After water damage, even the best housekeeper in Las Vegas can miss potential mold growth. These airborne spores can flourish on surfaces with adequate moisture and a food source with limited sunlight and ventilation. That means you have a lot of little spaces that could grow. We at Design Builders have a list of five areas to check:
Paper files and documents and file folders, even stored in metal file cabinets, can become quite moldy after an indoor flood. Even if the stacks or boxes were never itself wet, the floor beneath can get wet, leading to extensive mold growth. Procedures for cleaning and salvaging moldy books and paper files can be expensive, making it appropriate only in special circumstances: preservation of works of art, valuable books or historic papers.
Not all water damage comes from indoor water. Depending how well a chimney is capped off, rusty flashing might let in a good amount of water from rain and snow. Porous brick crevices collect water, dirt, and other organic debris. Plus, it’s likely leaves and other organic materials create perfect conditions for mold to grow. Use chimney sweep to give your chimney an annual inspection and cleaning.
Again, not all damage comes from a flood of water. Kitchens have an abundance of water vapor. Certain items are more susceptible to mold, such as anything that may be hiding moisture or food. Wooden cutting boards must be kept clean and dry. Your trash can be a breeding ground for mold and mildew, so on occasion, flush the garbage pail out with a hose. Use the bleach solution to scrub the can clean.
The most common water damage problem that leads to mold is a leak under the sink so never ignore unexplained moisture here. Call Design Builders at the first sign of trouble.
Any excess water in the bathroom can quickly lead to mold. The lack of sunlight, poor ventilation and the availability of a food source combine to create an environment of problems. For example, plastic bathroom items like shower mats are really susceptible to mold. Your shower curtain can quickly grow mold, especially if you don’t stretch the curtain out so it can dry properly.
Make sure to frequently wash your bathroom towels and rugs to prevent them from growing mold. Moisture invites mold, so make sure to allow items to dry completely. You may also want to squeegee your shower walls and shower doors to speed up the drying process and prevent mold.
Just as your indoor items are susceptible to mold, your outdoor items (like tablecloths, plastic lawn furniture, and gardening tools) can also be susceptible to mold if they are exposed to water. Sanitize these items by washing them with the bleach and water mixture. For gardening tools or items susceptible to rust, rub a few drops of tea tree oil on the surface after drying to prevent rust.
Excess moisture can damage building materials, ruin finishes and allow mold to flourish. Water damage can occur due to leaking or broken pipes, major storms and flooding, and even malfunctioning appliances like your dishwasher. Design Builders has a team of emergency water damage restoration professionals that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so that we are able to remove the water and dry any affected property as quickly as possible to minimize damage.
Contact us to get your property back to pre-loss condition so you can get back to your life faster.
