Mold & Mildew Cleanup in Des Moines, WA

Why it happens here

Des Moines sits on the east shore of Puget Sound about 16 miles south of Seattle, with the city marina, Saltwater State Park and Des Moines Beach Park along the water and the ravines of Des Moines Creek and Massey Creek cutting the hillside. The median home was built in 1974, and houses of that era often have aging windows, older bath fans and thinner wall insulation, all of which make condensation more likely during the cool months. About 60.6 percent of homes are owner-occupied, so a good share of residents rent.

What to do now

1. Find the moisture first. Check for a dripping window, a fan that vents into the attic, a slow plumbing leak or water running down the slope toward the house.
2. Measure the area. Under about 10 square feet on hard surfaces, EPA says a homeowner can usually handle it.
3. Clean hard surfaces with detergent and water, wearing gloves and eye protection, and dry them completely.
4. Don't paint over it. EPA says paint applied over mold tends to peel.
5. Bag and discard moldy porous items you can't clean.
6. Bring indoor humidity down below 60 percent with fans, steady heat or a dehumidifier.
7. If you rent, notify the landlord in writing about the leak or moisture problem.

What you see and what usually causes it

Cost factors

Angi's Seattle cost guide puts bathroom mold remediation at $425 to $825, with most pros charging $10 to $25 a square foot. The total depends on area, whether drywall or carpet has to be removed, containment needs in a shared building, and repairs afterward. Larger rebuilding goes through the City of Des Moines Building Division, which issues building permits and inspects the work.