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water leak damaged homes - the restoration




water leak damaged homes - the restoration


by Paul Burton


Small Specks of Dirt...That Aren't Really Dirt

Mold is very often confused with plain old dirt. It is often seen in small specks or tiny patches, scattered in the usual areas that you'd find dirt. The window sills, walls, baseboards, and molding are all common areas to find these spots of brown or black.

The quickest way to tell the difference in dirt and mold is the wipe test: Use your usual cleaning product - or even a clean dry rag - to try to remove the "dirt." If those spots stay put, even with a bit of effort on your part, you are probably dealing with mold rather than dirt.

If you're unable to remove the spots, it is best to call in a professional mold remediation team. If mold is not removed in its entirety, there may be enough mold spores left behind for it to grow back, starting the whole cycle over again. Complete removal may require paint removal and repainting, but it is well worth it to make sure the mold won't return.

Permanent Water Spots

Homeowners are often first alerted to water damage when they see water stains in the home. The ceiling is a common area for this type of water damage to appear, but water spots may also appear on the walls or in less visible areas, for example under pipes. Those water spots are often an indicator that mold may be hiding away, just out of sight.

Moisture and mold tend to go together, so whenever you've got even minor water damage it's smart to check for mold as well. Removing the mold is a multi-step process. The source of the water damage must be discovered and corrected first. Once it is resolved, the danger of continued leaks is gone so the mold can be removed. 

Many people assume that if they can't smell mold that that it doesn't exist. The stinky type of mold is certainly a problem that needs to be corrected, but as you've learned above it's not the only mold to watch out for. If you notice either of the sneaky signs of mold described above, call a professional from a company like Paradise Cleaning & Restoration for help right away!