You found mold beneath your kitchen sink. How did it get there? And how can you get rid of it? Mold needs three things to survive: moisture, humidity, and something to “eat.” As such, the space beneath your kitchen sink is an ideal environment. Finding mold damage can be a headache. These tips will help you understand what causes it (and how to prevent it moving forward).
Common Causes of Kitchen Sink Mold
As we said, mold needs moisture to grow. It’d be enough to develop mold if you suffered a burst pipe or even a little bit of condensation beneath your kitchen sink. Unfortunately, there are many causes of mold growth beneath kitchen sinks. Here are just a couple:
- Burst pipe
- Leaky pipes/sink
- Cracked water pipes
- Wet rags and/or cleaning sponges
- Loose plumbing joints
Many homeowners leave water-based cleaners beneath their sink. If these fall over, water starts to pool and stain. These spills also lead to unsightly mold growth. It’s a better idea to always store these cleaners on a shelf or in a closet to help prevent mold growth.
Why Mold Likes Your Kitchen Sink
We mentioned earlier that mold needs something to “eat.” In the case of your kitchen sink, this could be wood, paper, and cardboard. Since mold is an airborne contaminant, it can make its way to other parts of your house and eat up drywall and grout – two common materials used in the construction of kitchens.
How to Clean Up Mold
Removing mold from your kitchen sink can be a challenging process. Some of the most common home remedies involve bleach. However, this only treats mold at a surface level instead of at the source. This is because bleach consists of a lot of water, which soaks into the wooden surface and attracts more mold spores.
Other home remedies may include applying tea tree oil or vinegar to the affected area and letting it sit while the natural cleaners work their magic. You may have success using these remedies for small infestations; however, calling a mold damage technician is usually required for more significant problems.
Why Do I Need a Mold Damage Professional?
There are several reasons you need a mold damage professional. First, there are thousands of species of mold. While not all will be present in your kitchen, you need a professional to determine which type you have so they know what products to use. Second, a mold remediation company will kill mold at the source, so it doesn’t have a chance of growing back.
Another big reason you need to hire a mold restoration company is that they have tools and equipment to treat mold that you might not possess. A big part of the mold remediation process is drying out the area. The pros will usually use a dehumidifier to grab any excess moisture from the air to make sure mold can’t continue to grow.
Furthermore, homeowners simply may not have the time necessary to dedicate to cleaning up kitchen sink mold. Regardless of the reason, there are many benefits of hiring a professional to mitigate the mold damage.
Symptoms of Mold
In some cases, you might not realize you have mold beneath your kitchen sink – especially if you’re not checking it often. People discover mold by its foul, musky odor. Furthermore, some homeowners and residents may suffer allergies or have difficulty sleeping at night – two more common signs of mold growth. If you start sneezing or coughing every time you walk into your house or a particular room, it may signify mold growth.
Mold beneath a kitchen sink can lead to stains and unsightly black or white spots or blemishes.
How to Prevent Mold
The easiest way to prevent mold is to clean up spills as soon as they happen. The longer water sits, the easier it is for mold to grow. The same applies to plumbing issues. Handle burst pipes right away and clean up the mess. If you spot mold beneath your kitchen sink, use a natural cleaner to get rid of it, then call a mold removal company to treat it and kill it at the source.
Call PNW Restoration to Treat Your Kitchen Sink Mold Today
If you have mold inside your home, don’t delay. Call the mold damage repair professionals at PNW Restoration for an appointment. We have years of experience removing mold from homes around Portland, Oregon.
Mold can wreak havoc on your home and lead to costly repairs and damage. With a call to PNW Restoration, we won’t let it get that far. Call us today at 971-247-3470 to get started.
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