Mold!Your down and dirty guide to Mold Mold also known as mildew, is a type of fungus that has existed for at least 400 million years, and only needs three things to grow: moisture, warmth, and food. Mold is everywhere and part of the natural environment. It has always found a way to survive and will survive long after humans have become extinct. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic materials and can be found growing on soil, foods, plant matter, such as fallen leaves and dead trees, and other items. Molds produce microscopic cells called "spores" which are very tiny and spread easily through the air. Live spores act like seeds, forming new mold growths (colonies) when they find the right conditions. But indoors, mold growth should be avoided. 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. Simply put, mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, and begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. Molds can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or un-addressed. There is only a 48 hour window to eliminate the moisture source before mold starts to grow and be happy. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture. " The key to mold control is moisture control.
To clean up and remove indoor residential mold growth, follow steps 1-6 as they apply to your home: 1. Identify and Fix the Moisture Problem 1. Identify and Fix the Moisture Problem - the most important step in solving a mold problem is to identify and correct the moisture sources that allowed the growth in the first place. Common indoor moisture sources include: " Flooding To keep indoor surfaces as dry as possible, try to maintain the home's relative humidity between 20-40 percent in the winter and less than 60 percent the rest of the year. You can purchase devices to measure relative humidity at some home supply stores. Ventilation, air circulation near cold surfaces, dehumidification, and efforts to minimize the production of moisture in the home are all very important in controlling high humidity that frequently causes mold growth in our cold climate. 2. Begin Drying All Wet Materials - as soon as possible, begin drying any materials that are wet. For severe moisture problems, use fans and dehumidifiers and move wet items away from walls and off floors. Check with equipment rental companies or restoration firms to see if you can rent fans and dehumidifiers. 3. Remove and Dispose of Mold Contaminated Materials - items which
have absorbed moisture (porous materials) and which have mold growing
on them need to be removed, bagged, and thrown out. Such materials
may include sheet rock, insulation, plaster, carpet/carpet pad,
ceiling tiles, wood products (other than solid wood), and paper
products. Likewise, any such porous materials that have contacted
sewage should also be bagged and thrown away. Non-porous materials
with surface mold growth may be saved if they are cleaned well and
kept dry (see step 4). - Rubber gloves " Take Steps to Protect Others - plan and perform all work to minimize the amount of dust generated. The following actions can help minimize the spread of mold spores: - Enclose all moldy materials in plastic (bags or sheets) before
carrying through the home 4. Clean Surfaces - surface mold growing on non-porous materials such as hard plastic, concrete, glass, metal, and solid wood can usually be cleaned. Cleaning must remove and capture the mold contamination, because dead spores and mold particles still cause health problems if they are left in place. " Thoroughly scrub all contaminated surfaces using a stiff brush,
hot water and a non-ammonia soap/detergent or commercial cleaner
5. Disinfect Surfaces (if desired) - after cleaning has removed all visible mold and other soiling from contaminated surfaces, a disinfectant may be used to kill mold missed by the cleaning. In the case of sewage contamination, disinfection must be performed. Contact your local Department of Health for appropriate advice. " Mix 1/4 to 1/2 cup bleach per gallon of water and apply to surfaces
where mold growth was visible before cleaning. The solution can
be applied with a spray bottle, garden sprayer, it can be sponged
on, or applied by other methods. Always handle bleach with caution. Never mix bleach with ammonia - toxic chlorine gas may result. Bleach can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. Provide fresh air (for example, open a window or door). Protect skin and eyes from contact with bleach. Test solution on a small area before treatment, since bleach is very corrosive and may damage some materials. 6. Remain on mold alert! Continue looking for signs of moisture problems or return of mold growth. Be particularly alert to moisture in areas of past growth. If mold returns, repeat cleaning steps and consider using a stronger solution to disinfect the area again. Regrowth may signal that the material should be removed or that moisture is not yet controlled.
"Black Mold" is a commonly used term to describe a slimy, greenish-black substance which can result in serious health risk. It is also known as Strachybotrys chartarum and more often as Strachybotrys atra. Very toxic molds can develop from water seepage, and while black mold is "less common than other mold species it is not rare". Areas and substances where black mold can be found include water soaked wood, ceiling tiles, wall paneling, cardboard, even items made of cotton. Black mold can grow on drywall and insulation and can infest areas in the floors, walls, and ceilings. Moisture is essential to the growth of black mold, and when it is wet it is shiny in appearance. If you were to physically touch a spot of black mold, it would feel slimy and would smear on the area. When you are considering clean up of black mold, you need to verify the extent of the problem. Many of the infested areas will be relatively small and be a result of small leaks or plumbing problems. After discovering the root of the problem and rectifying it, you can disinfect the area with bleach. A mixture of one cup bleach to a gallon of water is sufficient to disinfect the area. Adding a touch of dish soap to the mixture will also aid in dissolving accumulated grease and dirt in the area. Apply the bleach mixture to the moldy area and leave it to saturate the area for approximately fifteen minutes. After this you must take care to thoroughly dry the cleaned area.
