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Mold Remediators Gone Wrong

Are you having trouble choosing a mold remediator for your home? Doctors James Schaller and Gary Rosen have put together in their book “Mold Illness & Mold Remediation Made Simple,” a list of humerous ways to know if you have a “bad” mold remediator :

You Know You Have the Wrong Remediator When..

• He laughs when you ask if he has a contractor’s license or a mold remediator certification or license.
• You ask if he has at least one million dollars in contruction or mold insurance, and he falls on the ground convulsing with laughter. Take him out in a wheel barrow and dump the clown =).
• He has no clue or concern about fixing the source of the moisure. He does not realize ignoring the source of the moisture problem will mean the mold can always come back.
• He has no plan to put up temporary walls with plastic wall sheeting to prevent mold dust and mold toxins from going all over your home.
• The remediator wears no protective mask or gloves.
• He has no plan to channel moldy dust from the work area outside through a window or external door.
• The remediator plans to carry unsealed material through your home.
• You ask him who will do the “post remediation mold testing” and he looks at you like you have 10 heads.
• He does not use a HEPA vacuum to clean up after himself.
• He does not seal off your air conditioning ducts to prevent mold spores and dust from going all over your home during the remediation work.
• He is foggy from his past jobs. He does not know how to contain mold dust, since he is shoing signs of mold exposure. So do not expect him to know how to prevent the release of moldy dust throughout your home.

Further Recommended Reading :

• Impact of Mold on Thoughts, Emotion, & Personality
• 8 Most Common Places to Look for Mold

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

Source: Schaller, James and Rosen, Gary. “Mold Illness & Mold Remediation Made Simple.” 75.

What are the 5 levels of Mold Remediation?

According to Vicki Lankarge in her book “What Every Home Owner Needs to Know About Mold & What to Do About It,” mold remediation can be broken up into 5 levels: level one being the least contamination, level four being the most, and level five HVAC and air conditioning systems.

When dealing with mold contamination in your home it can be difficult to decide when a mold remediator is needed or what you can take care of yourself.

In the following 5 levels, you will have a guideline to go by when removing mold from your home :

5 Levels of Mold Remediation

• Level I (10 square feet or less)

Smaller infestations categorized in level I is mostly found on ceilings or baseboards. Level I mold contamination may be cleaned without hiring a mold remediator, but there are several important safety precautions that you need to know :

1. Do not attempt cleaning mold if you suffer from asthma, allergies, or immune disorders

2. Wear gloves, eye protection, and an N95 disposable respirator

3. Vacate from your work area any infants less than 12 months old, individuals recovering from recent surgery, anyone with a suppressed immune system, or people with chronic lung diseases such as asthma, sever allergies, emphysema, etc.

4. Contaminated materials that cannot be cleaned should be removed from your home in a sealed plastic bag to prevent an infestation in another part of your home.

5. Clean your work area when you’re done with a damp cloth or mop.

6. Make sure all areas are left dry and visibly free of mold contamination.

• Level II (10-30 square feet)

To remove mold from an area category the size of level II (probably one wall panel), the same precautions used in level I should be taken as well as the following :

1. Moldy materials should be covered with plastic sheets and sealed with tape before any handling or removal of materials. This will contain dust and debris. It may be wise to double wrap in plastic before escorting the moldy material from your home.

2. WHen the mold removal is finished, vacuum the work area with a HEPA vacujum. Clean the area with a damp cloth or mop.

• Level III (30-100 square feet)

Mold contamination this size (patches of mold on several wall panels), should still be handled with the same precautions as level I and II as well as the following added measures :

1. Seal ventilation ducts/grills in the work area and areas directly adjacent with plastic sheeting.

2. Vacate everyone from your work area until work is completed. Further vacate adjacent work areas of any infants less than 12 months old, individuals recovering from recent surgery, anyone with a suppressed immune system, or people with chronic lung diseases such as astma, sever allergies, emphysema, etc.

