Removing Indoor Mold
Mold should be removed as soon as it appears.
1. Persons removing mold should be free of symptoms and allergies.
2. Always wear a quality respirator and rubber gloves during removal.
3. The affected area should then be thoroughly dried.
4. Dispose of any sponges or rags used to remove mold.
5. If the mold returns quickly or spreads, it may indicate an underlying
problem such as a leak. Any underlying water problems must be fixed
to successfully eliminate mold problems. If mold contamination is extensive,
a professional remediation company should be consulted.
Note:
Bleach is not effective at eliminating mold. Bleach
may clean mold off a surface, but it does not kill spores or penetrate
porous materials where mold hides. For proper mold killing cleaners
a mildewcide should be used to kill mold and mold spores after all surface
cleaning is completed. Additionally, it is always best to force dry
the area after applying anything wet. A proven enzyme product designed
to return the entire remediated area back into a natural, healthy environmental
state should be used to complete any remediation process.
 Who
should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. One consideration
is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than
about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch),
in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following the guidelines
below. However, if there has been a lot of water damage, and/or
mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, you might want to hire
a contractor to do the cleanup. If you do, make sure the contractor
has experience cleaning up mold. Remediation work by someone who
is not experienced in mold removal can result in even worse problems
than the original. |
 If
you suspect that the heating / ventilation / air conditioning (HVAC)
system may be contaminated with mold (it is part of an identified
moisture problem, for instance, or there is mold near the intake
to the system), consult EPA's guide Should You Have the Air Ducts
in Your Home Cleaned? before taking further action. Do not run the
HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with
mold - it could spread mold throughout the building. There is no
practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor
environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control
moisture. If mold is a problem in your home, you must clean up the
mold and eliminate sources of moisture. If there is a "golden
rule" for mold it is; Control The Moisture and You Control
The Mold. |
