Housecleaning can be fun if you’re just dealing with dust and grime. With household cleaners, towels, a broom, a mop, and a vacuum cleaner, you might have a clean house by the end of the day and feel amazing. Housecleaning with mold, however, is an entirely different story. No amount of mopping or vacuuming will help you get rid of mold. If the mold growth covers an area of more than 10 square feet (the size of a bath towel), you should consider calling a mold specialist. Cleaning large areas of mold can can be tricky. Mold spores are airborne and very hard to keep contained. For cleaning small amounts (10 square feet or under), we recommend using a specifically mold or mildew cleaning product. There are several different brands that will work fine at your local Home Depot or Lowe's. BUT WHY SHOULD I CALL MOLD REMEDIATION SPECIALISTS Mold removal professional are trained and equipped to deal with all sorts and sizes of mold growth in the most systematic manner possi...

In a nutshell, winter indoor air is often even more toxic than summer indoor air because there is typically less ventilation from opening windows or doors; very low humidity, which lowers the body's ability to cope with indoor toxins; and more use of appliances that contribute their own toxic by-products into the air. Here is a list of the most commonly cited indoor airborne toxins, courtesy of the Canadian Lung Association : Fumes and gases from wood-burning stoves and fireplaces Tobacco smoke, fumes, by-products Household cleaning products, air fresheners, and scents, including candles and          perfumes Carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides from gas appliances Formaldehyde from pressed wood furnishings and carpeting Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from use of indoor pesticides, home improvement products, and craft glues Radon seeping up from cracks in foundation and walls Mould and mildew growth in damp areas such as ba...

Home is where people spend the majority of their time. Most people occupy their residences for up to 16 hours each day, making a safe environment a priority. When spring mould latches onto indoor surfaces, the surroundings become a breeding ground for all sorts of illnesses that affect breathing. Springtime is an opportune time for moulds to flourish. The last of winter’s snows melt away, and the spring showers add plenty of moisture to the environment. Since mould feeds on both oxygen and moisture-rich spaces, the dampness inside a home makes it a haven for spring mould growth. Thousands of mould varieties grow in the typical Canadian home. Five of the most common indoor molds are Cladosporium (triggers asthmatic symptoms), Penicillium (causes allergies and asthma), Alternaria (causes allergies), Aspergillus (can provoke lung infections) and Stachybotrys (can cause severe breathing complications). Mould spores are microscopic and therefore can be inhaled easily. The health co...

Water leaks in a property need to be fixed as soon as possible, otherwise mould will start growing and turn the property into a fungi nightmare. When property owners deal with a mould problem they might think that a dehumidifier could get rid of the mould. But are dehumidifiers efficient at removing mould? Let's discuss! What is a dehumidifier? Dehumidifiers are portable devices that pull moisture from the air, decreasing the dampness in a room. Ideally, the home should have a relative humidity between 30 and 40%. This improves comfort and decreases health risks. A hygrometer can be used to monitor the humidity in a home. Does a dehumidifier remove mould? Removing ALL mould spores from a home is nearly impossible. Mould stays “dormant” in the air or on surfaces even if there’s no excess moisture to help it grow. If the humidity in a room increases, mould will start growing in patches on walls, clothes, and more. Thus, dehumidifiers do NOT kill mould, but they do help pre...

As our kids (big and small) return back to the hallowed halls of academia, pulling on backpacks and sharpening pencils, the indoor air quality of their learning environment certainly isn’t on their minds. A school both new and old can have harmful indoor air quality that may be affecting your child’s ability to learn as well as their health. Most people know that outdoor air pollution is bad for our health, but in indoor environments, pollutants that affect indoor air quality can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels. Since we all spend nearly 90% of our lives indoors, making sure that the indoor air quality of our schools is beneficial to both our children and their teachers. Poor indoor air quality in school buildings can be caused by many things. Many old schools are plagued by mold growth, which happens when moisture and poor air circulation meet organic materials, like insulation, the grout in bathrooms, or even school books and other paper materials. Mold can be haz...

