Safe Ways To Remove Mold From Wood

From time to time, even the cleanest and most organized home develops some mold. When you discover small amounts of mold on wood furniture, hardwood floors, wood trim, and even outdoor structures, what are your options to safely remove it? And when do you need to call in professional help?

Beneficial Home Remedies

For smaller areas in the home, try the old-fashioned solutions first. Three that your grandmother would recommend are:

Bleach

Bleach is very effective for killing mold and mildew due to its chemical reactivity with microbes. It works quickly to destroy many pathogens and is inexpensive.

However, bleach can only kill mold on non-porous surfaces, as it does not penetrate porous surfaces so mold roots are left to grow again. It requires some caution, such as latex gloves and good ventilation. Plus, tiny splatters will leave white spots on your clothes if you are sloppy.

Vinegar

Another inexpensive and non-offensive natural fungicide is white vinegar. Super cheap and available, it also kills mold on porous surfaces. You can boost the cleaning power by adding some baking soda.

And thankfully, the pickle smell will dissipate in less than an hour.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Found as a concentrate in the first-aid aisle, a suggested dilution of one cup of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water can treat the mold. Let the H2O2 solution set on the surface for 10 to 15 minutes, and scrub the area to remove all dead mold. Be sure to clean up after your clean up.

Mold Loves Wood!

Since wood is an organic and porous material, microscopic spores have ample opportunity to literally take root and grow. In order to stop the growth cycle, you must 1) address the original moisture/ water problem 2) remove any visible mold and 3) treat the surface so no new spores can sprout.

It’s usually safe to keep using moldy wood once you’ve cleaned it up. Even if a small amount of mold is left in the grain of the wood, it would not usually regrow if moisture in your home is kept low. Painted surfaces have less opportunity for mold than stained finishes, and unfinished wood is the most vulnerable.

Furniture

If you see visible mold on wooden furniture, be proactive about containing the spores before you clean and disinfect. Place plastic bags under the legs for proper disposal of all debris. Use HEPA vacuum the surrounding area once you’ve removed the mold from the wood since some mold spores are stirred up.

After you’ve finished cleaning up the mold problem you might want to coat the wood with a fungicidal sealant or paint so that mold can not regrow.

Floors

If the hardwood floor is properly sealed, you can just wipe it with one of the common cleaning solutions above. However, since the open grain tends to leave imperfectly sealed surfaces, they can absorb moisture. Spot clean a hidden area. If you see the finish change, consult a flooring expert of a professional mold removal company.

Window Sills And Door Jams

Excess moisture around windows and doors can come from either old and poor quality materials OR super energy efficient materials. Both scenarios can allow accumulation of water vapor on the glass to drip and pool onto wood surfaces. To clean moldy wood, wipe or scrub the mold from the surface using a sponge, cloth or scrubbing brush with warm detergent or fungicidal solution. Then be sure the areas are completely dry.  

Be realistic about the options based on the severity of the problem: frequent cleaning/drying,  installing new windows, or replacing rotten wood.

Outdoor Furniture And Structures

The first step to controlling mold is controlling any accumulation of water. Be vigilant about keeping wet cushions off wooden surfaces and be aware of the flat, level surfaces draining toward the center of the deck. Increase both sunlight and airflow by controlling the vegetation around and potted plants on the patio.

Dry out furniture by placing it in direct sunlight when possible. Always store wooden furniture pieces in a dry place during the winter or rainy months. Also, make sure to keep any wooden furniture pieces are properly sealed for outdoor use. Sealer isn’t completely permanent, so put that on your annual chore list.

Hitchcock Clean And Restore

If you discover mold or mildew on wooden surfaces in your home, asses if the water that caused it was a one time spill or the symptom of something more serious. If you are not confident that the moisture is contained, call a mold removal team experienced in damaged wood.

Hitchcock Clean and Restore is a local, family-oriented company providing 24 hour, full-service emergency water damage restoration 365 days a year at (484) 575-4101.

