Mold Remediation Tips for Your Garage

It gets easier to prevent mold once you know what makes it thrive: damp, moist, dark environments both inside and outside. It’s an ongoing issue that will require constant maintenance and prevention strategies.

Based on the above conditions, it’s clear to see why garages are ideal places for garages. They are dark and fully exposed to the elements, especially if the garage door is opened and closed often. In some cases, the garage door doesn’t form a tight seal and allows small amounts of water to trickle inside, especially after heavy rain, snow, or floods.

The good news is that you can remove mold growth from your garage, and you can take certain steps to prevent it from becoming a problem in the future.

Scrub the Surfaces with a Mold Remover

Once you have identified mold in your garage, you need to act fast and stop them from spreading. Use a mold remover (a commercial mold remover will do just fine) and scrub off hard surfaces of the garage, such as tiles and window sills.

Porous surfaces, such as carpets and drywalls, need a bit more care and attention. Don’t use commercial detergents to clean these surfaces because they will be damaged. You can use a rag to do the job instead.

Caution: Wear protective gear, such as a face mask, goggles, and gloves when interacting with mold. Scrubbing mold will release harmful spores into the ambient air.

Don’t forget to dry the surfaces once you have scrubbed the mold.

Removing Mold from the Ceiling

Before removing mold from the ceiling, cover everything else with plastic sheets.

Get an anti-fungal cleaner and spray it on the mold. Now wipe away the mold growth and apply a final layer of anti-fungal spray. You’ll have to keep the garage properly ventilated to help the ceiling dry faster.

How to Remove Mold from Concrete Floors

Prepare a bucket of solution by mixing 1 part detergent with 10 parts water to remove mold from the concrete garage floors. Pour this solution on the concrete floor and clean it with a broom. This step will make it easier to remove the mold.

Next, refill the bucket with clean water and mop the area. Allow it to dry and see if mold is still left. You should have removed a decent amount of mold by now. If you still find some remaining, it’s time to bring in the bleach solution.

Mix 1 part bleach with 10 parts water in a bucket. Pour this solution on the affected area and loosen it with a mop. Use a wet/dry vacuum to remove the water as you clean the area. Try not to make the area too wet otherwise, all your work could be undone (moisture is the primary cause of mold).

After you’ve mopped the area, allow it to dry.

If you still find evidence of bleach on the concrete floor, you’ll have to use a stronger bleach solution. This time mix one part bleach with 4 parts water. Repeat the above steps and allow the water to dry.

Determining the Cause of the Mold

Once you have removed the mold, it’s time to find out what caused the growth in the first place. Look for any leaks in walls, ceilings, or cracks in the garage door (that could be leading water inside). If you find a source of water leakage, you’ll have to fix the problem to prevent further mold growth.

The presence of moisture in the garage not only causes mold growth, but can also affect the structural integrity of various objects (such as vehicles).

Dealing with Humidity in the Garage

Does your garage have a humidity problem? One strategy is to bring in box fans into your garage and run them for several days.

If the outdoor humidity is low, you can also open the garage door to allow proper circulation and increase the rate at which water dries.

Pro tip: To protect your garage from moisture, you’ll have weather-seal the garage door. This is a very simple step that involves the use of a weather-stripping seal.

Finally, we recommend calling a water damage restoration company in West LA to inspect any potential leaks in your garage. They often use moisture sensors to detect leaks that may not be obvious at first glance.

When to Call in the Experts

It’s worth noting that not every mold remediation job is a DIY project. As a general rule, if the affected area is bigger than 3 square-feet, it’s time to calling mold remediation professionals in West LA. Contact a professional mold remediation company in West LA if:

• The affected areas are not hard to reach or aren’t easy to clean.
• Mold has made its way into other areas of the house
• You are allergic to mold and it could be dangerous to your health
• There are family members in your home who are prone to health issues due to mold growth

If the mold problem in your garage is a recurring problem or is simply too big for you to handle on your own, 911 Restoration of West LA ensures safe and effective mold remediation services.