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If you already have a mold problem - ACT QUICKLY. Mold damages what it grows
on. The longer it grows, the more damage it can cause.
Who should do the cleanup?
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, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
guide: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although
focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document is applicable to
other building types. It is available free by calling the EPA Indoor Air
Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318, or on the Internet at
epa.gov/iaq/molds/mold_remediation.html.
If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service provider)
to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold.
Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations in
EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, the guidelines
of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or
other guidelines from professional or government organizations.
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. Visit
epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html, or call (800) 438-4318 for a free copy.
If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated
water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing
buildings damaged by contaminated water.
If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting
cleanup.
Mold Cleanup Guidelines
The tips and techniques presented in this section will help you clean up
your mold problem. Professional cleaners or remediators may use methods not
covered in this publication. Please note that mold may cause staining and
cosmetic damage. It may not be possible to clean an item so that its
original appearance is restored.
Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.
Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all
items completely.
Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to
be thrown away if they become moldy. Mold can grow on or fill in the empty
spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or
impossible to remove completely.
Avoid exposing yourself or others to mold.
Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces
before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel.
If you are unsure about how to clean an item, or if the item is expensive or
of sentimental value, you may wish to consult a specialist. Specialists in
furniture repair, restoration, painting, art restoration and conservation,
carpet and rug cleaning, water damage, and fire or water restoration are
commonly listed in phone books. Be sure to ask for and check references.
Look for specialists who are affiliated with professional organizations.
Bathroom Tip - Places that are often or always damp can be hard to maintain
completely free of mold. If there's some mold in the shower or elsewhere in
the bathroom that seems to reappear, increasing the ventilation (running a
fan or opening a window) and cleaning more frequently will usually prevent
mold from recurring, or at least keep the mold to a minimum.
What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas
It is important to take precautions to limit your exposure to mold and mold
spores.
Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores. In order to limit your exposure to
airborne mold, you may want to wear an N-95 respirator, available at many
hardware stores and from companies that advertise on the Internet. (They
cost about $12 to $25.) Some N-95 respirators resemble a paper dust mask
with a nozzle on the front, others are made primarily of plastic or rubber
and have removable cartridges that trap most of the mold spores from
entering. In order to be effective, the respirator or mask must fit
properly, so carefully follow the instructions supplied with the respirator.
Please note that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
requires that respirators fit properly (fit testing) when used in an
occupational setting; consult OSHA for more information (800-321-OSHA or
osha.gov).
Wear gloves. Long gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm are
recommended. When working with water and a mild detergent, ordinary
household rubber gloves may be used. If you are using a disinfectant, a
biocide such as chlorine bleach, or a strong cleaning solution, you should
select gloves made from natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane, or
PVC. Avoid touching mold or moldy items with your
bare hands.
Wear goggles. Goggles that do not have ventilation holes are recommended.
Avoid getting mold or mold spores in your eyes.
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