World Lung Cancer Day
August 1, 2019

Lung cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers worldwide, accounting for nearly one in four deaths from cancer each year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Indoor Environments Division is focused on two important causes of lung cancer that may be present in indoor air: radon and secondhand smoke.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer (after smoking). Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States every year, and approximately 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. The only way to know how much radon may be present in your indoor air is to test for it. (We can test that for you.)

The third-leading cause of lung cancer is secondhand smoke, which is estimated to be responsible for more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in the United States every year. Exposure to secondhand smoke also can have serious consequences for the health of children, including the triggering of asthma attacks.
-from the EPA website

We at Mold and Mildew Solutions are dedicated to maintaining your healthy Indoor Air environment. Give us a call if you have any concerns about what your are breathing. 205-252-9506____ www.Alabamamold.com

Would you believe it?!
What started as a simple family owned business on an ordinary day in June 1984, is 35 years already! When Lee Ramey (the father) started Ramey Cleaning with only $8, a bucket and a squeegee, the mission was simple – we are going to help families in Birmingham maintain a cleaner healthier household through textiles cleaning and restoration.
Today, Ramey Cleaning Ind d/b/a To the Rescue! has become a household name that delivers premium cleaning and restoration solutions. It is truly no wonder that we have made it into the hearts of many families in Birmingham.
Over the decades, we have stayed true to this mission, and chosen the safest and most effective methods that help deliver the results our clients couldn’t have gotten anywhere else. Over the years we have keep an eye on the latest trends and seen which work and which don’t. Sometimes the old fashion way is still the best.
You know all those “impossible” carpet and rug issues? The ones that are usually “irresolvable” and permanent? We many times have the answer! What else would you expect from a company that is always at the cutting edge of the cleaning and restoration industry?
We are that dedicated.
Plus, we have the goods to back this up. All our technicians receive continual training, and most are IICRC Certified. But, even with our expertise, we are committed to continuing education. We never stop learning.
Now Mike Ramey (the son), ((with Candace’s (the daughter) support)), is  carrying on the traditions as a family owned company, we treat all our clients as family. Our staff, most of which have been with us for years, all respect your privacy and your property. We are always careful to keep your precious home pristine, and  in top condition health-wise.
Whether you are calling us for your carpet cleaning, rug cleaning, upholstery and furniture cleaning, or water and flood damage, mold removal, air purifiers, etc., you can be assured that all the products we use have been researched, specific for the task, and EPA registered.
If you find all these mind-blowing, wait until you find out that our prices are reasonable and actually  the best deal for the level of quality that is delivered. Why wouldn’t it be? We aren’t just a cleaning and restoration business. We are family, and we want to say THANK YOU for being part of this modest endeavor.
Avail yourself of the many various services we can provide, since you already trust us, it only makes sense. As customers age, we find that we are working for several generations in the same family. As some move out of our area, we find that occasionally we need more people to know about our great service. So, we are only saying, that if you have a friend, or co-worker that needs our specialized, personalized, friendly services we provide, Don’t Keep Us a Secret!
To the next 35 years!
The Ramey’s
To the Rescue! 205-252-5326

Mysterious Mustiness
 
It’s easy to know where musty or moldy odors are coming from after you have suffered from a water damage, which happens from a broken pipe, overflowing toilet or flooding from rainwater, left the laundry in the washer over a vacation to mention a few.
 
But what do you do when you notice a mysterious “musty” odor in your home? Nothing is broken. There was no big storm. The sump pump is chugging away like normal.
 
Mysterious musty odors can be caused by a variety of situations. Figuring out where they are coming from and remediating them is the challenge.
 
What are some common causes?
 
Crawlspaces- The earth was evaporating moisture up through the ground where your house now sits for millions-billions of years. So, look what you have done… you set your home where the moisture is still wanting to come up! Your foundation has in effect made a funnel that now directs that moisture into your home.  If the water intrusion is minimal, you might not even know it is happening, until your nose knows… detecting that mysterious musty odor. We offer free Crawlspace estimates.
 
