How To Fight Mold (2 Of 2)

How To Fight Mold (2 Of 2)

By:


Dealing with an ongoing problem

Repair to the building envelope is required if moisture is entering the home from the outside. At the same time, steps should be taken inside the home to reduce the occupants exposure to mold.

Step 1 Discard moldy or damaged materials

Wear a dust mask and gloves. Furnishings, such as mattresses, carpets, or sofas that got wet or have been stored in damp conditions should be discarded. Discard items that are no longer needed. Use this opportunity to reduce the amount of furnishings this means fewer materials to absorb moisture and grow mold. Clothes and other items that have been cleaned should be stored in sealed plastic bags to prevent re-contamination.

Step 2 Vacuum

Proper vacuuming reduces the amount of mold spores. All surfaces in the home (floors, walls, ceilings, shelves) and non-washable furnishings (such as sofas, chairs, etc.) must be vacuumed thoroughly.

Step 3 Prevent

Keep moisture generated within the home to a minimum by conscientiously following the prevention steps presented in the next section.

Step 4 Clear wet areas

Pull carpets and furnishings away from walls that get wet. Carpets and underpads that are moldy should be cut out and discarded.

Step 5 Dry

Take steps to dry up areas that get wet. Monitor the relative humidity of the air. Use a portable dehumidifier, if necessary. Ensure that the condensate drain pan of the dehumidifier is emptied regularly.

Step 6 Isolate

If the mold is limited to one area, isolate the area if possible. Cover the affected surfaces with plastic sheeting secured at the edges with duct tape. Note that this is only a temporary measure to minimize your exposure.

Step 7 Clean

Healthy individuals can regularly clean small and moderate areas of mold, thus preventing these from getting out of hand, by following the safety precautions and cleaning guidelines.

Step 8 Seek professional help

Consider seeking professional help from trained IAQ investigators to identify appropriate remediation steps inside the home. Removing large amounts of mold will require the services of mold clean-up contractors.

Preventing mold

Keep the home dry.
Find and fix water leaks.
Discard clutter and excess stored materials.
Clean and maintain the home regularly.
Encourage lifestyle practices that reduce moisture.
Basic steps to prevent and reduce mold growth

Mold needs moisture to grow. Controlling the moisture and keeping the home dry prevents the growth of mold.

Check your home for signs of moisture and molds.
Find out if water is coming in from the outside and if substantial moisture is produced inside the home.
Fix any water leaks promptly.
Think of the different ways moisture is produced inside the home (for example, cooking, bathing, plant jungle). Remove the moisture as it is produced by using exhaust fans. In the absence of fans, open windows for a short time, but note that the wind can push the moisture to other parts of the home.
Measure how much moisture is in the air. To find the relative humidity in your home, youll need a hygrometer. You can buy one at a hardware store or electronics store. A hygrometer costs from $10 to $60. Relative humidity in the home should be under 45 per cent in the winter (or lower to avoid condensation on windows). If necessary, use a dehumidifier to lower the relative humidity.
Reduce the amount of stored materials, especially items that are no longer used. Molds grow on fabrics, paper, wood and practically anything that collects dust and holds moisture.
Mold-proofing your home, room by room

Basement or crawl space

Reduce the amount of clothes, paper and furnishings stored in the basement. Discard badly damaged materials. Eliminate clutter to improve air circulation. Only washable items should be stored.
Dehumidify the basement during the warm months.
Avoid carpets on slab-on-grade or below grade floors.
Periodically clean the drain in your basement floor. Use half a cup of bleach, let it stand for a few minutes, then flush with plenty of water. Keep the drain trap filled with water.
Avoid standing water. Keep sump pits covered (you can use plywood wrapped with plastic).
Regularly clean and replace furnace filters. Use a pleated one-inch filter, not a coarse filter.
If you have a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), clean the filter inside the HRV often.
If you notice molds or signs of dampness, such as water on your windows or wet spots elsewhere, do not humidify. Disconnect furnace humidifiers that are no longer used.
If you have electric baseboards, vacuum the units, or have a professional clean them for you.
Laundry areas

Check that your clothes dryer exhausts to the outside.
Remove lint every time you use the dryer.
Dont hang-dry laundry indoors.
Dry your laundry tub and washing machine after you use them.
Bathrooms

Check the bathroom fan to make sure it exhausts to the outside.
Turn the bathroom fan on when you shower. Keep it running for a few minutes after you finish your shower.
Take short showers.
Keep surfaces that get wet, such as the walls around the bathtub and shower, clean and dry.
If there is a carpet in your bathroom, remove it.
Check for water leaks.
Keep drains in good shape by removing debris from them.
To clean a drain:

Pour a handful of baking soda into it.
Add a cup of vinegar.
Put the plug in the drain.
Let the vinegar and baking soda work for about 20 minutes.
Run fresh water into the drain.
If the drain is still clogged, use a small plumbing snake.

