When it comes to the air quality of your home and the safety and comfort of your family, you need mold remediation services you can trust. BioClean CT offers air quality testing, mold removal, and emergency water damage cleanup. 

Mold is a furry type of fungus which grows on surfaces in moist conditions or on food or other organic material. Six types of household mold are toxic to humans and pets. It's often seen in colors of gray, black, and green. Sometimes it can be purple, pink, brown, orange, yellow, red, or white, or a combination of colors.

Unlike mold, dust is not an organism. You may have heard that dust is made up of mostly dead skin cells, but that's not true. It's about two-thirds dirt, pollen, and soot brought in from outside. The remaining third consists of carpet lint, pet hair, and clothing fibers. Yes, dust does contain a small number of dead skin cells, but most of that gets washed away by bathing.

What Characteristics Distinguish Mold From Dust?

• One way to distinguish the two is by the smell. Mold has a distinctly unpleasant, musty smell like rotten wood, wet socks, or soggy paper. Dust smells dryer; more earthy like dirt. 
• If you place a few drops of bleach on the dark patch, if the area lightens after a few minutes, it's mold. Otherwise, it's just dust or dirt.
• Dust is unlikely to stick to the bottom of a surface, such as underneath a shelf, since gravity pulls it downward. However, mold loves to grow in these places. 
• Mold doesn't like well-lit areas, and it can't grow without moisture. If the substance in question resides in a dry, sunny area, it's probably not mold but dust or dirt.

How Can Mold and Dust Be Treated and Prevented?

Although you can't remove all of the dust from your home, you can minimize it.

• Use dusters like Swiffer, which trap particles instead of just pushing them around.
• Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
• Replace HVAC filters regularly. 
• Change bedding weekly. 

To treat and prevent mold, you can:

• Dry up any wet spots right away.
• Ensure your home has proper ventilation. Install a dehumidifier to keep moisture down.
• Vent any moisture-producing appliances (like the dryer) to the outside, not to the attic or basement. 
• For non-porous surfaces affected with mold, clean them with a solution of 1-quart water to 1/2 cup bleach. A solution made of one-half vinegar and one-half water can be used on both porous and non-porous surfaces.

Why Should I Call BioClean CT for Mold and Dust Elimination?

Our professionals are experts in removing mold and dust from homes in Westchester County and all of Connecticut. With BioClean CT, we'll not only make the air smell fresh again but ensure it's safe and healthy for your family. Give us a call today.