Leaky drains are another cause of musty odors. If the leak is very slow, water can drip, drip, drip… and over time cause damage under sinks. You don’t notice it because it’s hidden, and the amount of water is contained in a small area. But you start to notice the smell, that mysterious mustiness that you are determined to eradicate. We offer reasonably priced Moisture Inspections,
 
Severe condensation on windows is easy to see but often homeowners don’t appreciate the damage potential. This odor-causing issue is caused by excessive moisture in the home, especially in the winter when windows draw the moisture onto cold surfaces. The moisture itself isn’t the problem. The problem is when the moisture moves down into the window sills and any natural woodwork or even wall interiors get wet and create that mysterious musty odor.
 
What can you do? Do an inspection. Look at all areas in your home that water can intrude or accumulate. One aid we provide is a book That Lee wrote called “Mold (does not have to be) a Scary Subject” Go to www.freemoldbook.com   for your digital copy, or available on Amazon.
 If you cannot figure it out, Call Us. We  have the equipment to do it right, with moisture meters and special cameras that detect moisture. Be smart. Give us a call. 205-252-9506

 ​How Dangerous is Mold in Your Home?

Everyone wants the safest, healthiest home environment for their families. You would do anything to protect your loved ones from exposure to any substance that could cause them harm.
 
One of those feared substances is “mold” and with what you have seen in the news in recent years, exposure to harmful or “toxic” mold has affected the health of countless people — folks just like you.
 
This brings up the all-important question: Just exactly how dangerous is mold in homes?
 
That’s a tricky question, because there are many types of mold and mold is virtually everywhere. There is probably a little bit in your basement right now. Your shoes when you came home yesterday no doubt brought in a few mold spores. Mold spores can be in breathable space and travel in the air.
 
When you step outside, you are surrounded by mold. There’s nothing you can do about that. The main concern is usually what’s in the home, not outside, although if you are sensitive to mold you should avoid all damp areas that could promote mold growth, inside and out.
 
Some people are affected by even the smallest amounts of mold. They may have nasal issues, watery eyes, coughing and other physical reactions. A smaller segment of the population are very sensitive to exposure to mold, having severe reactions that can be life threatening. Others aren’t affected at all, and can be around and/or exposure to all types of molds with no apparent sensitivities.
 
The CDC has plenty of information for those concerned with mold in homes. One of the issues they raise is keeping moisture out of homes. “Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding,” according to the CDC government website.
 
The issue is twofold if mold is growing in your home. You must clean it up or have it cleaned up, and you must fix the moisture problem. You can do your research on how to fix the problem, but the best solution is, no doubt, getting expert advice from your professional water damage restoration contractor or mold removal or remediation company. Keep your family safe. Call the experts. 205-252-9506 Mold & Mildew Solutions 