Kitchen

If the fan over your stove exhausts outside, use it when you cook.
Minimize open boiling.
Keep your drains in good shape. Follow the steps in the Bathrooms section above.
Theres a drip pan at the back of the refrigerator. Pull the refrigerator out to clean the drip pan. At the same time, vacuum dust from the coils at the back of the refrigerator.
Check under the kitchen sink to make sure there are no leaks.
Take out the garbage daily to prevent odours and spoiling.
Closets and bedrooms

Get rid of clothes and other stored items that you dont use. Keeping your closets and bedrooms tidy makes it easier for air to circulate and harder for mold to grow.
Other parts of the home

A dehumidifier helps to reduce moisture in the home during the warmer months. Close the windows when the dehumidifier is running.
When family and friends come into the home, have them take off their shoes.
Vacuum often. If you are buying a vacuum cleaner, try to get one with a HEPA filter. (See below).
Clean hard floors with a damp mop.
Do not bring in furniture, clothing, books etc. that have been stored in a moldy place into your home.
Cut down the number of potted plants in the housesoil is a good place for mold.
Exterior

Regularly check the condition of the roof and exterior finish for any places where water might enter.
Make sure that eavestroughs and downspouts are connected and working properly and that they are free of debris.
Install downspout extensions to lead water away from the building.
Deal promptly with any problems that you find.
Frequently asked questions about mold

Should I have my house air tested for mold?

This is the question most frequently asked by homeowners who think their home may have a mold problem. Testing is generally not recommended for homeowners. Testing of moldy materials or an air sample identifies the types of molds that may be present but does not identify the cause/source of moisture. The type of mold does not change the procedures for cleaning up areas of mold less than 3 square meters. You have to clean up the mold and correct the problem irrespective of the type of mold. The cost of testing may be better spent hiring a professional investigator or fixing the problem.

Testing of a moldy material involves sending a swab, an imprint on a Scotch tape or a piece of the material to a competent laboratory. Air sampling requires specialized equipment. An air sample typically captures mold spores in a period of minutes. Since replicate samples must be taken due to variations in the airborne molds over time (even hours) and compared with outdoor samples, air testing is both expensive and time-consuming. Interpretation of test results may not be very useful, since there are no advocated "safe levels" of indoor molds and the results will not tell the health risks from the molds.

The air feels dry can I humidify?

Before you add moisture to the air, measure the relative humidity. Air that feels dry may not be really dry. It may be moldy. High relative humidity (over 45 per cent) promotes the growth of molds and dust mites. The moisture in the air may condense on colder exterior walls where molds start to grow.

If your physician has advised you to use a humidifier in your childs bedroom at night, monitor the relative humidity. Turn the humidifier on and off as necessary. In the morning, take steps to make sure the room gets dry. Clean and empty the humidifier after each use.

What advantages do HEPA vacuums provide?

Ordinary vacuums capture large particles only small mold spores pass through the vacuum into the air. HEPA vacuums have special filters that capture small particles. A central vacuum cleaner which is exhausted to the outside also removes mold spores. A regular portable vacuum is useful only if its exhaust goes outside the home. Vacuuming removes settled dust that contains an accumulation of mold spores over time. Reducing the settled dust reduces molds.

Vacuuming with any vacuum cleaner (ordinary, central or HEPA) stirs dust and mold during the process. Wear a dust mask so you will not be breathing more mold.

Is vacuuming with a HEPA or externally exhausted vacuum cleaner recommended for serious mold problems only?

Vacuum regularly with a HEPA or externally exhausted vacuum cleaner to prevent the ongoing accumulation of dust and molds. The need for HEPA or external exhaust vacuuming increases with the severity of the mold problem.

If a furnishing has been wet at some time in the past or has been exposed to dampness over a prolonged period of time, vacuuming with HEPA or externally exhausted vacuum is unlikely to remove the mold growing beneath the surface. It is better to discard the item.

Where do you find a HEPA vacuum cleaner?

Vacuum cleaner dealers carry HEPA vacuums. Consider purchasing one as an upgrade to what you may be using. A HEPA vacuum is a good investment in the long term whether you have mold or not. A generic canister HEPA vacuum cleaner costs approximately $300. Brand name products of the same type may cost more. You may inquire if the dealer has a HEPA vacuum cleaner to rent. Contractors who clean up or renovate houses for mold should also have this equipment.

Does painting over a moldy surface take care of the mold?

Painting over mold only masks the problem. Paint does not kill the mold nor stop it from growing. Surfaces that are washable should be cleaned with a detergent solution, following the procedure suggested above, then allowed to dry. If you are going to paint, remove mold first.

Does cleaning stop the mold growth?

Mold will reappear until its source of moisture is removed. High moisture levels that are not corrected can make the molds grow back quickly. Cleaning is only a temporary but essential measure.

You can help by making a conscious effort to keep the home dry. Obviously, water must be prevented from entering the home. But you can help by controlling moisture that you produce.

How does one clean clothes that are moldy?

Non-washable clothing can be dry cleaned.

Wash clothes with a detergent solution to which a cup of bleach is added. Make sure the detergent you use does not contain ammonia. Repeat as necessary until the moldy odour is gone.

Clothes and other items that have been cleaned should be stored in sealed plastic bags to prevent re-contamination.

http://www.knock-knock.ca

About the Author:
John Carle
RE/MAX Real Estate Edmonton
102 12650 151 Ave
Edmonton, AB T5X 0A1
John@Knock-Knock.ca
http://www.knock-knock.ca
780-937-7534 / 780-701-9090



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Home-Improvement Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.