Water Damage Repair and Mold Removal Services

Scottsdale — It might start with a couple of dark spots on the grout where the shower stall
meets the tiled wall. A few days later, the spots multiply.

Mildew.

“For most people, it’s just kind of an ugly pain. Their bathroom gets these black stains,”

For others, though, “It’s an allergen, like cat hair, dog hair.” If it’s not removed,
it can result in respiratory problems or other allergy symptoms, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.

Mold and mildew, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency calls “mold in early stage,” can
grow on a wide range of surfaces as long as moisture is present, and they can give your house a
musty smell.

“Molds can gradually destroy the things they grow on,” the Environmental Protection Agency says
in a pamphlet for consumers on its website. “You can prevent damage to your home and furnishings,
save money and avoid potential health problems by controlling moisture and eliminating mold
growth.”

It’s important to do both — control the moisture and clean up the mold — to keep it from growing
back, the EPA says.

Cleaning large areas — more than 10 square feet, the EPA says — might require a contractor
trained in mold removal. For smaller areas, it can be a do-it-yourself job.

Frequently, the bathroom is the first place in which people notice mildew.

“A lot of people take a shower, get out of the shower” and go on their way. “
Basically, they’ve left all this water on the walls and floor of the shower and — surprise,
surprise — the bathroom is damp and you find mildew growing on the grout.”

Often, condensation — not a leak — is the source of the moisture.

“The bathroom fan is a big part of keeping the moisture level down in the bathroom,” he said. “
If there isn’t one, put one in. If there’s a small one, put in a bigger one or use it more.”

Opening the bathroom window also helps, as does more frequent cleaning, according to the
EPA.

They also suggests using a squeegee to wipe down the shower walls.

There are many products available for cleaning mildew and mold, but homeowners also can mix
their own. A bleach solution that the CDC says should be “no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon
of water” can be used to clean and kill mildew.

“For the typical homeowner, they would scrub it down really well with bleach water and then they
should seal the grout, seal it once a year or so to keep it watertight.”

Wear protective gloves while cleaning. The CDC also recommends protective eyewear.

If you can’t get rid of the mildew with bleach, you might have to dig out the grout and replace
it.

For those looking for an environmentally friendlier alternative to bleach, one of
the products that mold experts recommend is Concrobium, which can also be used as a fog if a whole
room is affected.

If you need any help or would like us to take a look for you view our mold testing page.