The basement is the area of your home which more than any other is prone to having mold or mildew show up uninvited. The typical basement provides mold with a nearly ideal situation: dimly lit, slightly damp and little to no air circulation. Most basements offer conditions which any fungus loves. This makes basement mold removal one of the more challenging mold removal tasks – even if you manage to eliminate the mold, you’ll need to keep an eye on potential problem areas in your basement to stop any future growth before it gets established. There are also a few preventative measures which can make your basement somewhat less attractive to these fungal nuisances.

Basements and mold are nearly synonymous; why, you may ask, is a mold free basement so important? Two reasons: First, if allowed to spread unchecked, mold can cause structural damage through dry rot over time. Second, some strains are toxic to humans and cause health problems which range from the extremely mild (runny nose) to the very severe (kidney damage, infertility). There have been a handful of fatalities from toxic mold as well, though it should be noted that these victims were people with severely compromised or undeveloped immune systems. However, even healthy adults shouldn’t gamble with their health, so if you spot this in your basement, mold removal is in your future.

It’s important to check your basement often to make sure that it hasn’t become host to a serious mold problem. Check along the walls, the ceiling and pay particular attention to any area where dampness has been a problem in the past and to any wooden surfaces (mold will grow nearly anywhere, but tends to favor wood over less porous materials like masonry).

The first step to getting your basement free of mold is to make it an environment which is too dry for mold to grow. Use a dehumidifier to dry your basement and if there are any leaks or drips from pipes or from rainwater leaking in, fix these immediately. If your basement is carpeted, you should consider a different type of flooring. Carpet holds moisture well and can add to the humidity level of your basement; it can also provide a place for mold to grow where it’s likely to go unnoticed for some time.

Once your basement is dry enough to inhibit the growth of mold, you can begin mold removal. You can remove mold from a basement using the same products and techniques as you would elsewhere in the home. Bleach and plain old soap and water are actually among the most effective mold removal methods for eliminating mold which has not spread beyond surface growth. Mold removers which contain mold inhibitors are also a possibility –not all of these products seem to work equally well on every surface, so do a little research before deciding to use one of these to make your basement a healthier, better looking part of your home which is free of the unpleasant look, odor and in the case of black mold, potential illness and permanent damage to your health!