Mold Prevention and Clean-Up

Spring is in the air!  The good news is warm weather, melting snow, flowers, birds; the bad news is melting snow, rain, moisture!  The excess moisture in the air can cause mold damage to your home.  Any water seepage into your home from melting snow and rain can also cause mold damage if not caught and taken care of within a timely matter.  Below are some tips that can help you with mold prevention and clean-up.  Tips that will hopefully prevent damage from your home and a possible hefty insurance claim!

Prevention Tips

Act fast to reduce moisture in your home before a mold problems starts.  If you dry wet or damp areas within 24 to 48 hours after a leak or spill, in most cases mold will not grow.

• Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
• Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and drain lines unobstructed.
• Keep indoor humidity low (ideally between 30 and 50 percent relative humidity)
• If you see condensation collecting on the windows, walls, or pipes, dry the surfaces immediately and reduce the moisture/water source.
• Vent appliances that produce moisture and insulate cold surfaces like cold water pipes.
• Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering, and use the exhaust fans or open windows when cooking, running dishwasher, etc.

Clean-Up Tips

If you have an extensive mold problem or think you may have hidden mold or mold in your heating or cooling ducts, you should hire a professional who specializes in mold remediation.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that if the mold area is less than about 10 square feet, most of the time you can handle the job yourself.

Here are some of the EPA's tips for cleaning up mold.

• Wear a respirator, goggles and gloves to reduce contact with mold and mold spores.
• Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible, and dry all affected surfaces and items.
• Scrub mold off hard surfaces using detergent and water (avoid using bleach) and dry completely.
• Throw away absorbent and porous materials such as carpets and ceiling tiles.  It may be difficult or impossible to remove mold from cracks and crevices.
• Do not paint of caulk moldy surfaces.  Clean the mold and dry the surface before painting.  Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel.
• Be sure there is no visible mold or moldy odor after you've finished cleaning.  Some mold may cause permanent stains or other cosmetic damage.
• Revisit the area shortly after cleaning to be sure there is no further water damage or mold growth.

By following these tips, mold damage may be completely preventable/easily cleaned up.  Please remember that if you are not sure the extent of mold damage, or have a large area of damage to call a professional immediately!


Information brought to you by:
Standard Publishing Corporation.  The CSR Advisor (ISSN #1044-9884) 2010