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The current atmosphere in our world has made family unit cleaners harder to discover. Truth be told, in the previous month, my neighborhood store has had zero locally acquired cleaners accessible.

Locally acquired cleaners that sterilize have been tried for a considerable length of time, and they are able to test how well they disinfect in labs. This is the reason they are so elusive at this moment.

CLEANING VS DISINFECTING

There is a distinction between the two. When you are making homemade cleaning solutions at home, you want to come out with something that cleans well. Homemade cleaning solutions lack buffers and stabilizers, so you have to mix things uprightly in order to make something safe for surfaces.

WHAT IS CLEANING?

Cleaning is defined as making free of dirt, marks, or mess, through washing, wiping, or brushing. Homemade cleaning solutions do EXACTLY this. Like homemade Clorox wipes or homemade all-purpose spray. The advantage of this DIY cleaning solutions is affordability, convenience, eliminating unnecessary chemicals, or limiting certain chemicals.

You can see all the advantages of homemade cleaning solutions, but there are some disadvantages. As mentioned above that they lack buffers or stabilizers, so you have to make a mild solution. These types of cleaners mix water with rubbing alcohol so it isn’t as harsh on surfaces. You cannot test disinfecting qualities of homemade solutions because people don’t have access to laboratories in their kitchens nor do they have access to cold and flu strands to test. You can carry out tests on food contamination, but not on viral strands.

With the ongoing global pandemic, we need to discuss disinfecting in length. Let’s go straight into disinfecting.

WHAT IS DISINFECTING?

Let’s go right to the CDC for this definition because they are the governing authority in the United States and we need to follow their guidelines. The CDC says disinfecting” describes a process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects.”

In summary:
Disinfecting does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs.
Disinfecting kills germs on contact after the surface has been cleaned; only works on hard, nonporous surfaces.
Carpets and upholstery and other porous surfaces cannot be sanitized or disinfected with a chemical product.
Disinfecting is temporary!

To learn more about disinfecting, contact Home Plus Restoration, Houston, Texas.

Mold removal could be complicated and difficult to do. How do you get started? And how can you get it done right at a reasonable price? Well, the truth is that mold removal isn’t as complicated as it seems, but working with the right mold professional can guide you through the process at a considerate price.

Here are tips for finding the right pro to get your job done right at super affordable charges:

The price of mold removal depends on the size of the job — Price could be over $1000. However, some mold specialists out there exaggerate the amount of work that needs to be done, hiking the price. If you think a quoted price seems high, we recommend getting multiple quotes for comparison
However, if you get a quote that’s surprisingly low, that’s also a big red flag. Companies that charge low prices don’t usually do a good job.
Mold professionals are licensed and skilled tradesmen, just like a plumber or electrician, so you can expect to pay more for a mold company than a regular handyman. Note that mold professionals have high overhead costs, such as high general liability and workers comp insurance, which also factors into their price.
Do you want to keep things really cheap? Do it yourself! In some cases, minor mold problems in places like a bathroom corner can easily be handled by a handy homeowner with a free weekend afternoon and a few basic supplies from the hardware store.
You don’t need to take a wrecking ball to the entire house at the sight of a little mold. You can lower the price by concentrating just on the area where the mold is visible. For example, mold on drywall in one corner of the room only needs to cut out and replaced in that corner.

What should I expect from a true mold removal professional?

Any mold professional should be able to explain your mold removal project in simple English. If a contractor is unable to explain the basic procedures and phases of mold remediation and mold removal in simple English, then you need to be very careful. If someone tries to make the process complicating and confusing to you, you can simply walk away.

