A specialized company will first contain the area to prevent spores from spreading into your air, then safely remove the contaminated materials. They should also use a moisture meter to identify the water source, which is critical—otherwise, it will return. The recent high humidity has almost certainly accelerated its growth.

For your family’s safety, avoid disturbing the area and consider temporarily relocating the children while the initial assessment is done. Do not attempt to bleach or scrub it yourself, as this aerosolizes the spores.

After remediation, insist on a post-clearance test from an independent lab to verify the spore count in the air has returned to normal levels. This is the only way to confirm the job was done correctly and your living space is safe.