HOW TO DETECT BLACK MOLD SMELL EARLY IN YOUR HOME
Black molds love hiding in dark places, away from natural light. This may also be a preservative habit because, not only do they thrive in dark places, they thrive especially more because they are hidden from us. If we can’t see them, can we at least smell them?
Yes, we can!
The first thing to note about the smell is its musty and somewhat earthy tone. It can be a bit choking, as you will feel a level of tightening in your nose when you move near it and accidentally inhale the smell. Sometimes, it may lead to difficulty in breathing, especially when you are exposed to it for a long period of time.
To describe this smell better, it is the smell that greets you when you enter a building that has been waterlogged for a long while. It is also the odor you perceive when you enter an old building that has been long exposed to the rain.
Taking it back into your home, it will be the dank smell you get when furniture upholstery has been wet for a while. It is an indication that mold may have started growing from the inside, feeding on the moldy material. It is anything but fresh.
Speaking about freshness, do you remember the experience you have when you inhale that somewhat earthy smell when you opened your grandma’s old trunk suddenly?
One more example would be the smell you inhale when some food have been left uneaten for a while, exposed to the elements. When you see it, you’ll see mold already growing on it. All these are pointers to the growth of mold in your home.
Because of how black mold loves to grow in dark and hidden places, it can be hard to the pinpoint where exactly in the house the black mold is, just by looking around. A lot of people therefore try following their nose wherever it leads them.
This can be really dangerous, though. When you try searching for the areas where black mold has affected in your home, you are exposing yourself to the risk of breathing too much of it, or worse, even inhaling the dangerous mold spores that are airborne, since they are too small to be seen by just the naked eyes.
Beyond inhaling the mold spores, you also risk getting irritations of the eyes and skin as you scout for the black mold smell. This is due largely to the fact that, since you can smell it, it is because there are a good amount of the mold spores in the air. The longer you expose yourself to them, the more the effect you experience.
It gets worse if you are asthmatic or have a high sensitivity to allergies like this. The safest thing to do is to leave the detection to the professionals who can bring in their equipment to conduct a thorough scanning, which will help you find out the cause of the mold growth, fix it, and prevent it from returning.
At Mold and Mildew Solutions LLC, we believe we are in part what we inhale. That is why we are dedicated to keeping your home safe from black mold and its spores. We will love to work with you in keeping your home mold-free.
 
Contact us today at:
 
Mold and Mildew Solutions LLC
205-252-9506
www.alabamamold.com
 

                                    
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lee R Ramey,
Mold and Mildew Solutions

 
Phone: Lee Ramey  205-252-9506 
Email: lrramey@gmail.com
Local Companies help Hurricane Michael Victims
Emphasizing Safety and Proper Clean-up of Unhealthy Homes 

[Birmingham Al, November 16,2018—] Starting today through the end of 2018, companies Mold and Mildew Solutions and To the Rescue are donating 5% of all proceeds to help with clean-up in the Panhandle area after hurricane Michael.
They are focusing on helping those unfortunate victims clean and sanitize their homes, especially those without insurance or without enough insurance. Since the long-term health of the homeowners and their children can be impacted by improper, or insufficient cleaning and sanitizing, they feel this is one way to make a big impact on the future of the area.
As you may know, the Ramey family and all his crew have volunteered for decades in disaster relief zones. “Here is our opportunity to show that we actually live our principles and convictions and help those we don’t know whom may in dire need of assistance,” says Lee Ramey, A 30-year veteran of cleaning and remediation. “I also have seen victims become victims twice when unscrupulous, uninformed contractors or even well-meaning volunteers do inadequate clean-up procedures, which left  them in a house that makes them sick or worse un-livable if the mold is hidden by painted over the walls or wet or moist cavities of the house.”
Not only are physical supplies being shipped, but also advice and free education, of proper use of personal protection equipment known as PPE. These are dispensed free of charge for volunteers going to the coast.
There’s no use for people with willing hearts to go down there and get themselves hurt, hurt others, do a poor job, or worse, making them no good for anybody else or their family when they get back home. This is why they are here emphasizing safety and personal protection, as well as helping them realize what can be saved, what cannot be saved, and what are the most efficient methods for restoration in a primitive scenario (no electricity, limited water, etc.)
If you or anybody you know in that area needs some education on how to clean up after flood damage, or has water in the house, resulting in water damage and/or mold, please visit the following web pages to learn more.
www.alabamamold.com and www.freemoldbook.com
 For further information, contact Lee R Ramey, CIE, AMRT,MCT,MRT- Mold and Mildew Solutions- 205-252-9506
 

