You may well be horrified upon finding mold in your home, especially knowing what we do about the dangers of it. Naturally, you will want to get rid of it as soon as possible, but is it something you should clean up yourself?
Simply put, if the mold is covering a small area, no larger than ten square feet, you should be able to take care of the cleanup yourself. However, this will depend on several factors. One of which is the reason the mold is growing in the first place. If the mold is produced because of a water leak or some type of moisture intrusion, you will need to have this problem addressed. Otherwise, the mold will just get worse.
Cleaning up mold can be done with water and detergent. Just keep in mind that before you repaint or caulk the area, it must be completely dried and free of any trace of mold. You should also make sure you have protective clothing and a respirator mask to avoid exposure to mold spores.
While you may easily manage to remove a small patch of mold on a wall or hard surface, it is much harder if you discover mold in carpets, curtains, or other soft furnishings. In this case, you may find it helpful to seek the advice of a professional. Be prepared that you may not be able to remove the staining that results from mold and mildew.