8 Tips to Cleanup Mold | PHPR

8 Tips to Cleanup Mold | PHPR

8 Tips to Cleanup Mold

8 Tips to Cleanup Mold

• Protect yourself. Put on personal protective equipment (gloves, mask, goggles) to protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and skin.
• Dry it up. Dry your home and everything in it as quickly as possible – within 24 to 48 hours if you can.
• Air it out. Open all doors and windows when you are working, and leave as many open as you safely can when you leave.
• Circulate. When electricity is safe to use, use fans and dehumidifiers to remove moisture.
• Scrub surfaces. Clean with water and a detergent. Remove all mold you can see. Dry right away.
• Don’t mix cleaners. If you use cleaning products, do not mix cleaning products together. DO NOT mix bleach and ammonia because it can create toxic vapors.
• Don’t cover it, remove it. Painting or caulking over mold will not prevent mold from growing. Fix the water problem completely and clean up all the mold before you paint or caulk.
• Toss! Take it out! Anything that was wet with flood water and can’t be cleaned and dried out completely within 24 to 48 hours should be taken outside. Take photos of discarded items for filing insurance claims.

Resources

• Homeowner’s and Renter’s Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters
• Population Specific Recommendations for Protection From Exposure to Mold
• Basic Facts About Molds in the Environment
• Cleanup and Remediation

8 Tips to Cleanup Mold | PHPR