HOW DO I TO KEEP MY ATTIC FREE FROM ATTIC MOLD?
Attics are so useful. Especially in small homes, attics can provide the extra storage needed to keep some items not used often out of the floor space of the house. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Well, not really? Not for attic mold, at least.
As you would have known, mold loves hiding in places that dark and less frequented. Attics fit right into the description. This is why it is important to put up preventive measures to keep mold out of your attic. In case you are facing an attic mold problem right now, you need to pay attention to this even more.
Earlier, we discussed the varying mold smells you may detect in your home, and how important it is for you to detect it in time before it wreaks havoc. We mentioned varying descriptions of mold smells from wet or damp to stale or rotten.
In the case of attics, we mentioned that the smell will neither be wet nor damp. Instead, the smell will be dry. One of the things that may contribute to this is the location of the attic. Since it is nearer the roof of the building, the heat from the sun may work with the moisture present to create a humid environment.
However, since it is rarely frequented, properly aired, and taken care of, it could start giving off a dry and dusty smell. This will be especially true when unused books, cardboard box and other paper items are abandoned there. This condition is very perfect for the growth of attic mold.
So, what can you do to keep your attic free from attic mold? Below are a few important steps you should start taking right away.
 
Step 1 - Clean Your Attic Thoroughly
People underestimate the power of frequently cleaning up even the hidden parts of the house, yet that is an extremely important step in keeping your home free from mold. In fact, all it takes sometimes to purge your attic of attic mold can be nothing more than a sponge and a commercial mold cleaner.
To clean the attic mold effectively, simply apply the cleaner to any mold-laden areas of your attic, and then vigorously wipe the infected areas clean using your sponge. One thing you want to do, though, is to keep the area where you are working properly ventilated. This is because of how potent the fumes and chemicals in a lot of commercial mold cleaners can be.
Depending on how long it will take you to clean up your attic, make sure to pause once in a while to breathe outside. Exposing yourself too much to the fumes and chemicals from these commercial mold cleaners for a long time can be harmful. So, it is highly recommended that you take periodic breaks.
 
Step 2 – Keep Your Attic Well Ventilated
One of the best ways to reduce the amount of moisture in your attic is by making sure it is getting a good amount of fresh air. Ventilation can’t be overemphasized because moisture is one of the root causes of attic mold. Ventilating your attic does not have to cost you a lot of money. Just one or more fans within your attic will get the job done if you are on budget.
 
Step 3 - Get New Storage Containers
Do you use your attic as a storage area? Many homeowners do, and this is fine. The problem is with the storage containers. Most people simply stuff their old things into cardboard boxes and shove it up the attic.
However, containers like cardboard boxes are not suitable for an environment as humid and insulated as the household attics. In such an environment, cardboards, which are highly susceptible to moisture, will yield to the elements and provide a perfect room for attic mold to grow.
To prevent this, you have to upgrade to storage containers that are more durable and suited for that condition. An excellent option would be storage containers made of plastic. Yes, you might have to clean them occasionally. But the little work is nothing compared to the mess their cardboard counterparts can create.
On the cost side of things, they might cost a bit more, but look at the alternatives. First, plastic storage containers are sturdier and more durable, so you can use them for a longer period. Beyond that, they will also save you time, money and energy on attic mold removal in the long run.
 
Step 4 - Patch Any Leakage In Your Roof Securely
We said earlier that moisture is one of the root causes behind the growth of attic mold. Guess where the moisture usually comes from. Exactly! When you detect any leakage in your roof, no matter how small, make sure you get it patched immediately. A patch in time saves you lots of cash in repair later.
When leakages are ignored, the homeowner is setting the right condition for attic mold growth. To keep moisture out, consider the roof boots. They’ve been known to leak after 5 to 7 years.  Make sure you check yours out regularly, at most after a 10 year period.
One way many contractors are now making it last longer is by “double booting” the roof. In the process, they help protect the lower one, giving it more durability. This is why it is important to give your roofing jobs to seasoned and licensed professionals.
Patching a roof requires a lot of skills. You don’t have a business doing it yourself. It is much better you give the job to professionals who are well trained for the job, due to how dangerous the task is. What you could do before the professionals arrive to fix the leakage is to place a large bucket beneath the leaky area. This will prevent wet spots and moisture buildup.
 
