Understanding how to eliminate mold in a home properly is key to ensuring you're not facing a repeat issue weeks or months later.

Completing a house project on your own can be both rewarding and cost-saving. However, there are times when it is best to call a professional. There are easy ways to clean mold, but if you discover black mold in your home, can you remove it yourself, or should you call some professional help? House Digest spoke exclusively with Michael Rubino, mold and air quality expert, environmental wellness advocate, and founder of HomeCleanse to hear his thoughts on this question.

Whether you can remove the black mold by yourself depends on your situation. Rubino suggests that you start with identifying black mold in your home. "Researchers have identified over 100,000 species of mold so far, and they come in various shapes and colors," Rubino said. "Many species, such as Aspergillus and Chaetomium, can appear black. That said, people talking about 'black mold' typically refer to a species called Stachybotrys chartarum, thanks to the media's focus on this particular growth. Testing is the best way to differentiate between different species of mold because many species can be dark in color." You can use an at-home test to get some results, but you will also want to hire a qualified mold inspector.

"A qualified mold inspector will help narrow down whether that one location is the only source and how intense the growth is and provide recommendations on a plan of action to eliminate the issue," Rubino explained. "They should spend at least a few hours combing through the interior and exterior of the home, using various testing methodologies. Do not settle for a single air test in the center of the room."

Read more here: https://www.housedigest.com/1708146/can-you-clean-black-mold-yourself-call-professional-safety/