No matter how much of a clean freak you tend to be, the stenches and odors of everyday life are unavoidable. But don't let that get you down — there's often an easy, homemade way to dispel stink from every area in your home.   Here are 15 smelly issues that may occur in your home and solutions we've used or got from our customers over the years! 1. Stinky trash Wash indoor and outdoor trash cans with hot soapy water to remove smelly bits and debris. Leave a couple of used fabric softener sheets in the bottom of your kitchen trash can and compactor to absorb odors. 2. A burnt-on food spill If food from a casserole dish bubbles over onto the stove top or oven floor, sprinkle salt on the drips to absorb the burned smell (this will also make it easier to clean up later). 3. A musty freezer Place a clean sock filled with dry coffee grounds inside to deodorize this pesky spot in your kitchen. 4. A smelly microwave The awful stench of burnt popcorn seems to hang ...

Some of the most common problems a building inspector might find are the result of amateur renovations. When buying a property that has been renovated the first thing to determine is whether the renovations were done professionally or by an amateur.  If the work was done with permits the vendor will likely provide proof by presenting the building permit or certificate of completion. City Hall also keeps records of all renovation or building permits and copies of these can be obtained. Are all non-permitted renovations problematic? Very often home renovations have been done by the home owner or an amateur contractor without a building permit. Non-permitted renovations mean that no municipal building code inspectors checked the work and some potential, and possibly significant, problems may exist. On the other hand, not all non-permitted renovations are sub-standard. Very often it is the same builders doing permitted and non-permitted work. As home inspectors we find that jobs ...

While the risk of asbestos in home construction has been long recognized and action taken to stop it, a less well-known recent threat is the use of an extremely toxic drywall that was imported from China during the U.S. housing boom of 2004-2007 to satisfy the drywall shortage, and in response to natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. Many thousands of homes in the U.S. have been irreparably damaged by this substance, and the homeowners sickened, leading to extensive lawsuits. Although there was no similar shortage in Canada, the defective drywall found its way into the country through Vancouver and has reportedly spread to the Prairies and eastward to Toronto. By 2009, many homeowners in British Columbia had reported illnesses linked to its use. The full extent of the toxic drywall crisis in Canada has yet to be revealed. The effects of “Chinese drywall” are devastating The devastating effects of this drywall are caused by the toxic sulphide gas it emits. When the gas come...

Each year, Canadians spend millions of dollars on household cleaning products. Even though they are a common sight in homes and properties, most household cleaners and chemicals are dangerously toxic. To avoid serious accidents, any chemical product should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and stored safely, especially if there are children or pets living in the home.  Here are a number of common household chemicals that can cause severe health problems: 1. Antifreeze Swallowing antifreeze (ethylene glycol) may cause damage to the heart, brain, kidney and other internal organs. Inhaling antifreeze is not as dangerous, but may cause dizziness. 2. Bleach Being a strong corrosive substance, bleach can affect the respiratory system if inhaled. Bleach can also irritate or burn the skin and eyes. Ingesting bleach can cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma. Wearing rubber gloves and a dust mask when using bleach is strongly recommended. 3. Drain Clea...

Inspect it All  performs Mould Inspections in Southern Saskatchewan. Contact us for more information It’s a well-known fact that mould tends to grow in homes and especially in the bathroom. The damp and low-light conditions in the bathroom allows mould to thrive if these conditions remain the same. The good news is that controlling the moisture in the bathroom and cleaning it frequently will greatly reduce mould growth. Below are several key tips for preventing and removing bathroom mould. How to prevent mould: Keeping the humidity levels below 55%. Since mould thrives in moist conditions, it’s important to keep humidity under control. Ventilating the bathroom after a shower or bath by turning on a fan or by using the bathroom exhaust fan. Opening a window also helps let steam out. Drying wet surfaces, such as mirror, tiles, glass and walls, using a towel or squeegee, after every shower or bath. Cleaning the bathroom surfaces and items (such as the floor, ceili...

Air conditioning units are prone to water leaks and, consequently, water damage. The good news is that performing several maintenance tasks periodically can help to greatly reduce the risk of water damage.  Here are the most common causes for A/C leaks with tips on how to fix and prevent them without professional help: The drain line is clogged  The drain line is a pipe which collects the condensed water that the A/C unit has produced and transports it outside the house. Sometimes, the drain line gets clogged with algae, dirt, mineral deposits and even mould or mildew, causing water to overflow into the home.  If the drain pipes are clogged, a wet-dry vacuum can be used to suck out the water and debris from the outdoor drain pipe.  To prevent drain lines from clogging, a mix of half warm water, half bleach should be poured into the pipe once every 4 to 6 months. Installing an overflow shut off device on the drain line should be considered. The device auto...

