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Toxic Mold vs Mildew: What’s Lurking in YOUR Bathroom?

Scrubbing a Wall in a Queen Creek Rental PropertyMold and mildew are like fungus siblings: they can look a lot alike, and both prefer areas that are warm and moist. Although there are important differences between the two, both you and your tenants need to know these differences to ensure that your Queen Creek rental properties are unblemished and secure. By way of educating yourself on how to spot the difference between toxic mold and mildew, you can even improve and prevent a little problem from growing into an expensive nightmare.

There are innumerable various kinds of mold and mildew, most of which are not considered toxic or poisonous. And there’s a chance that your tenant doesn’t know much about mold or mildew, how it looks like, or what to carry out if they spot it. Mildew, for example, is a common surface fungus that usually looks gray or white. It is generally flat and powdery, usually collecting in bathrooms or other areas that are frequently damp. It may have a bad smell, especially if tolerated to flourish for a length of time. Mildew can usually be removed quite easily by giving the tenant a bleach solution and a scrub brush.

Mold, nonetheless, is regularly more invasive and a lot harder to get rid of. It generally hides in walls and ceilings, primarily those with high humidity levels or water damage. This will make mold hard to spot. Usually, the first clue that you will observe with a mold problem is the smell. Mold smells musty, a foul odor that doesn’t go away. Another benchmark of mold is the color. Molds can germinate in a variety of blacks, greens, and even reds, and may look fuzzy or sometimes slimy.

Toxic mold or Stachybotrys chartarum (also called Stachybotrys atra) is a greenish-black mold that often grows on materials like fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, and lint. It requires constant moisture to establish itself. This classification of mold oftentimes emanates right after serious water damage, excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, or flooding. Although not everyone will get sick from toxic mold, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) notes that various people may face physical warnings as soon as there’s exposure to this strain of mold, including respiratory problems, headaches, dizziness, skin rashes, infections, and even asthma.

As soon as this type of mold has flourished, it will be difficult and expensive to get rid of. Firm surfaces can ordinarily be scrubbed using a bleach solution, but carpets, wallboard, cabinets, and furniture with mold growing on them must be completely replaced.

This leads to catching any potential problems early on extremely important. When it comes to mold problems, your first line of defense is your tenant. The best method to conquer mold is to help your tenant understand what they can do to mitigate mildew and mold growth.

Regretfully, mold is tricky and you may not notice the early signs of an issue. This is why every rental home’s routine maintenance should include regular checks for evidence of water damage and mold. If any complications with water leaks, condensation, or flooding are spotted, they should be corrected immediately to downsize the growth of mold. If mold is found in your rental household, the property possesses a significant problem with water or moisture that needs to be addressed. Cleaning the property alone may not be sufficient if the setting that stimulated the mold to progress at the start has not been revised.

When you hire Real Property Management East Valley, you’ll be taking advantage of our many services, including regular evaluations and comprehensive checks designed to catch and identify problem areas before they become catastrophic. Our group of specialists can guide you to prevent the spread of mold and mildew in your Queen Creek rental households, including guaranteeing that you are informed of the risks and remedies involved. Eager in a free assessment? Contact us online or phone us right away at 480-981-7000.

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