One of the most frustrating things about large-scale water damage as a result of a flood is the development of mold that can infect your household. Mold is capable of harming your health, in addition to depreciating the value of your property.
Studies have shown that mold can grow on building materials, including plywood, in as little as 48 hours after an interior flood or storm. As such, it is critical that you have mold cleaned up as soon as you can to prevent and reduce the damages mold can do.
How to Start Mold Cleanup
When starting the mold cleanup process, you need to figure out who should eliminate the mold based on how large the problem is. For instance, if the area containing mold isn’t any greater than 10 square feet, you should be able to get rid of it yourself. However, if there is substantial mold damage, mold cleanup is probably going to warrant the services of a professional. If you do clean up the mold in your household on your own, it is prudent to adhere to the following guidelines:
- Completely fix all plumbing leaks in your household, as well as all items that are dry.
- Scour mold off hard surfaces with water and soap, and then completely dry off those same surfaces.
- You might need to get rid of any porous or absorbent materials, including carpet, rugs and ceiling tiles, as mold can fill the gaps within these items, making it hard to properly sanitize them.
- Don’t caulk or paint over surfaces that are moldy. Instead, cleanse the mold, then completely dry the surfaces prior to painting them. Paint applied over mold is liable to peel.
One of the hardest areas to clean mold off of is the washroom, since most of them lack proper ventilation, and contain enormous amounts of humidity. It is normal for mold to reappear in the shower and other areas that are damp, particularly in caulked or grouted crevices. The optimal method to handling mold in such spaces is to raise ventilation by opening a window or turning a fan on, as well as making sure your washroom is sanitized on a regular basis.
Mold is a very dangerous to your health, and a troublesome nuisance to manage, post-hurricane or flood, mostly because you need to start mold cleanup within 2 days of the disaster in order to stop extensive growth of mold. For more information about safety precautions to take during household mold cleanup practices, visit www.cdc.gov.