We just moved into an old victorian era house and this weekend we ripped out the carpet in the living room. When we started on the coat closet, I noticed a funky odor a little black specks on the back wall in there. I thought it would be best to stop right there so the closet carpet was left and I closed the door. So who do I call to have this taken care of? Should I have it tested? Can I just prime and paint right over it? I want to lay laminate floor right over the old hardwood that is all creaky when we walk but need to get that carpet out first.
Edit: We are hiring out for contractors to install the floors. They have already talked to us about what they need to do to fix the creaks and squeaks ;-)
Once you locate the cource of the mold it can be killed quickly and inexpensively. Wash the walls with bleach and paint over them with Killz. Rip out the carpet and bleach the floor. DO NOT PAY SOMEONE TO GET RID OF THE MOLD! THey will do the same thing and chareg you $500
You've already gotten good answers - I would just offer that you get professionals if it's a large area (maybe 5x5). Smaller than that and you just want to wear a filter mask (a buck or two at the hardware store), and wipe clean with bleach or vinegar.
And make sure that whatever caused the moisture is fixed/removed. Closets are used to run all kind of plumbing and HVAC.
I would just spray with clorox, and let dry. Then prime and paint. There is an additive you can by for paint that resists mold and mildew. Worked great for our bathroom.
First, laying laminate over your squeaky floor will not stop the squeaks. You'll need to fix the floor first if you want to get rid of the squeaks. Consult with a flooring contractor.
As to the mold, there are specialists who will come in and clean it up. Mold is toxic. I had mold in my closet and I put on a mask and washed the walls down with a bleach solution. Then you paint over the spots with a special paint that covers mold stains before painting the wall. Consult with a paint store about this.
Just wanted to add that you should do some research on mold side effects for your family. I think headaches and coughs are common. It would be a good idea to know what to look for if you're having health problems. With an old home you could have mold just about anywhere. Good luck!
Remove the carpet.
Look for sources of moisture.
If a leak is not evident, it could be poor air circulation.
Are any of the closets walls on a outside wall?
If yes, there might not be adequate insulation in the wall which could cause a condensation problem.
Wash the walls/ceiling/floor down with a bleach solution and have a fan blowing in there to dry it out completely.
Address any issues you find (leaks, insulation lack, consider a louver door which will allow better air circulation, etc).
Paint the closet with a mold resistant paint (Watertite Mold & Mildew Proof Water Proofing Paint is at Home Depot).
Consider using some Damp Rid in the closet, and make sure you don't over stuff the closet in the future (to keep air flow circulating through it).
Many a closet has these problems and you can take care of it yourself.
Many old houses have creaky floors - it's a function of how the old joists and nails work (nails can loosen over time).
A few screws can fix some, but a lot of times a creaky floor will tell you when/where people are moving around in a house - think of it as a type of security system.
Not all mold is toxic.
