Using Dehumidifier to Control Mold Growth in Your Closet

We came across with one vlog showing her entire closet. It was so beautiful and includes all her important and probably expensive personal belongings such as clothes, shoes, and bags. One thing I noticed in her video is her closet is equipped with an electric dehumidifier. This is a smart way of protecting your personal belongings from mold growth. Your clothes, shoes, and bags might be one of the many important belongings you have, yet some of these personal belongings are also susceptible to mold growth. You don’t want mold to lurk around them, do you? Let’s discuss it here…

How does mold grow on your clothes, shoes, and bags

There could be a lot of factors that contribute to the growth of mold in your closet, but there are two main causes that have to be addressed first when dealing with this issue.

1. Condensation

Condensation is considered as one of the main culprits of mold growth. Condensation happens when the moist air gets contact into a colder surface like wall and window. This moisture can later cause a higher level of humidity making the place more attractive for mold to colonize. And, eventually will spread to your personal belongings.

2. Damp Clothing or Materials

Mold can easily colonize in areas or items that are damp or not properly dried. For instance, your clothing that is not properly dried for more than 24 hours gives chances for mold to lurk around your personal belongings. Hanging your damp clothes in an enclosed room, thinking that hang dry is ok, is another chance for mold to grow.

Prevent Mold in Your Closet

Even your clothes, shoes or bags are not susceptible to mold colonization when they are stored in areas where the humidity level is high or when they are just set damp and wet. Aside from the risks it brings to your health, mold can make your personal belongings irreparable to some extent. Follow some simple tips on how to stop mold to lurk around them.

• Avoid hanging damp clothes in the area where you store your clothes. Keep them completely dry before putting them away.

• Leave spaces between your clothes, shoes, and bags. Leaving space around them can help circulate air. If they are close to each other, it gives more chances for mold to grow and spreading them from one item to another.

• Keep the closet door closed if it is near a room that has high humidity such as a bathroom or laundry room.

• Place items like shoe boxes or storage tubs on wire shelves to avoid trapping moisture underneath these items.

• Remove the air from the closet by removing your personal belongings, then cleaning and drying the room thoroughly.

• Use a low-wattage light bulb to help to eliminate moisture.

USING A DEHUMIDIFIER TO CONTROL MOLD GROWTH

The most effective way of preventing mold growth in your closet or on your personal belongings is controlling the conditions that promote mold growth. Your clothing or items that have materials susceptible to mold growth should be placed in a cool, dry environment with proper ventilation.

Using a dehumidifier is a good tool in reducing humidity. An electric dehumidifier removes excess moisture in the air, keeping your room dry and cool. The recommended relative humidity of your closet must be below 50 percent to avoid mold growth. If the humidity of your closet is higher than that, then you need a dehumidifier.

This is an optional case. However, a dehumidifier is a good investment if you want to keep your personal belongings in good shape.

The Danger and Causes of Sewer Backups

One of the most challenging and dangerous clean-up processes of any water damage restoration companies is sewer water damage. It requires proper and thorough cleaning; making sure that everything that has contact with the water is cleaned, sanitized and disinfected more than once. For some companies, porous materials such as walls, floors, subfloors, carpets, and cabinet that touched the water have to be disposed. Proper disposal of those affected materials is needed to avoid biohazard situations.


The Danger of Sewage Water

Sewage contains contaminated water that carries bacteria, virus, and pathogens. This type of water is categorized under the 3rd category. Category 3 is considered as the dirtiest type of water damage that can carry different kinds of illnesses to those who had contacted it or were exposed to it. The worse scenario is those who had contacted with the water might be put into a critical situation.

Here is the type of bacteria that are present in sewage and what can they do to harm your body;

• E. Coli – Causes abdominal cramping, diarrhea and occasionally death.
• Acanthomoeba – Causes eye, nose, throat and ear infections.
• Salmonella – Causes abdominal cramping and diarrhea
• Heliobacter Pylpri – Leads to an increased chance of ulcers
• Hepatitis – Causes liver infection and liver failure
• Leptospirosis – Creates muscle aches and vomiting

It is highly recommended that you should never get in contact with the sewage water to avoid acquiring serious illnesses. Call a professional for clean up services.

What Causes Sewer Backups?

There could be a number of reasons that causes sewer backups. The most common one is the obstructions in the sewer line. This happens due to improper flushing of products that claim to be flushable such as wipes and sanitary napkins. Hair, grease and other items that cannot be broken down can also add up to the cause of sewer backups. What else can be the reason for sewer backups?

• Tree roots that grow into pipes and create holes or cracks.
• Broken or collapsed sewer lines due to deterioration and age
• Problems with municipal sewer such as blockages and deterioration.

With proper usage and regular maintenance, sewer backups can be prevented. However, there are some causes that might be uncontrollable, thus a professional help is really needed.

What To Do If A Sewer Backups

In some cases, a pipe can burst outside. Though there could still be bacteria or viral pathogens present in the sewer lines, it is way better than having the sewer backups through your toilet or other lines inside your home. This type of scenario might seem horrible for you. But don’t worry. There are professionals that can handle this situation.

Once you determined that there is water backup, check your sinks, toilet and other pipelines. You can minimize the backups by turning off your water supply. Moreover, if it is in the toilet, close the door to avoid you from inhaling the pathogens from sewage water. Avoid having contact in contaminated area. If necessary, evacuate your area until a professional fixes the problem.