Step 5 – Check For Leakage In Your Natural Gas Flue Pipe
Chimneys and gas appliances are great until they start to leak. In case, of a leakage in your chimney or gas appliance, two big problems present themselves immediately.
The first one that a lot of people can guess is that there is a possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning or even a fire outbreak. What most people will not easily suspect is the second one.
In the cold winter months, the leakage presents another problem. Since the underside of the roof sheathing will be cold, naturally the warm moist fumes will be attracted to the cold surface, condensers. This very simple law of biology just created a perfect environment for mold.
So, it is important to make sure there are no leakages in your natural gas flue pipe. If there are, make sure it is fixed immediately. However, it can be tough fishing out the sources of the attic mold yourself. This is understandable.
The most effective way to fix your attic and keep it attic mold-free is to call a professional mold remediation company that is seasoned and experienced to not only fix the problem but find the source and prevent it from returning.
This is why all of us at Mold and Mildew Solutions LLC stay ahead in the industry to keep your home free from mold and safe for your family. We are always ready to fix any mold problem and just one call away whenever you need us. Please, contact us at:
 
Mold and Mildew Solutions LLC
205-252-9506
www.alabamamold.com
PS. Don't forget you can get a copy the book "MOLD (doesn't have to be) a SCARY SUBJECT! from our office when you call.

Emergency Flood damage clean-up basics Part 2


SAFETY
Of course, you can't wait to get back into your home following the disaster. As soon as the water stops rising and it begins to fall, you figure that it is now safe to go in and start evaluating the damage. Not so fast! There are plenty of hidden dangers that have to be thought out before entering your home. Don't become a statistic by coming back home too soon!
Check the Exterior of Your Home
Do a visual walk around your home to see if there are any downed power lines, or electrical connections that may be in contact with the water. Smell the air around you. Is there a smell of gas in the air? Often times there may be a gas leak. If you find either of these problems, call the proper utility company to correct the problem. If water is still around the house, check to see if the outside walls have cracked or giving way because of the water pressure being exerted on them. If there's water still around, don't enter the home, there’s always a chance that the walls could give way and the house could collapse around you. Be cautious around porches and overhangs. These areas may have weakened during a flood and could give way or collapse.
 
Electrical and Gas Connections
When you arrive at your home, disconnecting the electrical and gas supplies are a good start. By shutting off the gas supply, you lessen the chance of fire and explosion. By disconnecting the electrical supply, you lessen the chance of electrocution. Even if the power is out or the power supply has been disconnected from the power pole by the utility company, your electrical fuse or breaker panel's main fuse or breaker may still be on. In this case, at any time during the day, the utility company could come back and turn the power on to your home. You may not be aware that they've turned the power back on and your panel is now live, subjecting you to potential shock hazards.
 
If the only way to disconnect the gas and power is inside the home and there's water where you have to shut them off, don't enter the home to do so until you can safely enter the home and the water has been removed. Remember, water and electricity doesn’t mix. Every year people die from electrocution in flood-related accidents. Many are from entering a home after the flood waters have receded.
 
 
Procedures
After Flood Waters Recede
Turn off all breakers till electrician can make safe
Dry Out the House
It is important to open up the bottom of flooded walls and remove all wet material from them. Turn on fans and dehumidifiers as soon as possible to dry the home. Deadly mold can form quickly (less than 3 days) in warm and moist areas in the home. Get wet carpeting and padding out of the home as soon as possible. Get garbage, effected clothing, etc. out of the home and clear the floor space in rooms and closets. Open the windows to let the house breath. By getting the home dried out quickly, you'll be on your way to cleaning and repairing it. Anything that the flood waters wet and cannot be thoroughly cleaned will have to be thrown away!