Basements may have mold seeping through concrete walls if they are wet or damp. Bathrooms are likely to have mold growth if exhaust fans are not used while showering or bathing. Laundry rooms are common places to find mold if damp towels and clothing are present. Unvented clothes drying, which produces high levels of relative humidity, can also cause mold growth on walls. Kitchens are possible sites for mold growth if large amounts of water are boiled using no exhaust fan. Closets can have mold growth, especially if clothing is stored damp or dirty or there is a cool outside wall in the closet. Walls: (Make sure the room is well ventilated to avoid inhaling hazardous
bleach fumes. Keep cleaning solution from dripping onto carpeting
or floors.) Follow the same instructions for walls, except you'll need a stepladder
and instead of spraying the area; you'll want to apply the solution
with a scrubber sponge to the affected areas. Mold Abatement Most mold abatement jobs are undertaken by the same professionals who work with asbestos and lead paint. A good contractor will understand the importance of complete cleanliness when preparing, or clearing an abatement site. The aggressive use of the HEPA vacuum and periodic sterilization of vacuum tools is very important to a successful abatement. When there is more air contamination outside the structure to be abated than inside the negative air units will be reversed to filter the air that is coming into the building, or not used at all, as appropriate. And extensive containments built of plastic sheeting become unnecessary. Usually it is only necessary to block off the ventilation ducts
and put plastic sheeting over furniture to be protected from the
abatement process. Window treatments and other removable textiles
are usually removed prior to treatment and sent out for cleaning.
Then damaged building materials are removed. You can inspect and test your home for toxic mold contamination problems by your choice of two mold testing options: 1. Do-It-Yourself Kits. These are an inexpensive method for taking the first step in eliminating mold from your home. They're designed for the do-it-yourselfer who wants to determine if there is mold in their home and what type it is. This is a cost effective way of receiving reliable laboratory analysis. You'll want to test your entire home for possible mold growth and infestation. Use the mold test kits to test every room including the attic, basement, and crawl space of your home for the possible presence of elevated levels of airborne mold spores, which, if present, indicate a likely mold infestation problem. Also test the air flow coming out of the heating/ventilating/air conditioning (HVAC) duct registers when you run the HVAC equipment for the possible presence of elevated levels of airborne mold spores. Test at least two duct registers in different areas of your home. Use the mold test kits to test the visible mold growth locations anywhere inside your home. Collect a test sample from each separate infestation or growth location. You can also use Scotch tape to collect test samples of visible mold. 2. Hire a Certified Toxic Mold Inspector to find, detect, test, and identify toxic mold and black mold spreading home and in your area. Many mold inspectors charge as little as a $300 mold inspection fee for a very thorough physical inspection of your home to locate mold symptoms or evidence of mold infestation and of hidden water problems that can cause mold growth colonies, plus $125 for each mold test required to identify and quantify mold growth. Mold Inspectors can be found in your local Yellow Pages Directory or on the Internet. Mold Removal Companies When contemplating clean up of mold, you need to verify the extent of the problem. It could be a small problem fixed by stopping a plumbing leak and applying a mixture of one cup of bleach to one gallon of water. Generally, if the moldy area is less than 10 square feet you can usually clean it up yourself taking care to follow all precautions. However, if the moldy area is larger or if you smell mold but can't see it, you should hire a professional to do the cleanup. Experts advise that homeowners check with local consumer affairs agencies and the Better Business Bureau before engaging a testing or remediation company. Ask a company for examples of removal experience and check references. And avoid conflicts of interest by not hiring the same company to do both the inspection and remediation. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to be careful when choosing
a professional to clean up the mold. Mold repair, also known as
remediation, is big business these days and businesses are cashing
in. Most companies are legitimate, but some are taking If you choose to use outside contractors or professionals, make sure they have experience in cleaning up mold. Ask for references and check them out. Obtain two to three bids and find out how long the company has been in business. Contact the BBB for a report on the company. Also, work with your homeowner's insurance company. An insurance agent should be able to recommend a reliable and reputable remediation company. When hiring a contractor deal with a company that has a good reputation in the community - one that has been in business in the same area for several years, and depends on the satisfaction of its customers. Find out if the company is bonded, licensed and certified (where applicable). Also, find out if the company trains its workforce through apprenticeships or other training programs. Beware of salespersons or contractors who ask for large payments in advance. Reliable contractors generally do not require more than a minimal down payment. Obtain written estimates from at least three contractors. Compare the cost of the work to be done, the quality of materials to be used, and the cost of financing the work. Insist that each estimate include the cost of materials and labor and a statement of exactly what the contractor will do and how long the work will take. Check each contractor's reliability with the local Better Business Bureau, previous customers, and friends who have dealt with the same problem.
After selecting a contractor to do the work, ask for a written contract in accordance with the estimate. Read this contract carefully before you sign it. Make sure you understand its contents. If you have a question, ask an attorney to review the contract for you. The contract should include the following: - The contractor's name, address, telephone number. |