There is no way to rid your house of all mold spores.  Since mold needs water to grow, the first and most important step in mold removal is to get control of the moisture issue.  No matter how much you clean, if you do not eliminate the water source, the mold will always grow back.  If there’s a broken seal on the refrigerator or a leak, fix it.  If a pipe is busted, replace it.  If the shower curtain is getting old and changing colors, buy a new one.

Mold cannot be removed from all types of surfaces.  All porous materials (such as carpet, drywall, and paper) that are affected by mold should be thrown away.  Other materials must be thoroughly dried.  If they can’t be, then they must be discarded as well.

If the area of mold is less than 10 square feet (approximately 3 ft by 3ft), you can easily clean it up.  Mold growing on hard surfaces can be cleaned easily with a mixture of detergent and water.  When you are removing mold, a lot of spores will be stirred up, so it is best to wear protective clothing.  It should cover you completely and include items such as rubber gloves and goggles.  Also, seal off the room from the rest of the house, but keep the windows open in the room you are working in so that the mold spores will be directed outside instead of into the other rooms in your home.

It is difficult to keep mold from growing in bathrooms, so it’s best to increase ventilation by opening a window or using the fan frequently.  If you cannot remove the water source (for example, a shower), simply mix 1 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water and scrub the affected surface.  Make sure you open windows and doors when working with bleach and follow the same safety precautions as suggested above.

If you are highly sensitive to mold or there is a large amount of it, it is best to contact a professional inspector and possibly a remediation firm.  You can also have a mold inspection done to see if your efforts at removal were successful.  Remember, it is simple to remove small amounts of mold, but it is a much better idea to be proactive.  Pay attention to areas where mold is likely to grow and clean them on a regular basis.