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General Caution:
In general, extreme
caution should be exercised when attempting to clean up mold.
Do - Removal and
cleaning of topical growth:
Small areas of mold
growth from condensation around windows or on bathroom tiles is
topical (on the surface only) in nature and can be simply cleaned
up. Avoid using bleach or chemical biocides since these often do not
work and may cause other environmental problems and health issues.
Soapy water with white vinegar, a detergent solution such as dish
soap, or isopropyl alcohol all work very well in cleaning up small
areas of mould growth. Benefect solution which as all natural
anti-bacteria and fungicide can also be used. Cotton tipped swabs can
be used to get into hard to reach areas.
Don't - Removal and
cleaning of growth on other materials:
Mold growth on drywall,
wood beams, carpeting, insulation, furniture, etc. should be tested to
determine the type, quantity and toxic effects. The cause and extent
of the mold problem must also be determined prior to any clean up
procedure. When mould growth is visible on the drywall surface for
example, the visible area may only be the tip of the iceberg and a
much larger area of mould growth may be hidden in the wall cavity
behind. Caution must be taken in these situations because massive
amounts of mold spores can be aerosolized when the mould is cleaned
and this can be spread to other areas causing health issues and
possible further growth. Proper care must be taken to protect the
individual, occupants as well as the remainder of the building when
removing mould.
Don't - Disturbing
Mold Growth:
Mold growth should not
be disturbed. If mould growth areas are touched, scrubbed, dried out
or otherwise disturbed, mould spores may aerosolize and became part of
the breathable air. This may cause ingestion and inhalation of
potentially toxic mould spores which could lead to a variety of
serious health effects.
Avoid ripping up
carpeting, etc., performing destructive investigations or beginning
remediation activities on building materials showing mould growth
until you know what you are dealing with. If wall cavities need to be
opened for the purposes of inspection or testing, this must be done by
a qualified professional with proper containment or equipment and
minimal damage to the wall itself. All entry points or punctures in
a wall suspected of mold growth must be properly sealed afterwards to
avoid mould spores from aerosolizing.
Don't - Use of Biocides:
The use of biocides is
not recommended by mouldinspector.ca nor by many of the leading
guidelines and associations, such as the American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienist (ACGIH), which is a leading body in
North America for Occupational and Environmental Safety as well as
bioaerosol testing and remediation. Biocides are not an easy fix for
mould in buildings even though many manufacturers claim that they
are. Biocides kill the viability of the mould spores and can prevent
mould growth from spreading. Biocides, however, do not remove the
toxic properties of a mould species. By spraying biocides on mould
growth you will only retard mould growth itself. Non-viable (dead)
mould spores can have the same toxic properties as viable (living)
mould spores. The toxic health effects of viable and non-viable
spores are the same.
Caution - Drying:
Depending on the
situation, it is not always advisable to dry out mold growth. By
drying out mold growth you are removing part of its sustainability
and food source. If a mould species is growing on building materials
and the moisture is removed too soon before remediation, mould spores
could aerosolize as a natural survival mechanism of the mould itself.
Some species of mould like Stachybotrys needs a lot of moisture for
growth. As long as it is wet this mold does not easily aerosolize
it's spores. If this type of mold growth is dried out and not
immediately removed, it may become aerosolized.
Do - Moisture
Problems and Mold:
Moisture problems
whether associated with direct leakage or intrusion into a building or
as a result of humidity and condensation should be addressed as soon
as possible, but so should remediation of the mold growth.
Do - Contact a
Professional:
If you think you
have a mold contamination problem you should
contact a professional mold inspection company.
Ignoring the issue won't make it go away and the longer you wait, the
worse the problem may become and the greater the risk is that someone
will have health problems as a result of the mold.
For a Mold
Inspection, please click
here.
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