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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Diego, Cali. baby!!!
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GENERAL CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES
The following is intended as an overview for homeowners or apartment dwellers. We recommend that you consult one of several more thorough documents currently available as guidance, listed in the USEFUL PUBLICATIONS section below.
Elements of the Clean-up Procedures
? Identify and eliminate sources of moisture
? Identify and assess the magnitude and area of mold contamination
? Clean and dry moldy areas ? use containment of affected areas
? Bag and dispose of all material that may have moldy residues, such as rags, paper, leaves, and debris.
Assessing the Size of a Mold Contamination Problem
There will be a significant difference in the approach used for a small mold problem ? total area affected is less than 10 ft2 ? and a large contamination problem ? more than 100 ft2. In the case of a relatively small area, the clean-up can be handled by the homeowner or maintenance staff, using personal protective equipment (see below). However, for cases of much larger areas, it is advisable that an experienced, professional contractor be used. For in-between sized cases, the type of containment and personal protection equipment to be used will be a matter of judgment.
Can cleaning up mold be hazardous to my health?
Yes. During the cleaning process, you may be exposed to mold, strong detergents, and disinfectants. Spore counts may be 10 to 1000 times higher than background levels when mold-contaminated materials are disturbed. Take steps to protect you and your family?s health during cleanup:
? When handling or cleaning moldy materials, it is important to use a respirator to protect yourself from inhaling airborne spores.
Respirators can be purchased from hardware stores; select one that is effective for particle removal (sometimes referred to as an N-95 particulate respirator). However, respirators that remove particles will not protect you from fumes (such as bleach). Minimize exposure when using bleach or other disinfectants by ensuring good ventilation of the area.
? Wear protective clothing that is easily cleaned or discarded.
? Use rubber gloves.
? Try cleaning a test area first. If you feel that this activity adversely affected your health, you should consider paying a licensed contractor or other experienced professional to carry out the work.
? Ask family members or bystanders to leave areas that are being cleaned.
? Work for short time periods and rest in a location with fresh air.
? Air out your house well during and after the work.
Never use a gasoline engine indoors (e.g., water pump, pressure washer or generator), as you could expose your family to toxic carbon monoxide.
Removal of Moldy Materials
Clean up should begin after the moisture source is fixed and excess water has been removed. Wear gloves when handling moldy materials.
? Discard porous materials (for example, ceiling tiles, sheetrock, carpeting, and wood products).
? Bag and discard moldy items; if properly enclosed, items can be disposed with household trash.
? Dry affected areas for 2 or 3 days.
Spores are more easily released when moldy materials dry out, hence it is advisable to remove moldy items as soon as possible.
If there was flooding, sheetrock should be removed to a level above the high-water mark. Visually inspect the wall interior and remove any mold-contaminated materials.
What can I save? What should I toss?
You should discard moldy items that are porous and from which it will be difficult to remove mold completely: paper, rags, wallboard, rotten wood, carpet, drapes, and upholstered furniture. Contaminated carpet is often difficult to thoroughly clean, especially when the backing and/or padding can become moldy. Solid materials ? glass, plastic, and metal ? can generally be kept after they are thoroughly cleaned.
Clean-up
When attempting to clean less porous items (i.e., solid items such as floors, cabinets, solid furniture), the first step is to remove as much mold as possible. A cleaning detergent is effective for this purpose. Wear gloves, mask and eye protection when doing this cleanup.
? Use non-ammonia soap or detergent, or a commercial cleaner, in hot water, and scrub the entire area that is affected by the mold.
? Use a stiff brush or cleaning pad on cement-block walls or other uneven surfaces.
? Rinse cleaned items with water and dry thoroughly. A wet/dry vacuum cleaner is helpful for removing water and cleaning items.
Disinfection of Contaminated Materials
Disinfecting agents can be toxic for humans, not just molds. They should be used only when necessary and should be handled with caution.
Disinfectants are intended to be applied to thoroughly cleaned materials and are used to ensure that most microorganisms have been killed. Therefore, do not use disinfectants instead of, or before, cleaning materials with soap or detergent. Removal of mold growth from nonporous materials usually is sufficient. Wear gloves, mask and eye protection when using disinfectants
? After thoroughly cleaning and rinsing contaminated materials, a solution of 10% household bleach (for example, 1½ cup household bleach per gallon of water) can be used as a disinfectant.
? Using bleach straight from the bottle is actually LESS effective than diluted bleach.
? Keep the disinfectant on the treated material for the prescribed time before rinsing or drying; typically 10 minutes is recommended for a bleach solution
? Bleach fumes can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and damage clothing and shoes. Make sure working areas are well ventilated.
? When disinfecting a large structure, make sure that the entire surface is wetted (for example, the floors, joists, and posts).
? Properly collect and dispose extra disinfectant and runoff.
? Never mix bleach with ammonia; toxic fumes may be produced.
Can air ducts become contaminated with mold?
Yes. Air duct systems can become contaminated with mold. Duct systems may be constructed of bare sheet metal, sheet metal with fibrous glass insulation on the exterior, or sheet metal with an internal fibrous glass liner, or they may be made entirely of fibrous glass. Bare sheet metal systems and sheet metal with exterior fibrous glass insulation can be cleaned and disinfected. If water damaged, ductwork made of sheet metal with an internal fibrous glass liner or made entirely of fibrous glass will often need to be removed and discarded. Ductwork in difficult-to-reach locations may have to be abandoned. If you have other questions, contact an air duct cleaning professional or licensed contractor.
Can ozone air cleaners help remove indoor mold or reduce odors?
Sometimes air cleaners are promoted to remove indoor mold or associated odors, and some of these are designed to produce ozone. Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent that is used as a disinfectant in water and sometimes to eliminate odors. However, ozone is a known lung irritant. Ozone generators have been shown to sometimes produce indoor levels above the safe limit. Furthermore, it has been shown that ozone is not effective in controlling molds and other microbial contamination, even at concentrations far above safe health levels. Also, ozone may damage materials in the home, for example, cause rubber items to become brittle. For these reasons, the California Department of Health Services strongly recommends that you NOT use an ozone air cleaner in any occupied space. Refer to the CDHS IAQ Info Sheet: Health Hazards of Ozone-generating Air Cleaning Devices (January 1998), available on the CDHS-IAQS web site.
How can I prevent indoor mold problems in my home?
Inspect your home regularly for the indications and sources of indoor moisture and mold listed on Page 1. Take steps to eliminate sources of water as quickly as possible. If a leak or flooding occurs, it is essential to act quickly:
? Stop the source of leak or flooding.
? Remove excess water with mops or wet vacuum.
? Whenever possible, move wet items to a dry and well ventilated area or outside to expedite drying. Move rugs and pull up areas of wet carpet as soon as possible.
? Open closet and cabinet doors and move furniture away from walls to increase circulation.
? Run portable fans to increase air circulation. Do NOT use the home?s central blower if flooding has occurred in it or in any of the ducts. Do NOT use fans if mold may have already started to grow -- more than 48 h since flooding.
? Run dehumidifiers and window air conditioners to lower humidity.
? Do NOT turn up the heat or use heaters in confined areas, as higher temperatures increase the rate of mold growth.
? If water has soaked inside the walls, it may be necessary to open wall cavities, remove baseboards, and/or pry open wall paneling.
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