Removing Moisture, Cleaning and Repairing
Be prepared to let flood-damaged walls, ceilings and floors dry for several weeks if you do not have electricity. If restoration work is completed before proper drying, mold and mildew will continue to grow. The result may be structural damage to your home, the need to repaint walls or replace new wall coverings, and discomfort or illness to family members who have allergies.
Getting the Moisture Out
Get is as dry as you can as fast as you can. If the weather permits, open doors and windows to remove moisture and odors. If the outside humidity becomes greater than inside, close things up; likewise, close up the house overnight if temperatures drop and moist air might otherwise be drawn indoors. If windows are stuck tight, take off window strips and remove entire sash. If doors are stuck, drive out door hinge pins with a screwdriver and hammer, then remove.
Consider using dehumidifiers to speed up drying when outside humidity levels are high. If possible, rent commercial dehumidifiers, which remove three to four times more water than home models. When using dehumidifiers, shut windows and doors. If there is severe flooding in your home, consider hiring a contractor for water removal. Some companies can dry homes in less than a week with commercial dehumidifiers and air movers.
Walls and Ceilings
Wash out mud, dirt and debris as soon as possible with a hose and mop cloth or sponge.
Start cleaning from the top floor or upper limit of flooding and work downward.
Remove wallboard, plaster and paneling to at least 2 feet past the flood level. Wallboard acts like a sponge when wet. If soaked by contaminated floodwater, it can be a permanent health hazard and should be removed. If most of the wallboard was soaked by clean rainwater, consider cutting a 4- to 12-inch-high section from the bottom and top of walls. This creates a "chimney effect" of air movement for faster drying. A reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade works well, but use only the tip of the blade and watch out for pipes, ductwork and wiring.
Plaster usually does not need to be replaced, though it will take a very long time to dry.
Some paneling may be salvaged if allowed to dry slowly. You also should remove and dispose of any flood-damaged insulation, which will hold water for months after getting wet.
To clean surfaces
Thoroughly wash and disinfect walls, ceilings, exposed wall cavities and studs. (see three bucket method)
Use a good disinfectant to prevent mildew build-up. Use an EPA registered anti- Microbial if you have it or One cup of chlorine bleach mixed with a gallon of water works well. For a soapier cleaning solution, add a half cup of mild detergent. Wear rubber gloves.
If walls have already dried, work from the floor to the ceiling to prevent streaking. (Dirty water splashed on dry walls may be absorbed and become almost impossible to remove.) Overlap sections, cleaning the ceiling last.
Floors
Before the house has dried out, scrub floors and woodwork with a stiff brush, plenty of water, a detergent and disinfectant. Carpeting soaked by contaminated floodwater should be removed and discarded unless it can be sanitized at a commercial facility for a cost substantially less than replacement. Vinyl flooring and floor tile may need to be removed to allow drying of subfloor.
Wooden floors should be dried gradually. Sudden drying could cause cracking or splitting. Some restoration companies can accelerate drying time by forcing air through the fluted underside of hardwood floorboards.
 
Once Floors Have Dried
Assess whether your floors can be repaired, replaced or recovered. Consider your time and budget as you make any decisions. Plywood subfloors may have delaminated (separated) from excessive moisture, causing buckling. Sections may have to be replaced or have new plywood nailed over them.
If buckling or warping has occurred, drive nails where the floor tends to lift or bulge. This will prevent further damage. Badly warped hardwood floors usually can't be repaired. Warped, wide pine board flooring, however, will often flatten out after it has thoroughly dried. Plane or sand floors level. Do not refinish until thoroughly dry.
Removing Mildew
To remove surface mildew on walls or ceilings, HEPA vacuum twice, (once in each direction)
Use a mildew surface cleaner mentioned above or: scrub the mildew with household detergent, then scrub with a solution of one-quarter cup bleach to 1-quart water. Rinse well with clean water. Once fully dry, apply a coat of paint containing an anti-mildew agent.
To remove surface mildew on floors and woodwork, use a phosphate cleaning solution such as powdered automatic dishwashing detergent or trisodium phosphate (4 to 6 tablespoons to a gallon of water), available in hardware stores. Rinse with water, and when dry, apply a mildew-resistant finish.
By using a pump sprayer wit anti -microbial such as ShockWave or equvilant, (bleach water if you just have to), you can effectively clean your home first and make it sterile.