Six Reasons For Having Your HVAC System Cleaned

The saying out of sight out of mind is all too often true when it comes to HVAC systems. Because people rarely see the workings of their HVAC units, they often forget about the importance of having it cleaned and for what reasons they would need to do so. In fact, there are many reasons for why you would need to clean your HVAC system. We have listed several of those main reasons here below. First, however, if you realize you have the need to clean your HVAC system upon reading this, don’t hesitate to contact our cleaning professionals at Hitchcock Restore in the Wyomissing area.

Renovation

If your home has been remodeled – especially if there was asbestos abatement, lead paint removal, or significant dust – your ductwork may need to be cleaned. Ducts should be sealed off during home renovations; but if they weren’t, dangerous dust and debris may become lodged inside the ductwork. This really isn’t something to take your chances on as the fallout from disturbed asbestos and lead can cause serious health issues.

Animals

If there is any evidence of an animal infestation or nesting within your ducts or your HVAC system you will obviously need to have the animals removed and your system cleaned. Again, it is important that you don’t just take your chances on this as animal feces and urine being spread through your home by your ventilation system could prove to be very hazardous.

Illness

If someone in your family is suffering from an unexplained allergy-related illness, and you’ve taken every other possible step to decontaminate your home, you may want to consider having your duct cleaning to see if the HVAC system was the culprit.

Mold

If you detect any mold within or near your ducts then you have a problem that needs to be taken care of. You can detect the mold most obviously by seeing it. However, mold also puts off a musty odor that could tip you off to its presence. If the mold is in your HVAC system it is possible that this musty smell will disperse throughout your home. Thus, a concentrated musty smell may mean you just have mold in a single area of your home, but if you notice a musty smell throughout your whole home, you may be detecting mold spores being by your HVAC system.

Contaminants

If noticeable debris, pet hair, odors, or other contaminants are being released into the room through the ducts after the registers have been cleaned and vacuumed; then the ducts may need to be cleaned.

It’s The Smart Thing To Do

Even if you don’t explicitly notice any of the reasons for cleaning your HVAC system mentioned above, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to clean. Simply due to the gradual course of time, unwanted hazards or objects will build up in your HVAC system, and it’s best to just do the cleaning regularly than to wait until an actual problem develops. For regular HVAC cleaning or to resolve one of the problems mentioned above, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Hitchcock Restore in the Wyomissing area.

3 Truths About Mold Damage & Your Health

Team Hitchcock is well prepared to handle your mold damage cleanup at your Fleetwood-area home or business. In the 1980’s and part of the 1990’s, it was believed that people could potentially get sick from what the World Health Organization termed “Sick Building Syndrome.” Researchers at the time drew a direct correlation between poor indoor air quality in a water-damaged building to people getting sick.

Today, we know more than that. The illness is likely due to mold specifically. Now, not everyone gets sick from mold – and not every mold is toxic. However, according to recent research by the medical community, as many as 25 percent of the population are susceptible to mold illness because of their genetic predisposition. While you may feel just fine and aren’t concerned about a little mold in your home, the mold could be having a very adverse effect on your spouse.

Team Hitchcock wants to share a few truths about how mold could affect your health.

1. Bleach is not an effective mold remediation tool.

Spraying bleach on mold is not a recommended way of dealing with the problem. You cannot kill mold in that sense because dead mold spores and just as dangerous as life ones. Mold is mold, and can be toxic in both forms. Instead, mold removal experts at Team Hitchcock work to eliminate the source of the mold and return your property to a safe state.

2. Mold illness is a real thing.

Again, not every person is susceptible to mold-related illnesses, but some are, and the effects can be serious. The main mold-related illness is called Chronic Inflammatory Disease, and it is the direct result of exposure to mold spores. Research shows about 25% of people are genetically predisposed to CIRS. Beyond CIRS, mold spores can also trigger asthma flare-ups, rashes, cough, and other physical responses.

3. Mold may exist in area you don’t see, in climates you don’t suspect.

Living in Pennsylvania, we obviously get rainy seasons. That can easily breed mold. However, mold can even grow in dry climates.

