When Mold Invades Your Home: What to Do and Not Do

One square inch of mold can contain more than 65 million mold spores which have the potential to cause health problems including allergic reactions, irritations, and release potentially toxic substances. It is important to rely on the expertise of a mold remediation expert to prevent damage to your property and furnishings, save money, and avoid potential health problems. Some companies like PuroClean Property Rescue specialize in mold remediation.

Mold grows naturally all around us when the environment is right. All it takes is moisture, organic material, the right temperature and a little time. The main ingredient we can control is moisture – if things are dry, mold won’t grow. This is why it is so important to control humidity in our houses and quickly and completely dry out all areas that have been affected in a water escape.

Here are some tips about how to stay safe and limit mold damage:

What To Do:

·         Contact PuroClean or similar mold remediation professionals. This will help ensure that you and your property don’t sustain further damage. Due to inherent health risks, it is important to rely on experts to threat the problem.

·         Fix Water Problems. Mold needs moisture to develop. If you see mold, it is important to identify and stop the source of the moisture. Fix plumbing leaks and dry all items completely.

·         Limit Your Exposure. Be sure to wear gloves, dust mask and eye protection when cleaning mold.

·         Cleaning Small Areas: Once the moisture problem has been fixed, small amounts of mold (less than 10 square feet) can be cleaned by scrubbing hard surfaces with household detergent and water according to the NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene, Nov. 2008. Porous surfaces may need to be removed.

·         Drying. After cleaning the mold, it is very important to dry the area as quickly as possible to prevent reoccurrence. Fans in a controlled environment can speed up the drying process.

What Not To Do:

·         Don’t Ignore It. Mold poses a serious health issue, especially if you already have respiratory issues. Contact a professional immediately if you detect mold or suspect it exists in hidden places.

·         Don’t Use Bleach. Bleach is not the solution for mold treatment. While bleach may kill live mold, it does not kill mold spores. Also, treating mold with bleach and water actually feeds further growth.

·         Don’t Dry Until Cleaned. Drying an area with mold before cleaning it can actually spread it.

Tips For Mold Prevention:

Perform inspections of your home and property regularly. Following is a helpful guideline of several items requiring regular inspection:

·         Daily: Inspect ceilings and walls for water staining.

·         Monthly: Check for drips or signs of water leaking at all supply lines, sinks, toilets, icemaker, etc. Replace or clean A/C filters.

·         Annually: Service HVAC system.

·         As Needed: Determine source of water-discolored wall or ceiling surfaces.

o   Check for water pooling around foundation

o   Clean gutters. Assure water flow from downspouts is directed away from foundation.

o   If going out of town for an extended period of time, ask neighbors or friends to keep an eye on the home, checking it daily.

Look for other helpful tip sheets in this series: “When Water Floods Your Home” and “When Fire or Smoke Damages Your Home” provided by Doug Williams, Owner and President of PuroClean Property Rescue / 500 E Arapaho Rd Suite 206 / Richardson, Texas. PuroClean professionals are “The Paramedics of Property Damage.” For Water/Fire/Mold/Biohazard emergency services 24/7 call 972-232-1200. For more information, see www.PuroCPR.com.

When Fire or Smoke Damages Your Home: What to Do and Not Do

Did you know that within hours after a property fire, additional damage begins that can be limited if addressed promptly? Metal fixtures such as faucets and door handles can begin to tarnish. Plastic tub surrounds and vinyl on cabinets can yellow. There are some things you can do before technicians from a company like PuroClean Property Rescue arrive, and some things are better left for the professionals.

Here are some tips about how to stay safe and limit fire and smoke damage:

What To Do:

·         Contact PuroClean or similar fire mitigation professionals immediately. This will help ensure that your property doesn’t sustain further damage.

·         Be Careful. If fire personnel were involved, wait until they have cleared the structure as safe to enter. Watch for trip and fall hazards. Watch for exposed electrical wires. Avoid rooms where ceilings sag due to water damage.

·         Shut Off Ventilation Systems. Turn off central A/C or Heating Systems to limit the spread of smoke and soot. Contact a licensed HVAC contractor.

·         Avoid Further Damage. Limit your activity in the structure. Soot particles can easily penetrate upholstery, carpets, walls and woodwork but much of the soot can be cleaned off surfaces if it isn’t disturbed.

·         Wear Gloves and keep your hands clean. Oil from hands can contribute to permanent soot marks on many surfaces.

·         Protect Kitchen and Bathrooms. Clean and protect metal surfaces, like fixtures and doorknobs with a light coating of oil such as WD-40.  Clean and protect light colored plastics like tub surrounds with a light coating of petroleum jelly.

·         Wash House Plants. Wash both sides of leaves with softened water.

What Not To Do:

·         Don’t Turn on Ceiling Fixtures. If the ceiling is wet, don’t switch on ceiling lights or fans. Don’t stir the air with fans – this can spread the soot.

·         Don’t Clean Walls, Carpets or Upholstery: To prevent smoke and soot from setting permanently, don’t attempt to clean without consulting experts from a company like PuroClean. In fact, disturb them as little as possible.

·         Don’t Clean or Repair Electrical Appliances. Electrical Appliances that may have been close to fire, heat or water should be examined by a trained repair technician.

·         Don’t Launder or Dry clean Clothing. Clothing that has been damaged by smoke shouldn’t be cleaned without consulting experts from a company like PuroClean.

Look for other helpful tip sheets in this series: “When Water Floods Your Home” and “When Mold Invades Your Home;” provided by Doug Williams, Owner and President of PuroClean Property Rescue / 500 E Arapaho Rd Suite 206 / Richardson, Texas. PuroClean professionals are “The Paramedics of Property Damage.” For Water/Fire/Mold/Biohazard emergency services 24/7 call 972-232-1200. For more information, see www.PuroCPR.com.