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Removal and Clean-up
Home » Home Improvement » How Do I Get Rid Of Mold » Removal and Clean-upOnce an investigation for mold has shown probable sings that a mold problem exists the next step is the removal and clean-up of the mold. Depending on the area in which the mold was discovered or suspected homeowners may need to hire the services of a professional such as a contractor or plumber to assist in fixing problems in which destruction to pipes, walls, or floors has to be done in order to clean-up and remove mold. Only cleaning-up mold and not actually fixing the problem that caused the mold to begin with will only result in mold growing again in the area. Listed below are the general steps in removing and cleaning areas of mold:
• Find and Fix the Moisture Issue: Since mold is caused by mold spores growing on wet surfaces the area in which is causing the moisture must first be found and fixed to eliminate any future mold problems. Areas that are commonly causes for mold growth include: areas of the home that were involved in flooding, humidifiers, roof leaks, plumbing leaks, overflow from toilets and sinks, firewood that is stored inside, house plants, and poor ventilation of combustion appliances. Surfaces in the home should be kept as dry as possible and can be kept that way by maintaining humidity. Purchase a device that measures relative humidity in a home to aide in this.
• Dry All Wet Materials: Dry all items that are wet and for severe moisture place fans or dehumidifiers toward the moisture and move all items off floors and away from walls.
• Get Rid of Contaminated Items: Any item that has absorbed water or ones that have visible mold growing on them should be removed and disposed of by being bagged up and thrown away. Common contaminated items include porous materials like sheetrock, carpet or carpet pad, insulation, plaster, ceiling tiles, wood products, and paper products. Non porous materials can be kept as long as they are cleaned properly and kept dry.
• Protect Yourself and Others: There are certain steps that should be taken in the removal and clean-up of mold to avoid the spread of the mold. They include: place all moldy items in tightly sealed plastic bags before carrying them outside the exposed area, hang a thick plastic sheet to separate the exposed area from the other areas of the home, take off clothing in the exposed area and place in a plastic bag and wash them separately from other laundry, and damp clean the entire exposed area to ensure any dust particles that have settled are cleaned.
• Clean: Surface cleaning on exposed non porous things like hard plastic, concrete, glass, solid wood, and metal can be done. The cleaning has to remove and capture all mold contamination because spores and mold left in place can cause health issues even after the removal and clean up. Proper cleaning steps are: using a stiff brush, hot water, and a non ammonia soap or commercial cleaner to scrub all contaminated surfaces, remove all excess cleaning moisture with a mop, sponge, or a wet/dry vacuum, and then rinse area with clean water and remove excess rinse water in the same way.
• Disinfect: Disinfectant can be used after all other removal and clean-up steps have been taken to kill any tiny particles of mold that may have been missed. Mix ¼ to ½ cup of bleach per every gallon of water and apply to all surfaces that need to be disinfected. Any excess water should be removed by a mop, sponge, or a wet/dry vacuum. Do Not Rinse the area. Individuals should be careful when handling bleach and handle it only in ventilated areas, protect eyes and hands when using it, and NEVER mix it with ammonia. Bleach can damage some materials so a small test spot should be done before cleaning entire area.
• Stay Alert: Even after the removal and clean-up of mold it is important to continue looking for sings the problem has returned. By looking for signs of moisture and paying particular attention to areas of previous growth future mold problems can be found quickly. If mold does return it could be a sign that all material even non porous should be removed.
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