Your vicinity is most susceptible to mold if it has damp areas and does not support the conduction of free airflow. Mold, also known as mildew, should be dealt with as soon as they are noticed to prevent a rapid spread to other materials.
Mold can only survive when they encounter favorable conditions. Therefore, getting rid of them is pretty easy. Now, why do you have to get rid of mold, and how can you effectively do this?
Mold can be removed with proper cleaning and sufficient ventilation. Moreover, mold requires moisture to survive. Therefore, once you get rid of all the dampness, they’d have no breeding space. Molds are harmful to both man and animals. As a result, leaving them in your shed can have adverse effects.
The harmfulness of the fungus depends on the health vulnerability of the persons being exposed to it. Some people are severely sensitive to mold, while others won’t even notice its presence. That said, let’s look more into how you can remove mold from your shed and why you should.
How Do I Deal With Mold?
Mold on its own is not dangerous, but they possess potential toxins that can cause severe health issues when released.
Additionally, they can grow on:
- wood
- tiles
- fabric
- plastic
- paint
- dust
They can grow pretty much anywhere where there is a fair amount of moisture within the area so make sure that there isn’t any pooling water where you built or planning on building your shed.
Reactions to mold are sometimes severe. There have been cases of people experiencing skin and eye rashes, endless sneezing, or wheezing on exposure to mold. Asthmatic patients experience more severe reactions to it.
Animals are even more susceptible to mold as their immune systems are not as strong as humans. It is possible to get mold completely off surfaces. However, it sticks harder to some surfaces, and removing them from these surfaces would require extra effort.
As a result, I’ll be giving you a tour of how to remove mold from various surfaces.
How Do I Clear Off Mold From Wood?
Wood is made of organic matter and, as such, is highly susceptible to mildew. Fortunately, you can clean mold on wood with strong detergent or even bleach. You could even use vinegar in some cases.
When you’re using bleach, do not attempt to mix it with any other household detergent. If you do this, you risk releasing and suffering from toxins more harmful than that of mold.
In addition, ensure to dry out the wood immediately after cleaning. You could turn on a fan or air conditioning to hasten the drying process. Notwithstanding, if you can get a dehumidifier, then it’s even better.
Mildew on wood can lead to the appearance of spores. Unfortunately, spores have a threatening effect on both humans and animals. Mildew can also be indirectly responsible for root rot.
Furthermore, mold signifies the presence of moisture on the wood, and wet wood is a stimulant for root rot. Mold can also cause ugly discolorations on your shed’s wood. However, the coloring on its own is not harmful to your animals. Instead, it is what caused the coloration that you must be worried about.
The discoloration is a sign that sooner or later, you would have to get rid of the wood.
It might upset you that you have to dismantle a shed you put so much effort into setting up. Nevertheless, it is either that, or you risk letting mildew slowly infiltrate the atmosphere in your shed, thereby poisoning it.
Sometimes, detergent alone is enough to completely wipe off discoloration from wood affected by mold. This is when the mold has not deeply penetrated the wood. However, it would be best to toss that piece of wood away as soon as you notice any sign of mold.
Molds are pesky and sneaky little fungi. They can trick you into believing that you have excavated them entirely with your detergent, only to come back later on with renewed vigor. As a result, you will eventually have to cast it off later.
So, why not save yourself the procrastinated stress and get rid of it now.
What Do I Do To Mold on Metal?
Metal sheds are better for storage than they are for housing animals. If not for anything, the heat alone inconveniences them, except, of course, if you’re living in cooler zones.
Metal sheds are relatively cheaper and are valued above their wooden counterparts for this reason. However, all metal sheds need to be padded by a substantial base. Tile slabs or concrete are excellent choices to use as a base for the shed.
Bases can serve as the foundation and also provide stability for the shed. Also, carpets are not excellent choices to use as ground cover in a shed. They can serve as a hiding ground for the fungal fellows.
As we all know, the presence of moisture on metal for a prolonged period invites organisms responsible for the rusting of metal. It’s simple physics;
Mould=moisture
Moisture + steel + substantial amount of oxygen = rust
Mold pollutes the atmosphere within the vicinity in which they are found. Therefore, if you’re using the metal shed to house animals, you must be on the lookout for this fungal organism. The reason is that animals can also die from polluting poisoned air.
Even if you’re storing items in them, you are sure to inhale some of the toxins whenever you visit the shed.
Furthermore, if the roof of your shed is leaky, you should patch it up. If it gets easily flooded, dry it out immediately after a flood. You should also provide airways so that the humidity level and ventilation are in the appropriate order.
Gutters can also lead to moisture in and around the shed so if there is any puddling next to the shed because of the gutters washing out the dirt read the following article on how to fix this.
Molds are aggressive reproducers. They propagate by spores. In 24 to 48 hours, a single spore can generate up to an entire colony of fungi. However, metals are a bit resistant to direct mold, so the sneaky fungus improvises. It searches for any form of organic material on the metal and clutches onto it. It can even survive on paint.
Once established, it begins to eat up and digest the organic material till it eventually weakens the base metal. Rust begins to form when the metal begins to break down.
That said, you can remove mold from metal surfaces with a thorough cleaning. Vinegar is a helpful tool to use to this effect. Vinegar is so effective that it can kill up to 85% of the organism and disarm the rest. It can also help to disinfect the vicinity.
No matter how much you want to get rid of mold, never attempt to use bleach in cleaning a metal surface. Just don’t. You’d be shocked at the outcome.
Lastly, keep the shed dust-free at all times. You might be shocked to find that mold can grow even on a thin layer of dust.
Does Mold Affect Plastic Too?
Modern plastic sheds are new and improved. Though a bit more expensive than the others, they are gradually becoming the most popular.
They are made from unbreakable polyethylene resin, and sometimes, metal frames are used to pad up their stability.
Plastic sheds are designed with ventilation to prevent the accumulation of damp air and possible mildew. Moreover, aeration is necessary if you intend to keep mold at bay.
Plastic sheds require a base just like other types of sheds. However, these bases and foundations turn out to be the most likely means through which mold skims its way into the shed.
If the plastic shed is shut airtight at all times, the air within it becomes a breeding ground for fungus. Unfortunately, in no time, this gets it intoxicated.
Fortunately, you can get rid of mold in a plastic shed with a dehumidifier. Adequate aeration helps to reduce dampness, and without damp air, mildew is most likely to fade out or go dormant.
Can Animals Spread Mold?
Animals can also be carriers of mold, especially animals with fur. Mold can cling to your pets when they go outside. These same pests will transfer the fungi to other surfaces inside. If mold finds the vicinity conducive, it will spread out vigorously like a pack of ants.
Stray cats are the leading carriers of mold. Also, dogs, horses, rabbits, and other furry animals carry various forms of mold on them as they go about. If left to live with these organisms, the animal would develop health complications.
Removing mold from your animal’s fur will require a little effort on your part. First of all, you have to shave the animal’s fur. And I don’t mean a light shave; you have to give it a maximum cut to completely pull out the mildew.
After this, you have to give the plant a thorough bath with an antifungal shampoo. Endeavor to wash any clothes, blankets, bed cover, or any other fabric that the animal uses.
Doing this could help to disinfect the materials so that the animal does not get reinfected in no time, thereby laying all your effort to waste.
Imagine shaving all your cat’s fur in an attempt to cure it of mold, only for it to get reinfected because you were not careful enough. Oh, the stares it would give you.