• Level IV (greater than 100 square feet)

An infestation depending on how much greater than 100 square feet may require the assistance of a mold remediator. If not, the same requirements should be followed as were needed in levels I, II, and III along with the following :

1. Every worker must be trained in the handling of hazardous materials and equipped with full face respirators with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cartridges, with disposable protective clothing covering both head and shoes.

2. Make sure workers completely isolate hteir work area from the rest of your home with sheeting sealed with duct tape, including ventilation ducts/grills, fixtures, and any other openings.

3. Make sure workers set up and use a “decontamination room,” or a chamber taped off with plastic sheeting. The outside of sealed bags containing contaminated material should be wiped down with a damp cloth or HEPA vacuumed in the decontamination chamber prior to their removal.

4. Air monitoring should be conducted prior to moving back into your home to determine if it is fit to reoccupy.

• Level V (Air Conditioners and HVAC Systems)

If there is a small area of mold growth beneath your air conditioning system it would be safe to apply precautions from levels I and II to remediate the mold contamination. However, all remediation procedures for air conditioning units and HVAC systems should be left to professionals. Procedures for level V remediation for areas larger than 10 square feet are the same for all previous levels with the following precautionary measures added :

1. Shut down the HVAC system prior to remediation.

2. Growth-supporting materials that are contaminated, such as the patper on the insulation of interior lined ducts and filters, should be removed and sealed in plastic bags.

3. A variety of biocides - broad spectrum antimicrobial agents designed to prevent the growth of microorganisms - are recommended by HVAC manufacturers for use with HVAC components, such as cooling coils and condensation pans. HVAC manufacturers should be consulted for the prodcuts they recommend for use in their systems.

Further Recommended Reading :

• 5 Simple Tips for Cleaning a Small Mold Infestation
• 3 Tips for Choosing a Mold Remediator
• 3 Tips for Do-It-Yourself Mold Removal

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger team

Source: Lankarge, Vicki. “What Every Home Owner Needs to Know About Mold & What to Do About It.” 52-58.

Mold has been found. Now what?!

Don’t panic! The first thing that needs to be determined is whether or not the infestation is large or small.

Ask yourself, is the area affected with mold small and contained? How much mold can be seen and how much more may be unseen?

If the answer is only small amounts and the area is indeed contained, there are 5 easy tips tips according to Vicki Lankarge in her book “What Every Home Owner Needs to Know About Mold & What to Do About It” that can help you to rid yourself of any further mold problems:

5 Easy Tips for Small Area Mold Remediation

• Make sure you’re free of allergy symptoms and/or asthma
• Wear a mask and rubber gloves during clean up
• Using water and detergent, scrub mold off nonporous surfaces and dry completely. (Perhaps a little bleach wouldn’t hurt as well)
• Absorbent materials may have to be discarded if they are moldy. It is likely that hidden mold lurks beneath the surface and will grow back and fill in the crevices
• Dispose of any sponges or rags used to clean the mold (It is best to double bag any mold contaminated items and remove them from the home entirely)

When do I need a mold professional?

If the area is small enough, there won’t be any need for professional help as it can be taken care of with do-it-yourself methods.

Further Recommended Reading :

• How to Check Your Home for Mold Problems
• Top 3 Sources of Water Damage & Tips to Avoid Them

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

Source: Lankarge, Vicki. “What Every Home Owner Needs to Know about Mold & What to Do About It.” 50-53.

Moisture: The Reason for Mold

With Jamaica’s recent hurricanes, moisture has caused Mold to be a major problem in the homes and lives of local Jamaicans.

What are they having to deal with?

– It’s necessary to deal with the problem as it can cause burning and watering eyes; nasal and sinus congestion; skin irritation and coughing. It can also aggravate medical problems like asthma, allergies, conditions which weaken immune defences and lung disease, especially in the elderly and the young.

But what of the musty smell that usually accompanies the fuzz?

“Once the place is dried up … the odour will go away,” Mrs. Hincliffe said. This might be easier said than done, judging from the little sunlight we have had since the rains that have pelted the island for so long. –

Read the rest of ‘Mold in Jamaica’ at Moisture: The Mold Problem

6 Tips for Removing Mold

1. Protect your eyes, nose and skin when cleaning mould.

2. Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mould growth.

3. Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mould growth.

4. In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).

5. Clean mould off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, carpets, linoleum that are mouldy, may need to be replaced.

6. Clean drapes and carpets when they can dry properly.

Further Recommended Reading :

• How to Remove Mold and the Smell from Clothing
• Exposure to Mold: Allergies

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

Source: Sacha Walters - Staff Reporter for the Jamaica Gleaner News

Mold Remediation in Florida

Janie Porter, a dignified reporter from Tampa Bay 10 News, writes about a specific local mold remediation problem :

Visit Mold in Your Home to read the local story.

How to Find, Stop, and Prevent Mold

She also offers a list of steps to find mold, and then remove and prevent further growth.

Read the following :

• Finding Mold

1. Mold is usually associated with a musty smell in the house.

2. Small surface patches of mold on bath tiles or around the shower usually aren’t a problem, unless the mold has reached the wallboard underneath.

3. To find mold, check beneath carpets and around windows. Also, check water hoses on appliances like refrigerators, water heaters and laundry machines.

Source: Consumer Reports

• Stopping Mold

1. Use plastic sheeting to contain and prevent mold spores from spreading.

2. If the mold covers less than 10 square feet, you may be able to take care of the problem yourself.

3. Begin by protecting yourself with an N-95 disposable respirator approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health; goggles; and heavy-duty rubber, neoprene, or PVC gloves. Packages of N-95 respirators cost about $12 to $25 and are available in hardware and building-supply stores, by mail, and online.

4. Bag and discard any carpet, ceiling tiles, wallboard, paper, insulation, or other porous materials that have been wet for 48 hours or more.

5. Scrub other materials with a strong solution of detergent and water or 1 cup of chlorine bleach per 5 gallons of water.

6. Wood studs and exposed joists may have to be wire-scrubbed with bleach, sanded, and dried out before reinstalling wallboard and flooring.

7. If the mold covers more than 10 square feet, you’ll need to hire a professional mold remediator.

Source: Consumer Reports

• Preventing Mold

1. Check water hoses on things like refrigerators and water heaters once a month.

2. Don’t use wallpaper or carpets in bathrooms and other damp areas.

3. Repair leaky roofs, poor or missing chimney and window flashing, missing or damaged shingles or siding, and leaky pipes.

4. Repair or replace damaged gutters and leaders.

5. Keep humidity levels in the house between 30 and 50 percent by running the air conditioner and installing outside-venting fans in bathrooms. Also, invest in a dehumidifier. For tips on buying a dehumidifier, click here.

6. To grow, mold needs about 65 percent relative humidity for three to six days. You can measure relative humidity using a hygrometer, which can be purchased at hardware stores for $10 to $50.

Source: Consumer Reports

Further Recommended Reading :

• Tips for Mold Cleanup
• 3 Tips for Do-It-Yourself Mold Removal

Joslyn from the Moldblogger Team

Source: Janie Porter from Tampa Bay 10 News

What Should I Remember When Removing Mold?

There are two easy to remember steps when it comes to knowing how to remove mold.

• Cleanup
• Prevention

Combine these two easy steps together and you know how to remove mold. It is nearly impossible to completely remove mold spores from the air around us, because they’re floating everywhere looking for an optimal place to land and reproduce.

Preventing mold from growing is the main goal every individual trying to remove mold must have.

Getting rid of mold would never be necessary if prevention worked every time. Yet, there are still times when mold DOES grow even when everything is done to prevent it.

If you were to clean the area affected with mold and remove all visible signs of mold invasion, but leave the problem unfixed, will the mold magically be gone forever? Of course not! Mold will always grow back if the problem is not taken care of. In the same way, if the problem is fixed, yet the visible mold is left to grow and prosper – it will continue to grow and thrive happily.

But together - Fixing the problem by removing moisture (in most cases) from the equation AND cleaning the affected area - Mold Removal is easy AND it works!

