Garage Door Mold and Spore Removal and Prevention

There is no doubt that your garage is an area of your home that you need to work to maintain. Even if you may not spend a lot of time in your garage, the items you store there are subject to the condition of the garage around-the-clock. This means that heat, humidity, and moisture that may build up may cause problems with your storage items or other objects housed in your garage.

Mold is one of the biggest problems homeowners face when trying to maintain and keep their garages clean. Because garages tend to be dark, humid, and have little airflow, they have the perfect conditions for mold to grow freely and spores to disperse into the air. Mold of any kind can be harmful to families, especially those that have young children or pets living in their home. Mold issues should be taken seriously when first noticed and should also be prevented, if possible.

If you are currently experiencing an overgrowth of mold in your garage or are concerned about mold appearing at some point in time, there are several things you can do to help control the problem. Read the following suggestions listed below to help you both safely remove any mold that may have already grown, as well as prevent mold from growing or coming back in the first place.

Mold and Spore Prevention

Proper Ventilation

One of the main reasons why garages will grow mold is because they do not receive proper ventilation or airflow. Garages tend to be without windows or air vents, which can make them extremely warm, especially in the summer months. To prevent mold, you will want to keep any windows in your garage open, if and when possible. Leaving the garage door itself open a couple of inches can also help with airflow and mold prevention. You may also consider placing or purchasing fans for your garage to help with the cooling and moisture control process.

Replace Cardboard with Plastic

Any cardboard storage boxes that you have in your garage should be replaced with plastic bins. Cardboard holds onto moisture, whereas plastic is much more resistant. If you are having a mold issue in your garage, it is possible that the boxes and other materials in your garage are contributing to the problem.

Remove Standing Water and Increase Drainage

Make sure that any standing water in your garage is mopped up. Any leaks should be patched up, as well. Any kind of water present in your garage will increase the moisture in the air and potentially make any mold problems worse. You may also consider installing a drain in your garage depending on whether or not standing water or flooding is a problem in your area.

How to Safely Get Rid of Garage Mold

Mold should always be addressed with extreme caution. If you plan on cleaning up any kind of garage mold yourself, you will need to take certain safety measures prior to dealing with or cleaning the mold. Mold can spread easily and unfortunately, homeowners that try to take care of the problem themselves may actually only end up spreading the mold and making the problem worse. If you have any kind of respiratory problems or other health concerns, you should avoid going near the mold at all costs and should hire a professional to clean it instead.

Cleaning Mold

Cleaning mold yourself will require certain steps to make sure you contain the mold and do not contribute to any sort of spread or further contamination. For a quick, DIY solution, you can mix one cup of bleach into a gallon of water. A one-part bleach, 10-part water solution can be an effective way to clean any mold that is present.

You can also purchase specialized mold cleaners that will specifically instruct you on how to place the solution and properly clean up the mold. Typically, no matter what kind of mold killer or other solution you use, you will need to spray the area first and then wait several minutes before wiping away the mold. This pause between the initial spray and the final clean-up allows the solution to soak into the mold and prevents spores from being released during the cleaning process. Depending on the type of cleaner you use, be sure to follow the instructions on the label as closely as possible in order to get rid of the mold for good.

Remember, mold can be extremely dangerous and cause severe illnesses. If you are compromised in any way in terms of your health, cleaning the mold on your own is not worth the risk. Even if you do not have any present health concerns, remember to wear gloves to protect your skin from any mold, as well as a face mask to prevent the inhalation of spores of any kind.

Hire a Professional

Sometimes, you may have no choice but to call in an expert. Professional mold removal services may be the only way to guarantee that the mold in your garage disappears for good. If you have already attempted to clean the mold yourself but find that it is a persisting issue no matter what you try, it is time to call an expert.

Hire a Specialist in Sandy Springs!

Turner Sandy Springs Garage Door, LLC in Sandy Springs, Georgia has the experts you are looking for if you need garage door repairs, replacement parts, installations, or other maintenance requests performed right away. We understand that your garage is an extension to your home and keeping it well-maintained and protected is one of your top priorities. We want to help make sure you receive the best prices for any garage door services you need and will always work within your budget to provide secure and long-lasting garage door repairs. Call Turner Sandy Springs Garage Door, LLC now to hire one of our experts to fix your garage door and address all of your concerns. Call now!