It might be surprising to learn that mold spores are everywhere, even indoors. Mold spores usually don’t cause problems unless they settle on surfaces under the right conditions and start forming colonies quickly. Black mold in a restaurant can develop just as fast and spread around the building if you don’t take immediate action.
Insight Restoration is a top commercial mold remediation company in MN. We understand the problems that often accompany mold inside a commercial kitchen. Thankfully, our mold removal experts know what it takes to remedy a black mold problem, which you can learn about below.
What To Know About Black Mold in Your Restaurant’s Kitchen
Restaurant kitchens are notoriously humid and hot from the constant use of ovens, ranges, hot water, and other heat-producing equipment and plumbing with little ventilation. Keeping the area clean and dry is the best way to reduce the risk of mold, but the problem can sometimes develop in hidden places like behind refrigerators and in the corners of walk-in coolers.
Mold needs moisture and warmth to thrive, which puts commercial kitchens at risk of forming colonies. Unfortunately, black mold can trigger many problems for a restaurant, including allergy-like symptoms, damaged furnishings, and foul smells.
Here’s the best way to deal with black mold in a restaurant and prevent new colonies from forming.
How To Identify Black Mold
You’ll probably smell black mold before you see it. Mold colonies emit musty odors. If your restaurant’s kitchen or dining room has an unidentifiable musty smell, mold is the likely culprit.
Though you should always maintain high cleanliness standards for your entire restaurant, you don’t want to overlook hidden places and crevices where mold can thrive. Common places to find black mold include:
- Pantries
- Behind freezers and refrigerators
- Under sinks
- Around the microwave
- Under drainage mats
The mold itself usually looks like a collection of dark brown, green, or black spots. Mold can also form fuzzy or slimy patches.
Tips for Getting Rid of Mold
Dealing with mold in your restaurant isn’t too different from cleaning up mold at home. If you find a small patch of mold, you could remove it using bleach, water, and a scrubbing brush.
First, mix a cup of bleach in a gallon of water, then transfer the solution into a clean spray bottle. Next, put on gloves, goggles, and a mask for protection. Finally, spray the mold with the solution, let it sit for five minutes, and scrub everything off using the brush.
You’d want to do this in a well-ventilated space, so be sure to open the windows or run the kitchen’s exhaust fans.
It’s usually best to contact a professional mold removal company to deal with black mold in a restaurant. Despite the seemingly simple process of removing mold yourself, you could worsen the problem and spread the mold through the restaurant if you don’t do it correctly.
Mold removal and remediation teams have the training, high-grade antimicrobial chemicals, and commercial-grade equipment to remove mold effectively. They can also deodorize the kitchen and apply a sealer to treated areas to shield them from moisture.
Ways To Prevent Mold Growth
The best way to prevent mold is to control the moisture inside your kitchen. That includes repairing leaky plumbing or appliances and maintaining a 30% to 50% humidity level.
You also want to enforce strict cleaning guidelines for the kitchen staff. Mold can also grow on food, so cleaning up all spills and crumbs from the floor and food prep areas is necessary. Also, check your food supply for signs of mold to prevent food waste.
Schedule Professional Mold Removal and Remediation for Your Restaurant’s Kitchen Today
Black mold in a restaurant is never something you should ignore. We at Insight Restoration offer professional mold removal and remediation services throughout Plymouth, Minnesota, and the surrounding areas.
Our certified and highly trained technicians know the best ways to detect mold and eliminate growths—call (763) 205-6584 to schedule a consultation with our Insight Restoration professionals.
