HOW TO CLEAN-UP THE MOLD:
LIGHT GROWTH
HEAVY GROWTH
FLOODING
LIGHT
GROWTH
If you have more than a square foot of mold growth you should seek professional advice
on how to perform the clean-up.
- The source of the water problem must first be corrected. All roof or plumbing
leaks/flooding must be fixed.
- All moldy surfaces should be cleaned with a household bleach (like Clorox)
and water mix = 1 cup of bleach mixed in 1 gallon of water. You can
add a little dish soap to the bleach water to cut dirt and oil on the wall that can
hold mold. With good ventilation, apply the bleach water mix to the surface with
a sponge, let it sit for 15 minutes, then thoroughly dry the surface. Be sure
to wear a dust mask, rubber gloves and open lots of windows when cleaning with
bleach water.
- If the area cannot be cleaned (like some wet broken ceiling tiles), is too
damaged, or is disposable (like cardboard boxes) discard them and replace with new
ones.
-It may be necessary to do more clean up in the home (carpets, crawl spaces)
if you have a bad mold problem.
- Mold in an attic can
best be treated by painting the area with an alcohol based paint like Bin or Enamelac.
Call your city or county health department if you have questions or need assistance.
HEAVY
GROWTH
HOME CLEAN-UP RECOMMENDATIONS
NOTE: IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE STACHYBOTRYS AND HAVE EXTENSIVE MOLD GROWTH (>2
SQ. FT), SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE FROM YOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT BEFORE PROCEEDING.
PERSONAL PROTECTION
During clean up activities only those individuals doing the clean up should be in
the home. Persons with any respiratory health problem (e.g. asthma, emphysema)
should NOT perform the clean-up. Keep safety in mind.
During all clean up activities, a tight-fitting dust mask and goggles should be worn.
Rubber or vinyl gloves and waterproof boots should also be worn during all phases
of the clean up.
Open all windows for drying and ventilation.
CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES AND MATERIALS
If necessary, pump the basement dry and clean out debris. In case of floods, wait
until flood waters have receded before attempting to pump out the basement area.
Eliminate or correct the water problems or leaks associated with any existing source
of water damage.
Carpets, rugs, furniture, and any other items with absorbent material must be removed
and discarded if not thoroughly dried within twenty-four hours. Soiled curtains,
clothes, linens, and any other items that can be laundered should be removed and
cleaned. Any other contaminated items or materials should be discarded or disinfected
for at least fifteen minutes with one cup of laundry bleach per gallon of water.
Dark stained ceiling tiles or wall board should be replaced. Full strength
bleach may be necessary in situations of heavy contamination; however, adequate ventilation
and personal protection will be necessary. Please consult an expert.
All accumulated residue should be removed from the area including corners, edges
of the floors, and under and around fixtures. Material should be lightly wetted to
minimize dust. Replace the furnace filter and vacuum cleaner bag. Shovel any bulk
waste material into bags and dispose with weekly trash.
Floors, walls and any other surfaces contacted by the flood waters should be properly
disinfected for at least fifteen minutes with a chlorine solution of one cup of laundry
bleach per gallon of water. Do not mix any other cleaning agents with the chlorine
solution. Apply solution with mops and sponges.
Attention should also be paid to any other soiled areas in the basement including
pipes, heating ducts, ceilings, etc. The above cleaning procedures should be followed
in those areas as well. Caution should be taken around electrical equipment and
fixtures.
Contact your local health department if you any further questions.
FLOODING
FLOODED AREA SAFETY AND SANITATION
When flooding of an area has occurred, either due to heavy rains or sewer backups,
important steps must be taken to assure the health and safety of individuals involved.
It must be assumed during cleanup operations that all surfaces have been contaminated
with disease-causing organisms. This important assumption must be considered in decisions
involving personal safety of cleanup personnel as well as what items may be salvaged
and what must be discarded.
PERSONAL PROTECTION
- Only individuals necessary for cleanup should be in affected areas. Persons
with respiratory health problems (e.g. asthma, emphysema) should NOT perform the
clean-up. Children and pets should not be allowed in these areas.
