit for 10-15 minutes then rinse with clean running water
Allow things to dry naturally
If patches remain, treat them again
If you still have an issue after the second cleaning attempt, that is a very good sign that you may need professional help. Additionally, if the mold patch is larger than a few inches then it may be best to call out an expert to help with identifying the mold before you attempt to remove it yourself.
Please note that painting over mold will not kill it. This is particularly true if you have not resolved the issue that lead to mold growth in the first place!
It is important to properly address any mold that is growing on walls and ceilings as soon as they are found. By addressing these issues early, you may be able to prevent them at the surface level before they penetrate further into you building.
How to stop mold from growing in an apartment building
Many people end up with mold in their apartment complex due to negligence. That is why one common place to find mold is in bathrooms!
Rooms like this have poor ventilation and most people do not realize how the moisture leaking from their tubs can create the perfect situation for mold growth. Unfortunately many people allow water to pool on the floors of bathrooms without cleaning it up, further creating the humid conditions that mold thrives in.
Other common areas that mold likes to grow are the cracks around kitchen sinks and near washing machines that do not have a proper water disposal system in place. Often times what looks to be a small amount of mold in a few different locations can really be a red flag that minor leaks are not being reported.
Here are 3 key steps to preventing mold growth in an apartment building:
Avoid moisture build up
Install a Leak Detector
Have plumber maintenance scheduled
If you'd like to learn more, we recently wrote an article on How to Prevent Mold in Apartment Buildings. In this post, we share 7 steps that landlords can take to prevent mold from growing in the first place.
Avoid moisture build up
Look for ways to make it easy to keep your apartment building dry. This can include installing fans in poorly ventilated rooms, posting signs in common areas, and installing water guards at the foot of your door.
Most of these solutions are affordable and can easily save you thousands of dollars. You can also consider installing some technology to make your apartment a ‘smart apartment’!
Mercury
At Perceptive Things, we help building managers and owners gain deeper insight into what is happening in their buildings.
One great way to do this is through our humidity and temperature detector, which can send alerts directly to your phone.
Our ambient temperature and humidity sensor, Mercury, can be mounted anywhere in your apartment or commercial building.
You can inspect both current and historical readings and be notified when the temperature or humidity rises above or falls below a configurable threshold.
Install a Leak Detector
Leak detectors are able to sense leaks and send alerts directly to your phone or email. They are easy and affordable to install, but can prevent some of the largest water related accidents that can happen in your apartment.
Leak Detectors can protect you from water related mold, structural damage, and water restoration costs. Perceptive Things recommends our both our Droplet Duo and Droplet Pro leak sensors, which are industrial grade and able to send you alerts within seconds.
Check out this video to learn more about how our leak sensors can help protect your building!
Have Plumber Maintenance Scheduled
In addition to installing a leak detection system, it is a good idea to also schedule your annual plumbing inspection or maintenance in advance.
It can be easy to forget to book these appointments each year, but booking at the same time every year can save you the headache of having to coordinate with your plumber.
Final Thoughts on How to Get Rid of Mold in an Apartment Building
Whether you are worried about a current mold issue or are looking for ways to prevent this problem from happen again, we hope that you’ve found this article useful!
Remember, though mold can be annoying it is something that most people will have to deal with in their apartments at one point or another. The key thing to remember is to exercise caution, consult with professionals, and take preventative measures to ensure the issue is resolved.
We hope you’ve found this post on how to get rid of mold in an apartment building to be useful!
Please share with us in the comments below, how do you typically get rid of mold in your apartment building?
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