Also, while you might see evidence of mold on a basement wall, there could also be mold in places you don’t see. A small leak in a pipe within a wall cavity may have triggered mold growth, or likewise a small leak in the attic during a rainstorm.

If you’ve found mold, don’t stress. There are a lot of factors involved, but there are also proven ways to very effectively fix the problem quickly. It is key if you think there is mold in your home or business that it be addressed by experts. Trying to remediate or remove mold on your own could cause the spores to spread and contaminate other parts of the building, and it’s likely a problem that will not disappear on its own.

Mold removal is very common, and nothing to worry about. They key is to hire an experienced, professional restoration company that carries a strong track record of effective mold removal, like Team Hitchcock.

The Importance of a Professional Duct Cleaning

Amidst all the spring cleaning festivities, or cleaning during any time of the year for that matter, it is easy to overlook certain chores because they seem less important. One of those chores is duct cleaning. It may seem like getting your ducts cleaned is not a big deal; however, it is exactly the opposite. Getting your ducts professionally cleaned every 3 to 5 years is vital to not only the cleanliness of your home, but also to your health. Especially for those with allergies, upon completing a cleaning of a home’s HVAC ductwork can provide an instantaneous and very evident relief.

Here are the top five reasons air ducts should be professionally inspected and serviced every 3 to 5 years:

Allergies.

By properly cleaning their air duct system homeowners protect their families from harmful dust and other contaminants. Air ducts provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, mold, fungi, and other allergens.  Children under the age of four are particularly vulnerable and the result may be allergies or asthma.  Seattle Healthy Projects reports, “New research indicates if children do not come into contact with asthma triggers between birth and four years old they may never develop asthma.” Having your ducts clean will not only significantly better the health of young children, but also people of all ages.

Mold.

Many air duct systems are located in a home’s basement which can easily take on any kind of moisture. This moisture may cause mold and mildew to grow in and around the ductwork.  A professional cleaning company, such as Hitchcock Clean & Restore can not only clean your ducts for you, but also add an anti-microbial into the system after the cleaning to prevent any potential future growth.

Pets.

Animal fur gets trapped in the vents and builds up living germs, fungus, and allergy-causing bacteria. Pet dander will still exist from a previous owner and will cause reactions for people with allergies. The fur and dander can also hinder the efficiency of the HVAC system. Clumps of hair can slow down the airflow for the entire system.

Dust.

New homeowners may do constant dusting only to find the dust back the very next day. The reason is the dust continues to flow through the house and ductwork until it is properly cleaned.  Newly built homes will have drywall dust and construction debris in the ductwork before the owner even moves in.

Efficiency.

Years of dust, hair, pests, and other pollutants in ductwork will hinder an HVAC cleaning system’s airflow.  A proper cleaning will help remove the buildup and promote the proper airflow needed to run the system at peak efficiency. The spiders, insects, and rodents that have been living and dying in ducts for years will be cleaned out as well from a thorough cleaning.

Not only will a regular duct cleaning help to reduce the health issues of anybody who enters your home, but it will also ensure your system is working smoothly and last a long time. Not only does this properly maintain a home, but it keeps the quality of indoor air as pure as possible. Give Hitchcock Clean & Restore a call, we have the proper training and expertise to efficiently and effectively get your ducts in tip-top shape and make home-sweet-home that much sweeter.

Mold Damage Wyomissing

Hitchcock Clean & Restore has the experience and the knowledge to handle every type of mold damage in Wyomissing. Our team will respond quickly to assess the damage and begin restoring our client’s residential, industrial, and commercial properties.

Mold Removal: Preventing Damage

Mold and mildew have been around for decades, but in the last 30 years, their presence has made a big impact in our homes. Here is why:

Mold thrives on moisture and, if left unchecked, mold will consume carpet, wood, food, and even dust. If mold is left to thrive for an extended period of time it can cause structural damage and destroy building materials.

