Mold Clean-up

Article By:Monica L. Bonsett
Family and Consumer Sciences Educator
07/21/2009

Many times people ask how to clean up mold in and around their homes. Contrary to popular belief, experts do not recommend testing mold for identification prior to removal. Their reasons:

• all types of mold can be problematic despite toxicity
• properly done tests are expensive
• there are no standards for acceptable mold levels.

If there is mold in your home, you have a moisture problem of some kind. It is important to fix the moisture problem prior to cleaning up the mold; otherwise the mold will return. Sometimes mold can grow in places that you cannot see. If you cannot determine the source of the moisture, you will need to hire a professional to help you. Also, if the moldy area is larger than ten square feet (about 3 feet X 3 feet square), you must have professional help for mold removal. If the area is smaller than ten square feet, you may be able to do the job yourself. People sensitive to mold (asthma or allergy sufferers, young children, and elderly persons) must be kept out of the area to be cleaned.

Protect yourself from mold and its tiny airborne spores during the removal process by wearing personal protective gear including:

• a N-95 respirator (found at most hardware stores)
• waterproof gloves
• protective goggles
• long sleeves
• long pants
• shoes and socks

While the cleaning of mold may depend on the type of surface, in general, to clean up mold; use a mixture of laundry detergent or dishwashing soap and water. After putting on your protective gear, lightly spray the moldy area with water before scrubbing with the mild detergent solution. This will help to prevent the mold spores from going airborne. Dry the area thoroughly after cleaning to prevent mold growth. If a vacuum is needed to clean up mold, only use a vacuum with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. Experts don't recommend using chlorine bleach to kill mold as it only kills mold on surfaces, not mold spores in air and it can be harmful to people and valuables if misused.

Go to www.solutionsforyourlife.com for an excellent UF fact sheet, entitled "How to Clean up Mold" (FCS3301) written by Dr. Hyun-Jeong Lee. The content for this article was adapted from this fact sheet.

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