Further Recommended Reading :

• 10 Tips for Removing Mold from Your Home
• 10 EPA Mold Prevention Tips

Joslyn from The MoldBlogger Team

When Does the Maximum Amount of Mold Exposure Occur?

According to Real Estate Magazine, the most exposure a person can have to mold is acquired during the clean up process. The good news? There are so many ways to prevent sickness or other side affects! Here is what they have to say:

Note :

The following is directed for large or extreme areas of mold infestation. Smaller levels or few spots of mold can be cleaned without professional help.

Large Areas :

• Consider having a professional cleanup the area

  To find a professional, check under “Fire and Water Damage Restoration” in your Yellow Pages. If you decide to clean up on your own, follow the guidance below.

• Protect yourself by using goggles, gloves, and breathing protection while working in the area

  For large consolidated areas of mold growth, you should use an OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) approved particle mask.

• Seal off area from the rest of your home

  Cover heat registers or ventilation ducts/grills. Open a window before you start to clean up.

• Remove all your furnishings to a neutral area to be cleaned later

  Follow cleaning directions below.

• Bag all moldy materials, you will be discarding

.

• Scrub all affected hard surfaces:

  First with a mild detergent solution, such as laundry detergent and warm water. Then use a solution of 1/4 cup bleach to one quart of water. Wait 20 minutes and repeat. Wait another 20 minutes.

  Last, apply a borate-based detergent solution and do not rinse. This will help prevent mold from growing again. To find a borate-based detergent, read the ingredients listed on the package label for borates.

• Give the entire area a good cleaning

  Vacuum floors, and wash bedding and clothes if exposed.

Small Areas :

• Protect yourself by using goggles, gloves, and breathing protection while working in the area

  For small isolated areas of mold growth, a cotton dust mask should do.

• Seal off area from the rest of your home

  Cover heat registers or ventilation ducts/grills. Cover all your furniture. Open a window before you start clean up.

• Bag all moldy materials, you will be discarding.
• Scrub all affected hard surfaces:

  First with a mild detergent solution, such as laundry detergent and warm water. Then use a solution of 1/4 cup bleach to one quart of water. Wait 20 minutes and repeat. Wait another 20 minutes.

  Last, apply a borate-based detergent solution and do not rinse. This will help prevent mold from growing again. To find a borate-based detergent, read the ingredients listed on the package label for borates.

• Give the entire area a good cleaning

  Vacuum floors, and wash bedding and clothes if exposed.

Further Recommended Reading :

• Do You Need a Mold Remediator?
• 3 Tips for Choosing a Mold Remediator

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

Source: Real Estate Magazine Post

What Can You Do to Remove Mold Easily and Safely?

A flooded home can leave you feeling frustrated and powerless. Add mold to the situation and it’s likely that you’re feeling sick.

Take back some control by disinfecting your home by yourself.

Follow these three tips to ensure that your do-it-yourself mold removal project will run smoothly and safely.

• Prepare your home

If the wiring in your home has been affected by mold, you’ll want to turn off the main power.

When you’re done disinfecting your home, enlist the help of a professional electrician to make sure it’s safe to turn the electricity on again.

Check for leaks in the water system before you spray your home down. Rent a hose that allows you to spray a soap and water solution together.

Spray down every muddy item in your home from floor to ceiling.

If you haven’t spent time with heavy cleaning chemicals before, test yourself out by disinfecting a small area of your home to start.

If the fumes affect you too much, hire a professional to disinfect the rest of your home.

• Be thorough

Mold removal requires you to be as meticulous as possible. After the mud has been washed away, use cleaning pads or a stiff brush to scour each surface.

You can use a commercial cleaner to scrub moldy surfaces after they’ve been sprayed, but any non-ammonia detergent will work just as well. Try a mixture of 1½ cups bleach with a gallon of water for a simple, homemade solution

Furniture, walls, floors, ceilings, and heating and cooling registers and ducts must all be disinfected with a solution that has a quaternary, pine-oil, or phenolic base.

