Garage Door Maintenance - Spores

Do you have mold spores growing in your Arvada, CO garage? If you do, get rid of them fast as they are a danger to your health and to the value of your property, too! Mold is not only unsightly, it is downright dangerous! Our goal here at Arvada Garage Door Repair Pros is to alert our readers to this little known problem so that they can avoid the many issues that can arise from having even a tiny bit of mold present. Sickness, permanent injury and even death can occur if exposure is prolonged. Keep reading to see how you can wipe out mold spores at your home or business garage without spending a lot of time or money in the process.

Wait; mold spores in Colorado?

Many mistakenly assume that mold only grows in the hot and more humid parts of the country like South Carolina or Florida. In reality, mold can grow anywhere that there is ongoing moisture and this can certainly include our community here in Arvada, CO! In addition, many think of cold, wet basements or gas station bathrooms as a place where mold can easily grow and be found. These people are always surprised to learn that mold spores can grow and thrive in any part of your home or commercial building, including your garage.

Keeping mold out of your new garage

Are you having your own home built or are you in the process of having it designed? If so, this is a great time to plan for keeping mold spores out of your garage from the get-go! Whether you are acting as your own contractor or are having a local builder do the work, there are steps that you can take now to drastically cut down on the possibility of mold spores growing in your new home’s garage.

Start by using different building materials for your garage. Instead of wood construction for the walls, use vinyl or aluminum siding. Use metal studs and not wooden ones. This is no 100% guarantee that mold spores won’t form or grow in your garage but non-wood material is easier to clean and not so porous and hospitable to mold growth as wood. Be sure to discuss your mold concerns with your contractor, builder or architect and get their input and recommendations, as well.

Bleach alternatives

You don’t have to use bleach; you can also use one part white vinegar to one part water if you like. For an even more powerful cleaning solution, add one tablespoon dishwashing detergent for every quart of the mixture you make.

Denatured alcohol is another effective bleach alternative that we recommend. Use full strength and do not dilute. You can spray it on directly or soak a sponge in the solution and wipe the surface clean. As always, clean the mold spores in your Arvada, CO garage with the door open. You can use a dehumidifier or space heater to remove moisture in cold winter months when the garage door is closed.

Other tips

Water and other moisture can enter your garage in many ways. Sure, a leaky roof can be a culprit, but so can burst water heaters, water softener problems, snow tracked in on tires, and other similar things. Kids and sometimes pets play in garages and often they spill drinks, food, or generally make a mess of things that need to be cleaned up (and dried!).

Rain or water from the sprinkler system can sometimes leak into or under garage doors, too. Bicycles, skateboards and lawn mowers can track mud and moist debris inside garages quite easily. If you store items in your garage be sure to put them into plastic containers that seal tightly and don’t use cardboard boxes. Mold and insects love cardboard and the glue that holds it together. Be especially watchful when storing newspapers, books, old magazines, rags, clothing or other similar material as they are quite porous and hold moisture easily. You can buy strong plastic containers with matching lids at Target, Sears, Home Depot, Lowe’s and other similar stores.