If you decide to tackle this monster on your own to save a couple of bucks, you’re in luck; there are ways to rid your home of the mold. Just make sure you know it’s safe to proceed. If the mold is confined to a surface area of no more than 10 square feet (about 3-feet-by-3-feet), the EPA suggests you can remove it yourself by scrubbing hard surfaces with detergent and water, then drying.

Bathroom Mold Removal

Begin this adventure with the proper gear. Make sure to cover your mouth and nose with a safety mask. Be able to wear latex gloves, because like stated before, mold can cause serious health issues. Bathrooms are one of the most popular places to find that mold. It’s constantly exposed to warmth and water on a daily bases. Tile grout is a fashionable place for this pest to live. It provides cracks and crevices for the mold to grow in strength, while germs accumulate on the service daily. Use chlorine bleach mixed with water, a 50/50 solution ($2.69). Spray on tile walls or floor grout and mold should disappear quite quickly, but only with constant care. Since your bathroom is constantly being exposed to high humidity and water, be sure to wipe down your tile walls and shower doors after every visit. This will keep the water from sitting on the surface for a long period of time. If your bathroom has a window, be sure to crack it while showering or leave your door open so heat has somewhere to travel. Keeping your surfaces free of water, heat and germs will guarantee your bathroom’s a little prettier next time. Estimated Cost- $2.69

Drywall Mold Removal

Drywall can be tricky when dealing with mold. If the infected area is less than 10 square feet, you can tackle this problem yourself. Some supplies you will need are an x-acto knife ($4), sand paper (2$), scrub brush($4.99), scrap rags, drywall patch kit ($10) and a mold cleaner that can be picked up at any utility or hardware store ($3.99). You will need to cut out the drywall that has been infected. Be sure to add a couple inches outside the mold to make sure any spores aren’t left behind. Once the wall is removed make sure to sand any studs surrounding the wall since the spores could have easily spread to the posts. Spray your mold cleaner on the posts so the liquid can penetrate the wood while killing any infection that may be left. Once the area is dry, you can now use your patch kit to repair the wall. Unfortunately if the mold has traveled more than 10 square feet you will have to have a specialist take care of the mildew.Estimated cost- $24.98

Mold Removal Upholstery

Many homes in warm climate naturally have a higher humidity in their homes. This can lead to your homes furniture carrying mold spores. Since upholstery is very porous this provides an ideal home for mold growth. Make sure that any fabrics that become wet are dried quickly with fans and blow dryers. If you are able to remove the fabric and place it in a dryer, this will provide the quickest drying method. Air conditioning can help as it tends to dry out your homes air. If you are not able to remove the fabric, make sure to take the furniture outside since mold is so easily spread to other objects. Vacuum up any noticeable mold on the outside and be sure to dispose of the vacuum bag immediately. Apply mild soap to a rag with minimal water and massage into infected area, wipe dry. You may use a rubbing alcohol water mixture as well ($1.99). A 50/50 solution should help kill and dry out the mold a little quicker. Keep the object outside as long as possible so it can dry out. If a mildew smell is still existent there are many aerosol solutions that can tackle those smells ($5.99). If the mold has spread too far into the fabric or furniture you may have to dispose of the object or have a professional take a look. Estimated cost- $7.98

Attic Mold Removal

This type of mold might be a little harder to find and is easier to prevent than to fix. Most people don’t make a daily trip to their attics. It is used as a storage room for many homeowners in which you should make sure your property isn’t being damage from this mildew. Mold thrives in dark places, and nothing is darker then this storage area. The first thing you should notice is your home ceilings. If there is any water damage to them, there is most likely water coming from your roof, which in turn is coming from your attic. Make sure your insulation is up to date as well as your ventilation system. Attic fans can run anywhere from $60-$300 dollars. Keeping the attic dry is crucial. Since summer time can cause high humidity make sure to take that ladder out once and awhile to make sure your attic is keeping nice and dry. If you do find mold, it would be in a homeowner’s best interest to have a professional inspect it. You never know what type of mold it is or how long it has been growing. Once mold has started to grow in large scale so do the costs. Estimated cost- $60-$300