Mold of any kind in your home is unsightly and most certainly unwelcome! It is damaging to human health, causing all sorts of allergies, headaches, nausea and sometimes serious illness related to the respiratory tract or the autoimmune system.

Basement mold is one of the most common problems - lets be honest, basements often end up as dumping grounds for disregard pieces of furniture, old carpets and much, much more. They also often become a bit neglected so a problem such as basement mold can be well established before it is detected.

The biggest tell tale sign is the horrid "musty" smell, if you are hit with such a smell when you enter your basement you can be pretty sure you will find mold growth.

So, what should you look for? Well basement mold and mildew will most likely black, white or a sort of blue color and will appear to be like "furry"spots. You are most likely to find them growing on materials composed of protein or cellulose, I suppose you could simply this and say any natural or organic materials for example wood, paper,cardboard, carpet, natural textiles like wool or cotton, leather - this list is endless. It is worth pointing out that it will also take hold in insulation which is made from fibreglass.

How can you remove basement mold?

Like I said earlier mold can be harmful to human health so, before you begin it is vital that you have the correct protective clothing i.e. overalls, goggles, face mask and gloves.

1. First thing you need to do is empty the basement - dispose anything which has mold growth on it. Furniture you may want to put to one side and clean up later (but before returning it to the cleaned up basement) and anything metal may be rusty but should be free from mold.

2. Inspect any exposed wood in the structure of the building such as rafters, if the mold is extreme and has caused a lot of damage it may need to be replaced. If the mold is growing in the insulation this too should be removed and replace once the basement is free of mold and dried out.

3. Now it is time to establish the cause of the mold, mold needs dampness to flourish so have a good look round for signs of leaking pipes, cracks or holes in walls - anything at all which will allow water to get into the basement. If you are at all unsure it is probably wise to have the place inspected by a professional builder or plumber.

4. The next step is the most important have any repairsdone to eliminate the cause of the dampness because until this is completed you can clean all day every day and the mold will just keep coming back!

5. Time to begin cleaning! It is variety of things you can use from commercial mold removers to plain hot soapy water. vinegar, tea tree oil and grapefruit seed oils are also good options. If you are using chemicals make sure the area is well ventilated. If the floor has been carpeted it is probably best to rip it up and dispose of it however, if this is not an option you could try using a mold cleaner and perhaps rent or buy a steam cleaner which will kill off any mold spores.

6. Once the hard work has been finished and the cleaning has been executed the whole area must be thoroughly dried out to prevent the mold returning. The easiest way to achieve this is with a dehumidifier, this will remove all the moisture from the air far more quickly than opening windows or turning on heating.

7. The time has come to get the paint brush out and repaint walls etc. You must be especially careful when returning items to the basement that they are mold free to prevent any chance of recurrence.

8. Take better care of your basement! Be vigilant regarding leaks and use a dehumidifier frequently to prevent the basement mold from returning.