Proper air circulation in a home raises its comfort level substantially and provides a healthier indoor environment. Any form of ventilation, whether it’s opening a window or turning on the ceiling fans, reduces indoor pollutants and maintains the desired levels of humidity and temperature.  Below are a few ideas for proper home ventilation: Windows should be opened in the bathroom when using the shower, in the kitchen when cooking, and in rooms where clothes are hanging out to dry. The doors should be kept closed in these areas to prevent air from escaping. During summer, it’s a good idea to open the windows in the mornings and evenings. When not cooking or using the shower, internal doors should be kept open. This allows for airborne particles to circulate freely, maintaining the same level or air quality in the home. In addition, the doors to closets or wardrobes should be kept shut to prevent air from being trapped in a confined space. Using ceiling fans (clockwi...

It’s never too late to take some extra measures to protect your home, especially those who reside in flood-prone areas. If this is your first spring in a new home, ask around the neighbourhood to find out if the area has ever had issues with flooding during heavy spring rainfalls. Occasionally, improper home maintenance may be the culprit in a basement flood, so take the proper steps to prevent an expensive mess in your home! The first place to start is with your roof and eavestroughs. Take a look at your home’s system and make sure things are functioning as they should. Gutters should be free of debris and correctly connected to downspouts to ensure that water is efficiently flowing from the roof. Also ensure that downspouts are carrying water far enough away from your home (about two metres is a good rule of thumb) and depositing it on a surface that slopes away from your foundation. Check the storm sewers on the street near your home, clearing them of any debris. If you ha...

Imagine you’ve just finished cleaning your home…what does it smell like? Fresh and clean or bleachy and toxic? Did you know that the cleaner your home, the more toxic it may actually be? Harmful chemicals in common household cleaners wreak havoc on your respiratory system and some even contain carcinogens. These chemicals are then washed down your drain and make their way into our ground water, wildlife and eventually back into our homes via the food we consume. Using green cleaning products is the best and safest method to keeping your home safe and allergen-free. What is green cleaning you ask? Green cleaning refers to the practice of using environmentally friendly products and procedures which help preserve human health and environmental quality. Using products with ingredients that are naturally occurring and non-harmful to the environment will go a long way in protecting your loved ones, and also the world we live in. With the increase in awareness of the harmful ingredients i...

The last thing you want to do when you step out of a nice warm shower is dry yourself off with a nasty-smelling towel. The stench can be overwhelming, and it really puts a damper on that “fresh from the shower” feeling. Luckily, this problem is easy to solve! With a few strategic cleaning cycles, the musty stench can be a thing of the past. Here’s how: The Golden Towel Rule: Do not let your towels stay wet! For each of these methods, it’s important that the towels are dried immediately. Set a timer to ensure that your clothes are switched from the washing machine to the dryer promptly. If you line dry, hang the wet towels in a sunny spot until they’re completely dry. Method #1: Vinegar Riding Solo Musty, smelly towels don’t play well with others, so give them their own load. Add one cup of white vinegar to the load – no detergent or fabric softener – and run the washer on the hottest possible setting. The vinegar will kill any lingering bacteria. Then, leave the clothes ...

On average, you spend ⅓ of your life sleeping. That means more than ⅓ of your life is spent in your home. For the health of you and your family, you should consider your home a sanctuary. There are small things you can regularly do that will help to keep you healthy - especially as cold season approaches. Get rid of the allergens, dust, and mold in your house today to keep you and your family healthy throughout flu season. Additionally - keeping your home clean and clutter-free will help you mentally attack the upcoming busy holiday season. Everyone talks about spring cleaning, but all year round cleaning is equally important. Here are the 5 places you should start cleaning today for a happy, healthy family: 1. Duct Cleaning Cleaning out your ducts won’t necessarily improve the dust situation in your house, unless you’ve just done a renovation or you’ve built a new house. But it will improve energy efficiency, improve air quality in certain circumstances, and will improve ai...