First Response Mould Remediation Guide

Removing any type of mould in the home quickly is crucial for optimal health. Learn how to remove mould with this guide.

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Ottawa Mould
Removal Tips

So you’ve found a mould outbreak in your home. You may not be sure whether it’s black mould, mildew or some other type of mould, but you know that you need to get rid of it. If it is a small spot where mould has formed, you might be able to clean it yourself, but it will need to be done properly to ensure your safety and that the problem doesn’t come back or show up in other places. For the smaller mould remediation jobs, consider this your guide to mould removal so you can deal with small problems before they become to big to handle. If your mould problem has gotten out of hand, then you’re best option is to leave it to the experts, like First Response to do mould cleaning for you.

Mold Being Discovered Underneath Wallpaper
mould in house in kingston ontario

What You’ll Need For Mould Cleaning

In order to safely and properly remove mould from your home. you’ll need the following items:

  • Drywall Saw
  • N95 Respirator
  • Paintbrush
  • Safety Glasses
  • Scrub Brush
  • Wet/Dry Vacuum
  • Utility Knife
  • Window Fan
  • Heavy Duty Garbage Bags
  • Bleach
  • A Heavy-Duty Cleaning Product
  • Painter’s Tape
  • Plastic Sheeting
  • Shellac or Oil-Based Primer
  • Pump Sprayer
  • Duct Tape
  • Dehumidifier

Step 1: Mould Removal Safety Precautions

To keep mould spores from moving elsewhere in the home and making the problem worse, keep these precautions in mind before starting to clean the mould infestation:

  • Wear old clothing that you can wash or throw away once you’re done.
  • Always wear gloves, safety goggles, and an N95 respirator.
  • Set up an old box fan in a nearby window and be sure to seal any openings to keep mould spores from blowing back in.
  • If you are removing mouldy carpeting, be sure to wrap and tape it with plastic sheeting.
  • Double bag any mouldy materials in heavy duty garbage bags.
  • Seal off all doorways and vents with plastic sheeting, and shut off your furnace and air conditioner to keep mould spores from spreading.
  • Keep the vacuum outside of the room when you are using it.
A First Response Cleaning mold removal specialist cleans and removes mold from the walls of an Ottawa home
Dirty Carpet with Mold Stains

Step 2: Remove
Mouldy Carpeting

If you have musty and discoloured carpeting, it is highly likely that mould has taken hold. The carpet will need to be removed and replaced. Run the fan you have placed in the window and then begin cutting six foot by eight foot sections of carpeting around the mouldy area. Then spray the carpeting with a pump sprayer to keep mould spores from becoming airborne as much as possible and then roll the carpeting up. Once rolled, wrap the carpeting with two layers of plastic sheeting and seal it with duct tape.

Step 3: Seal Off The
Mouldy Area

To keep mould spores from spreading to other areas of the room or home, you will need to seal off all of the areas where airborne mould spores can spread. Make sure your air conditioning and furnace are turned off, then seal the vents and doors in the room with plastic sheeting and painter’s tape. It is imperative to make sure this is done carefully and that the seals are air tight so that the only way mould spores can escape is through the fan and out of the house.

Room Covered With Plastic During a Mold Removal Job
Hole in a Wall

Step 4: Open Mouldy Walls

Mould infestations are rarely only on the surface. You will need to check the insulation and framing behind the mouldy drywall. Start by spraying the wall and baseboards with your pump sprayer to reduce airborne mould spores. Then remove the baseboards and trim in the area and dispose of them using a double bagged heavy duty garbage bag. Using a screwdriver, start poking through the mould stained or moisture-bloated dry wall to expose the materials underneath. Be careful while you do this as you will want to avoid any wiring that could be underneath the drywall. If there are any nearby outlets, make sure to turn off the power to them before cutting anything out. Make sure you’re keeping an eye out for mould in the insulation and wood framing.

Step 5: Remove
Mouldy Materials

Once you’ve discovered all of the mouldy materials that need to be removed, it’s time to get rid of them. Start by cutting out all of the mouldy drywall and placing it in a double bagged heavy duty garbage bag. Once all of the mouldy insulation has been exposed, spray it with the pump sprayer, and then pull it out and place it in the garbage bag as well. Be careful when placing objects in the garbage bag to avoid poking holes in it that mould spores can escape from. When a garbage bag is full, roll up the opening and seal it with duct tape. Make sure the seal is air tight.