Once in the home, here’s what to expect from a Mold removal expert:

Proper safety gear should be worn when dealing with mold. A high quality, a high filtration face mask is mandatory, as are vinyl or neoprene gloves. A complete PPE (Personal protective equipment) is recommended when using harsh chemicals and for bigger mold remediation projects.
Mold professionals seal off the work area, often using plastic sheeting to prevent mold spores from spreading to other areas of the home.
Mold professionals use expensive, professional equipment such as HEPA air scrubbers, HEPA vacuums, commercial-strength dehumidifiers, and more which regular handymen won’t use.
After a mold is physically removed from its source, the air should be cleaned of airborne mold spores using HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) air scrubbers and air exchange.
Mold professionals usually discard moldy porous building materials such as drywall, insulation, and baseboards.
Mold professionals will use an antimicrobial chemical to clean any remaining mold and mold stains after the demo.
Mold professionals often use a sealer or encapsulant to make the treated areas more resistant to water damage and mold, and also to help with odor control.

Other things you should take into consideration when hiring professional help:

Look out for the experience of the professional. A company that has been in the business for over a decade will be prepared for any situation and will know how to best handle your job.
Sometimes it is necessary to have your HVAC air ducts professionally cleaned since air ducts can collect dust and mold spores.
Some mold remediation companies also do restoration work an example is Home Plus restoration service. Restoration can often cost far more than the remediation depending on the design of the home, building materials used, and many more.

In summary, hiring a mold professional doesn’t have to be as confusing and complex as you may think. We have reliable professionals out there. The trustworthy ones won’t push unnecessary testing, will charge reasonable prices, and are able to clearly explain what work they will be doing, use professional practices and equipment, and have years of working experience.

Looking for a Mold removal specialist in Houston, TX?

Contact Home Plus Restoration today!

We serve Houston and its surrounding areas.

Background

There is more to learn about the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Based on what is currently known about the virus and about similar coronaviruses that cause SARS and MERS, spread from person-to-person occurs frequently among close contacts. This type of transmission occurs through respiratory droplets, but disease transmission via infectious aerosols is currently not certain. Transmission of coronavirus through respiratory droplets is more common compared to the transmission through contaminated objects and surfaces, like doorknobs, countertops, keyboards, toys, etc. Recent studies show that that SARS-CoV-2 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for the prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in community settings.

Purpose

This guideline provides recommendations on the cleaning and disinfection of rooms or areas occupied by those infected with COVID-19. Its purpose is to limit the survival of SARS-CoV-2 in key environments. These recommendations will be updated if additional information is available.

How to Clean and Disinfect

Hard Surfaces

If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water before disinfecting.

For disinfection, the most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective.

Always read and follow the directions on the label to ensure safe and effective use.
Wear skin protection and consider eye protection for potential splash hazards
Ensure adequate ventilation
Don’t use more than the amount recommended on the label
Use water at room temperature for dilution
Avoid mixing chemical products
Label diluted cleaning solutions
Store and use chemicals out of the reach of children and pets

Do not eat, drink, breathe, or inject these products into your body or apply directly to your skin as they can cause severe damages. Do not wipe or bathe pets with these products or any other products that are not approved for animal use.

Soft Surfaces

For soft surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes, evacuate visible contamination if present and clean with recommended cleaning solutions. If the items can be laundered, launder items in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions using the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and then dry items completely.

Otherwise, use products that are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19external icon and that is suitable for porous surfaces.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Hand Hygiene

The risk of exposure to cleaning staff is inherently low. Cleaning staff should wear disposable gloves and gowns for all tasks in the cleaning process, including handling trash.
Gloves and gowns should be compatible with the disinfectant products being used.
Additional PPE might be required based on the cleaning/disinfectant products being used and whether there is a risk of the splash.
Gloves and gowns should be removed carefully to avoid contamination of the wearer and the surrounding area. Ensure you clean your hands after removing gloves.
If gowns are not available, coveralls, aprons, or work uniforms can be worn during cleaning and disinfecting. Reusable (washable) clothing should be laundered afterward. Clean hands after handling dirty laundry.
Gloves should be removed after cleaning a room or area occupied by ill persons. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.
Cleaning staff should immediately report breaches in PPE such as a tear in gloves or any other potential exposures to their supervisor.

If you want to disinfect and clean the community facilities, you can count on Home Plus Restoration for a professional job.

We serve the Houston, Texas, and its surrounding areas.