If you suspect that you have mold growing in your home or office contact Hitchcock Clean and Restore as soon as possible.  Our certified professionals can evaluate your situation and create a customized plan that will completely remove any trace of mold or mildew in your home or office.

Why Should You Choose Hitchcock for your Mold Removal Needs?

•      Honesty, trust, ethics: Unlike other mold removal companies, Hitchcock Clean and Restore does not use unethical practices to scare people into using our mold removal services. Our professionals will give you sound, expert advice on the removal of mold in your home or office. After you meet with our mold removal professionals you will have the knowledge you need to make an informed decision.

•      Educated Professionals: When it comes to mold – It’s what you can’t see that can cause you harm. That’s because mold spores are microscopic and can become airborne very easily. Once mold spores are airborne, bad things start to happen. Airborne mold spores are easily inhaled and they can get into your lungs, causing a variety of health risks. Our professionals are educated in finding different types of mold and eradicating them at the source.

•      Safety First: Mold should be handled with care. The professionals at Hitchcock     Clean and Restore know how to safely and successfully remove mold from your home or office so it doesn’t get airborne and spread to other areas of your property.

•      Certified and Insured Technicians: Our certified technicians go through extensive training when it comes to mold damage. You can rest easy with the confidence in knowing that you can trust the team at Hitchcock Clean and Restore and that we know how to safely remove mold with quick efficiency.

Trust Hitchcock Clean and Restore, Berks County’s top choice for mold removal, to safely and completely remove all of the mold and mildew in your home or office! We guarantee our mold removal services 100%!

The Benefits of Commercial Cleaning

There is nothing worse than coming to the end of a long workday to the news that it is your turn to clean the bathroom before you leave. Studies are showing that performance levels are increased in jobs where the employees feel safe and appreciated. One of the best ways to show your employees that you appreciate them is to keep their areas clean. This is why hiring a commercial cleaning company would be beneficial for your business.

Doesn’t Disrupt the Work Day

When an office is dirty, the employees may feel they need to shoulder the responsibility for the cleaning and will use their time during the day to keep things orderly. Though this is beneficial to the office, it may mean that other workday responsibilities go unchecked. Calls might be missed, clients may be ignored, and coworkers might be frustrated as a result. If you have a commercial cleaning service then you avoid these issues altogether. A janitorial company will come when it is convenient for you and will not disrupt the workday for your employees. Instead of employees finding times to tidy up during the day while they should be working, or staying late to clean, they will be able to focus solely on the tasks they were hired to fulfill. This way employees will be much more satisfied with their workday.

Reduce Tension in the Office

Have you ever lived with a dirty roommate? Chore charts, passive aggressive sticky notes, and dumping their dirty laundry on their bed doesn’t seem to sink in. This roommate can be so frustrating that coming home makes you feel depressed. You find yourself making excuses to stay away from home or you have frequent, uncomfortable confrontations with this person. This is what it is like to work with a dirty coworker. This is the worker who lets their lunch explode all over the microwave and the one who makes a complete disaster of the bathroom each day. Each day the tension between the coworkers grows and grows until no one can work well together. If you hire a commercial cleaning company this nightmare will never become a reality.

Impress Clients

People don’t always notice if an area is clean, but they certainly do notice if an area is a wreck. It is so important when you have clients visit your workspace that you have a clean area to welcome them into. Cleanliness says loads about a person and about a company as well. Especially if you are in the business where you have a lot of business related relations with clients or other companies, you should make sure your work area is clean. Not everyone has the same standard of cleanliness, so having an office wide rule that you keep your areas tidy. 

Mold Damage Mohnton

If your property has been affected by mold damage in Mohnton, call Hitchcock Clean and Restore. We provide professional mold removal services to safely and completely remove all of the mold and mildew in your home or office!

