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Does Activated Charcoal Really Get Rid of Mold?

A technician from a mold removal company stands by a wall with mold damage.

Mold can be a rather sneaky substance. It can hide in the most unlikely of places, such as behind wallpaper or under the sink. It can also grow in places that might seem more obvious, such as damp basements or water-damaged spaces. In fact, within 24 to 48 hours of water damage, mold can start to grow! When you have mold growing in your house, you want a quick solution to the problem, preferably before you or your family start having health problems due to the mold. Activated charcoal has been praised for its ability to remove mold, but does it actually work?

What is Activated Charcoal?

Chances are, you’ve heard of charcoal before. You might use it for grilling or smoking meat. Activated charcoal is made of the same materials as regular charcoal, but it’s processed at high temperatures to “activate” it. Activated charcoal is used for many different things. One of the most common uses is filtration. It’s used in water filters, and it has medical uses as well. That’s what doctors use to “pump” people’s stomachs when they’ve ingested something poisonous. There are toothpastes with activated charcoal in them, skin treatments, and more. It’s very useful!

Can You Use Activated Charcoal for Mold Removal?

Among the various uses for activated charcoal, there are some who claim that it is an effective measure for mold removal. There is some truth to this, however, using activated charcoal alone will not remove or prevent mold damage. What it will do is remove mycotoxins from the air. Mycotoxins are toxins created by mold and fungus, and they are what makes you sick when you have mold damage in your home. The toxins attach themselves to mold spores, which are released from the mold into the air. Activated charcoal binds itself to those mycotoxins, meaning that while it will not kill mold or slow down the effects of mold damage on your home, it may help prevent or slow the effects of mold sickness. 

How is Activated Charcoal Administered?

When using activated charcoal to kill mycotoxins from mold damage, how should you administer it? Usually, people ingest activated charcoal orally, either through pills or through other methods like mixing it into a drink. Many claim that letting the activated charcoal work through your system will collect mycotoxins and flush them out of your body, much like a detox. However, before ingesting any new supplement, you should always check with a physician. 

What Methods Work Best for Mold Removal?

Unfortunately, mold removal isn’t something you can usually do on your own. It’ll take a specialized team from a mold removal company to get rid of the mold completely. If you have mold damage in your home, you should not attempt to remove it by spraying any chemicals on it, such as bleach. Instead, call a mold removal company right away. They will come out to your home and do an inspection to determine exactly what type of mold you have. The mold removal company will then use specialized equipment to eliminate the mold and sanitize the affected area so that your home is safe and mold-free. 

Does Your Cleveland Home Have Mold Damage?

Americon Restoration has been serving Ohio for over a century and we are experts in mold damage and removal! We know you may have concerns about COVID-19 and we want to assure you that we are doing everything in our power to keep our employees and our customers healthy and safe. Americon Restoration is taking all necessary precautions before entering our customers’ homes and closely following CDC guidelines. We want you and your family to feel safe and stay healthy! Please contact us through our website or by phone at (216) 221-5200.