- Boots and rubber gloves should be worn at all times. In cases where rigorous splashing
of contaminated water may occur, a dust mask and eye protection should also be worn.
- When using a bleach solution, open windows to provide good ventilation.
- At no time should cuts or open sores be left exposed.
- Do not smoke, eat, or drink during clean up.
GENERAL SAFETY
- Be absolutely certain that there is no hazard of electrical shock! Wear rubber
boots in wet areas until it is certain no electrical hazard exists.
--Turn off main switches and unplug electrical appliances in wet areas.
--Do not turn on any appliances which have become wet until they have been thoroughly
dried and checked for proper operation.
--Do not use matches or any other open flame until the area has been thoroughly ventilated
from natural gas. The gas supply to all appliances in flooded areas should be shut
off until the appliance has been checked.
CLEAN UP PROCEDURES
Bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi etc. must be killed in the clean up process. The most
widely-accepted, safe, and effective sanitizing agent is hypo chlorite in the form
of household bleach. For all following procedures the bleach solution referred to
is one cup of bleach to one gallon of water. This will give a sufficient strength
to kill organisms.
Time is an important consideration in clean up. Organisms to be killed will not become
airborne as long as they remain wet. As long as surfaces remain wet, the only way
organisms can enter the body and cause disease is by splashing into the mouth, eyes,
open cuts, etc. Once dried, organisms can be spread on dust particles by air movement.
It is, therefore, important to bring the bleach solution in contact with contaminated
surfaces as soon as possible after rinsing off heavy soil. In order to prevent decomposition
and rotting of wet items, immediate drying after disinfection is necessary.
Once the water has receded, the following steps should be taken:
--Assure that the above personal protection and general safety steps have been taken.
- Determine what items will have to be discarded and remove them for disposal. Generally,
if the bleach solution can be made to come in contact with all surfaces, an item
may be salvageable. Stuffed furniture, pillows, and mattresses will have to be discarded.
Indoor/outdoor carpeting and rugs may be salvageable. Thick wall to wall carpets
and padding will have to be discarded or professionally treated.
- Thoroughly rinse all visible soil from all items to be salvaged. Rinse the walls
from several inches above the highest level the water reached to the floor. Carefully
hose behind any base coping to remove all soil. Hose down the entire floor.
- Prepare the bleach solution of one cup of household bleach to one gallon of water.
Smaller items may be immersed in this solution. Hand scrub larger items with the
solution. Pour this solution on the walls several inches up from the highest level
reached by the flood waters and over the entire floor. Make sure all affected surfaces
have been contacted with the solution. An effective method is to use a broom or mop
to splash the solution on the walls and over all of the floor. Full strength
bleach may be necessary in situations of heavy contamination; however, adequate ventilation
and personal protection will be necessary. Please consult an expert.
- If water has reached more than a few inches up the walls, hollow walls will have
to be opened. Cut off the portion of the drywall which has become wet. Saturate the
remaining studs with the bleach solution.
- Using various methods, dry all surfaces as much as possible (the bleach solution
needs 15 minutes to kill organisms). The wettest areas can be squeegeed or mopped
to a floor drain. A wet/dry vacuum can be used on flat surfaces to further remove
remaining water. Using fans and/or a dehumidifier, thoroughly ventilate the rooms
to dry all surfaces.
- Indoor/outdoor carpeting and rugs need a very thorough treatment if they are to
be safely salvaged. Remove them to a flat area such as a driveway. Hose down both
sides of the carpet several times to thoroughly remove all soil. Follow this with
several buckets of the bleach solution on each side, scrubbing with a broom. Then
rinse both sides with clear water. Remove as much water as possible with a wet/dry
vacuum and allow to thoroughly dry.
- Over the next weeks, replace disposable furnace filters or clean permanent filters
with the bleach solution at least two times to reduce trapped mold spores.
If you have questions not covered here, please contact your city or county health
departments.