Leave This Problem To The Professional

When it comes to sewage damage, it is highly recommended to call a professional for sewage cleanup services. They are equipped with state-of-the-art techniques and machines to fully remove sewage water in your home and to make sure that your home is free from any bacteria and viruses. Time is very vital in the process. The longer the sewage sits in the affected areas, the more serious the situation is going to be.

Knowing Flood Risk And Protection

Contrary to the beautiful flowers and warm weather of spring are heavy rains, severe weather, and rapid snowmelt. These all can generate flooding not only in flood zone areas but also in places where you think it is safe. Flooding is such a real culprit to every homeowner as this brings severe damage to your property.

As a homeowner, it is very important that you get information about the weather before it gets worse. You also have to understand what could possibly happen during the time of flooding, the damage that it can bring to your belongings. Be sure to be well prepared to protect you, your family and your property during this season. Take quick action to mitigate further damage.


Know Your Risks

This is the time of the year that flooding is highlighted. Flooding can cause thousands of dollars in damage. Your area might be considered as free flood zone 10 years ago, but it might change over the years due to changes in structure. According to FEMA, the average flood claim from 2006 to 2010 was around $34, 000. That’s quite burdensome for many survivors, especially if the cost for repair and rebuild has to be taken from their own pockets.

It is important that you recheck your home whether it is now in a flood zone or not to take proper precautions before anything worse happens. Moreover, it is wise to understand the flood risks even if you don’t live in a flood zone area. Also, be sure to check the expected flood levels. By this, you will get an idea of what things should be saved before the water rises.


Be Floodsmart-Reduce Your Risk

As mentioned above, you don’t have to live in a flood zone to experience flood damage. Make sure to prepare now. Don’t wait for the things to get worse before you take any actions. Put emergency kit together, have some building supplies to strengthen your home against damage, have a plan in case your family has to evacuate your area, gather important documents or any irreplaceable items in a safe, dry place and most importantly, make sure that your whole family is well informed of what could happen in a flood, what they should do and how to keep safe during flood emergency.


Take Rapid Action To Lessen Damage After A Flood

More severe water damage happens when the mitigation process is delayed. Even when the majority of the water is removed from your home; there is a high possibility of mold growth. The water that soaked into your belongings can cause mold to grow. The quicker you take actions in repairing your property, the lesser that damage would be.

It is recommended that you contact the water removal company to properly assess the damage, remove all the water accurately and to make sure that repair is done accordingly.

Spring brings beauty and warmth after a gloomy winter, yet it also brings notable flooding in many communities. Prepare today to keep your family and your property safe for any unprecedented happenings.

Water Damages Your Furniture

One of the most functional and even valuable items you have in your home is your furniture. And, this can get the hardest hit when water breaks into your house. But, what really happens to your furniture when it gets wet? Can it be salvaged? How’s the process of salvaging furniture water damage? Allow us to give you in-depth information about water damaged furniture and how to deal with this unexpected and terrifying scenario.

Determine the type of water

Before taking any steps in cleaning your furniture, it is best to consider the risk factors present in the water. By that, we can determine the level of pathogens found in the water and what actions should be taken to salvage your furniture. Water damage is divided into three categories.

Category 1 or clean water is the water from leaky faucets or water that overflows from sinks or bathtub. This type of water does not contain any threats to your health.

Category 2 or grey water is the type of water that contains some form of contaminants. It might not be that harmful, but it could lead you to discomfort to the skin when contacted. Water from a toilet bowl, dirty water from washing machine and malfunctioned sump pump are just some of the sources of grey water.

Category 3 or black water is nasty water. It is most contaminated and poses threats to your health. This water comes from outdoor flooding or raw sewage.


If your furniture was damaged due to flood water or sewage back-up, it is less likely or in very rare cases salvageable as it contains contaminants that can be very harmful to your health when contacted. When the furniture is considered really valuable and you want it salvaged, you may call for professional help.

How to clean water damaged furniture

To start with, you need to move your furniture away from the water as quickly as possible. The longer you take action, the greater the damage will be. Upholstered pieces and wood pieces are the two most common type of furniture that gets water damage.


How to clean water damaged upholstery

Cleaning upholstered furniture is a very tricky thing to tackle and in most cases, water damaged upholstery is beyond saving especially when it gets soaked with black water. Furniture that was saturated with grey water requires pressure treated with very high-temperature water that kills any bacteria and other pathogens present. Then, it has to be properly dried. It is recommended to store upholstered furniture in a place where you can set up air movers and dehumidifier. Place the air movers in the position that allows hot air to pass over and through furniture. It is also necessary to include an industrial-strength humidifier in the room to absorb the moisture from wet upholstery.


How to clean water damaged wood furniture

In most cases, wood furniture can be salvaged. However, it needs proper steps of treatment to keep it strong and functional. When the wood furniture experienced severe damage, it has to be stripped down and the pieces should be removed. Make sure to dry out every piece before refinishing it. Loose joints should be glued. When you are experiencing severely damaged pieces, it is better left with professionals as it requires special tools and equipment to be restored. More importantly, they are expert in dealing with this issue and can assure you that they can bring back the beauty of your furniture.