Mold in Home Insulation
commercial vacuum cleaning

Step 6: Debris Cleanup

Once all of the mouldy drywall and insulation has been removed, it’s time to remove any debris that is left in the area. Using a wet/dry vacuum with a long hose that is run through the window if possible while maintaining the seal, you will vacuum up any small debris that is left in the area. Keeping the tank outside of the window will reduce the spread of spores as you won’t have to move the vacuum through the house to take it outside for cleaning. Once done, clean out the vacuum by replacing the air filter, and washing the tank, hose and attachments with a bleach & water solution.

Step 7: Scrub Mouldy Surfaces

After you’ve cleaned up all of the debris, use your scrub brush with a solution of one liter of water and a half cup of bleach to scrub away any mould spots from the floor, wall and wood framing surfaces where it appears. Keep scrubbing until the signs of mould begin to disappear from the surface. Once that happens, do not rinse the surfaces. The bleach solution should be left on the surfaces to penetrate deeper and kill any mould that is below the surface. If you have decided to keep your trim and cleaned it with the solution instead, set it in direct sunlight to dry.

Cleaner Scrubbing a Wall with a Coarse Brush
Paintbrush in a Paint Tray Full of White Paint

Step 8: Seal The Mouldy Areas

Once the area has been cleaned with the water and bleach solution, place a dehumidifier nearby and leave the area to dry for about 3 days. Check on it daily to make sure there isn’t any new mold growing in the area. If there is, then give it another scrub with the same water and bleach solution used before and start the drying process over again. Continue to do this until no new mold growth is seen after 3 days. Once that is the case, seal the exposed wood surfaces with a shellac or oil-based primer. Once the primer has dried, replace the insulation and drywall, and paint the walls with a latex paint that contains mildewcide to prevent future mould growth.

BONUS Step 9: Cleaning Surface Mould

For mould that is growing on hard surfaces, such as concrete, bathroom tiling or tile grout, the process for mould removal is much more simple. Mix a solution of one liter of water, a half cup of bleach, and a little bit of detergent and scrub the mouldy area with a soft bristle scrub brush. The bleach will kill the mould and keep it from spreading, while the detergent will help to lift any dark spots off of the surface. You should still protect yourself by wearing old clothing with long sleeves and pants, and use rubber gloves, and safety goggles. If the mould spots don’t come off on the first try, apply the cleaning solution again and let it sit for a couple of minutes, and then scrub again. Once the area has dried, apply a grout sealer to keep moisture penetration to a minimum in the future and keep mould from growing back.

Scrubbing Mold off of Bathroom Tiles
home shows presence of mould

Mould Remediation Is Not Easy

If this guide has you thinking that mould removal and remediation is complicated, that is because it is! Making sure that mould is safely removed and taking the necessary steps to prevent it from spreading to other parts of the home or coming back in the same place is a lot of work. If you follow this guide, you should be able to handle smaller mould remediation jobs at home on your own. For those who want to be sure the job is done right, First Response is here for you! Contact us today to see how we can help eliminate mould in your Ottawa home!

First Response Can Test For All Mould Problems

With a wide variety of places where mould that can affect your health can pop up, it’s important to trust a company that can test for, and deal with any and all of them. Major mould remediation is not a DIY job.

First Response Cleaning is Eastern Ontario’s leader in air quality testing and remediation. If you are experiencing any symptoms like the ones described here, then don’t wait. Contact us today to have your air quality tested and cleaned!

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“Timothy B.”

Ryan and his team were excellent to work with. Ryan answered all our questions and concerns with great detail and always had time for us.

Timothy B.

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“Frederic B.”

They were punctual and courteous and patient. We would definitely use this company in the future should need be.

Frederic B.

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“Sue P.”

They were amazing to deal with and professional. We are happy to suggest them to anyone who needs help with mold.

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Julie D.

Ryan was able to address my questions and concerns. It was nice to deal with a business that’s quick to respond and willing to accommodate customer needs.

Julie D.

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Matt P.

Big thank you to Ryan and his team! I hope I never need mold clean up again, but if I do, I’ll be calling First Response!

Matt P.

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Patrick L.

I would recommend them to anybody who is in need of their services. They made a tough time easier to deal with.

Patrick L.

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Our Ontario Indoor Mould Remediation Service Areas

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First Response is Ottawa & Eastern Ontario’s extreme deep cleaning service. We are IICRC and ABRA certified crime scene cleaning specialists and have the experience, expertise and equipment you need.

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