Water Damage: Serious Problems Require Professional Solutions

Home water damage can be as simple as a spilled glass of water on the hardwood floor or as complex as a broken sewer main under your foundation. While you may be able to handle a small mess quickly and effectively without needing any special equipment or professional assistance, more severe water damage may be something that you’re not ready to tackle. Realistically assess the situation, your skills, your tools and your available time. Consider the following areas:

Health and Safety

It’s understandable that you want to resolve the mess quickly, but a flooded basement may have floating toxic chemicals or submerged electrical wires. Any “black water” or discharge from sewage systems, broken plumbing, or septic tanks can expose you to harmful bacteria; that dampness can lead to mildew and mold. A flood may have weakened the building’s walls, floors or support structure. Consider requesting another set of expert eyes on your problem– chances are that a water damage restoration team has seen it all!

Equipment

A mop and bucket are of limited help when you’re looking at flooding or other serious water damage. A submersible pump can do in a matter of minutes what it might take you all day to accomplish. High-efficiency blowers and industrial fans dry the area much more quickly than the simple box fan you own. Could you benefit from industrial equipment such as a trailer mounted dehumidifiers, gale force air movers, and additional industrial-sized generators? Few homeowners have access to portable air scrubbers to control mold.  Using specialized equipment such as negative air machines and portable heaters will help you lessen damage and get you back to your space quickly. A professional cleanup service has the equipment needed to resolve the problem quickly and thoroughly.

Details

People often miss details while they’re slogging through the water. Would you like to lean on another professional to keep the restoration project moving steadily forward? Clothes, keepsakes, or other papers left in dressers, or stashed inside of storage bins can easily be overlooked. Those items can retain water, grow mold, and cause more problems later. A professional company will have processes and equipment to detect water damage that might be missed by a casual inspection. Relying on a professional could definitely save you money in the long run.

Hitchcock Clean and Restore

When you engage Hitchcock, the whole team will coordinate and manage your water damage. The knowledgeable phone team will assess your situation and activate the resources. Experienced estimators will promptly respond to your call and provide detailed costs for cleaning, restoration and/or replacement. Project managers will take care of any cleaning, restoration and replacement needs, bringing your property (and life) back to a pre-damaged condition as soon as possible and save your home from dangerous hazards with safety regulated sewage backup cleanup services.

When it comes to cleaning and restoration, your home and family deserve more than just professional services; you deserve an honest company that prides itself on strong ethics and employees you can trust!  Hitchcock Clean and Restore is a local, family-oriented company providing 24-hour, full-service emergency water damage restoration 365 days a year at (484) 575-4101. Berks County’s #1 rated emergency water damage restoration company is certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICR)  to provide water damage cleanup services.

Duct Cleaning

What’s in the air YOU breathe?

As time goes by the ductwork in your home or office can accumulate a shocking amount of debris. Even with a filter in place, the debris will eventually be recirculated right back into the air you breathe. Without a professional duct cleaning, a variety of pollutants can reside in your air duct system. The types of pollutants that your air duct system can accumulate include, but are not limited to:

• Chemicals
• Dander
• Dust
• Mold
• Pollen
• Smoke

All of the pollutants mentioned above can reduce the quality of the air you breathe, making your allergies more severe, and in some cases can cause respiratory health problems for the elderly and the young.

Breathe Easier Tomorrow!

The air duct cleaning services we provide at Hitchcock Clean and Restore can help improve the air quality of your home or office. Our trained and skilled air duct cleaning professionals can rapidly and effectively remove any and all of the dust and debris that is occupying your ventilation system. Leaving your air ducts clear, clean and in better working order.

The process we use is a forward and reverse skipper and power brushing. Our air duct cleaning services make a noticeable difference!

Cleaning for Health

Sick building syndrome (SBS) emerged as a health problem when building owners started to reduce ventilation in an effort to save on heating and cooling bills. An unintentional side effect was an accumulation of contaminants in high traffic areas indoors. This build up affects the health of those who live or work in the building.

SBS is a collection of symptoms such as burning eyes, nose, and throat. Sinusitis, dry skin, nausea, headaches, fatigue, and mental confusion are also SBS symptoms that are sometimes misdiagnosed.

The EPA has tested Indoor Air Quality nationwide and reports it is up to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air.