One of the most frequently asked questions I get when I am on a consultation call with someone who is determining what mold contaminated items can be saved is “does sunlight kill mold?” The reasoning behind the question typically stems from the logic that you don’t see outdoor mold growing out of control everywhere so something must be preventing it from growing or slowing the rate of growth. We know that mold typically needs moisture or another food source to grow. We know it needs oxygen. ... continue reading...

Ultraviolet lights and lamps have long been marketed as the best way to kill mold. Plug a UV light in and like magic your mold problems disappear. But do they really? Before you dive into this article, I suggest you read another recently published article on whether or not sunlight kills mold. This will give you a better understanding of UV light in general and there are several references to that article here. What Is UV Light? Ultraviolet light (UV) is the part of the electromagnetic ... continue reading...

Three little words – Old House Smell. Instantly you knew exactly what that is. Or do you? I think we can all agree that this is not a pleasant odor and it certainly is one that no one really wants in their home. But what actually causes old house smell and how can you get rid of it? What Is Old House Smell? Old house smell is that cross between musty and sour with a side dish of “something is off.” Like I said above, when you smell it you know exactly what it is. The majority of the ... continue reading...

You aren’t sure but you think you might have a mold issue somewhere in your home. The problem is, there is no visible mold. You don’t even have shower mold or toilet mold for that matter. So what might be going on? When you suspect mold it very well might be that you have mold inside your walls. Mold in walls is something that is more common than you think for a variety of reasons. Let’s take a look at how to find mold in walls as well the best mold removal options. Signs Of Mold ... continue reading...

Which is the best laundry detergent to remove mold? There are only a handful of laundry detergents or laundry additives that can remove mold effectively although many claim to do so. Mold or fungi are extremely resilient microbes and it takes certain antimicrobial activity and laundry soap or surfactant to capitalize on the washing machine mechanics to remove the mold from deep in the fibers in the fabric.  These detergents can become expensive on a per load basis. If you or ... continue reading...

One of my favorite things to do is prove or disprove a product’s ability to “kill” mold. So many types of mold cleaners and mold removers make bold claims about their ability to kill mold and the reality is very few truly possess this superpower. Lysol is one of those products that seems to have been around forever. “Spray some Lysol on it” seemed to be a very common phrase that came out of every mother’s mouth multiple times per day. Fast forward many years and the Lysol brand comprises over ... continue reading...