Q. Featured Question: I have noticed a small amount of mold around my window sill... What should I do?

A. Minor Mold found in your bathroom and around window sills is common in most West Coast homes.

In most cases just wiping it down or scrubbing it with bleach and water does the trick. One thing to be aware of though - bleach is quickly consumed or inactivated by organic material, thus it loses its effectiveness very quickly.

If you are going to wipe down or scrub an area, use paper towel so that you can dip into the cleaning solution, take a couple of swipes and then discard them. If you re-dip them in the cleaning solution, you will spread the spores to new surfaces.

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Q. During the last rainstorm we noticed a bit of rain in our finished basement. How long will it take mold to develop?

A. Mold can begin to develop under some conditions within 24 to 48 hours. It thrives on organic material such as wood and paper products. A perfect source for food is the unpainted backside of drywall.

As soon as you discover a water intrusion or pipe leak within you home you should have it dealt with IMMEDIATELY.