To be safe, get rid of a foot extra of drywall above the flooding level. Call in a professional to get any area that you aren’t able to reach on your own.

Dry each area for at least two days. If you don’t, the mold will return.

Soft materials such as rags, clothes, paper and even heavily affected carpet will retain mold spores even after disinfecting and drying. Throw these items away in sealed bags.

• Protect youself

When you’re ridding your home of mold, the cure can be as dangerous as the illness.

To keep yourself safe from both mold and cleaning solution fumes, keep your home well ventilated throughout the cleaning. Take frequent breaks to get some fresh air.

Buy a mask or a particle remover respirator at a hardware store to protect you from mold spores released during the drying process.

Because respirators don’t protect you from fumes coming from disinfectants such as bleach, spend as little time as possible around these chemicals.

Always wear gloves when you’re handling anything containing mold and dispose of the gloves when you are finished with your project.

Disinfect Your Home

When you’re finished doing all you can to disinfect your home, you may want to hire a licensed contractor to check your work.

A professional can help you find any mold that you missed or assure you that your do-it-yourself mold removal project was a success.

Further Recommended Reading :

• Q&A: Dealing with Mold Exposure
• Do You Need to Hire a Mold Remediator?

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

What Are Some Mold Cleaners that Work?

If you’re battling a mold problem, here are some cleaning solutions recommended by others who have waged war on mold.

• Lysol

  Lysol is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a product recommended for spray disinfecting of mold mildew.

  You can find Lysol spray cleansers that claim to kill bacteria, as well as spray disinfectants that can be applied to surfaces before the mold or mildew has a chance to develop.

• X-14 and Tilex

  Products like X-14, Tilex, and Clorox cleansers are very similar to bleach, and often the main ingredient is chlorine bleach.

  They are inexpensive, and while they may not completely remove the mold roots, they are affective at removing the unsightliness of the mold.

  Keep in mind, however, that on porous surfaces, a stronger mold killer will need to be used. Even Clorox concedes that bleach is a somewhat effective tool in the removal of mold on hard surfaces.

• H2Orange2®

  This is a popular new “green” product on the market used for eliminating mold problems. It is user-friendly and environmentally safe, having the lowest level of toxicity of any mold killer on the market.

  It contains citrus oil (from orange peels) to cut through the dirt, surfactants which clean the dirt, and hydrogen peroxide, which oxides the mold and mildew and brightens the surface by bleaching out the stains.

• AntiGrowth®

  This is actually a mold, mildew, and algae preventative solution, and therefore regular use of this can actually prevent and control mold problems just as easily as cleaning up an established stain.

  The good thing about this product is that it works on almost all surfaces, porous and non-porous alike. It is also safe for all surfaces, made for outdoor and indoor use, and is relatively affordable.

• Air Ionizers

  While an air ionizer is not a liquid cleaner, it does in fact clean the air. Ionizers are powerful air purifiers that remove dust, allergens, and mold spores from the air.

  These spores land inside the house, using moisture in the environment to grow into troublesome patches. Regular use of an air ionizer may prevent future mold outbreaks by removing the source of the colony.

Further Recommended Reading :

• 3 Ways to Decrease Mold in the Home
• Tips on Removing Surface Molds

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

When trying to win a war against mold, having the right weapon is necessary.  Many people, if asked which disinfectant they would use to kill or fight mold, would instantly reply with the answer of ‘chlorine bleach’.  However, studies have shown that not only is chlorine bleach a weak substance to fight mold, but it also is highly ineffective on porous surfaces, which is where mold is most likely to grow. 

Having a great cleaner is essential removing mold both effectively and completely from the affected surface.  While you may be tempted by ease, and money, to try bleach first, you will quickly discover that spending a little more money will save a lot more time in the long term.  Not only do those who try to disinfect and remove mold with chlorine bleach spend more time trying to remove the mold, but they soon find that their efforts were for not when the roots begin to grow back and require a second attempt at removal.

-The Moldblogger Team