Before we talk about how to remediate mold (clean up, treat for), I must give you a warning about handling mold, should you be contemplating doing your own remediation. Warning: A very common mold in most all these scenarios is Aspergillus, which can grow in human tissue (sinuses, lungs, etc.). Wear a P100 or N95 respirator when handling mold (and fiberglass). Wear goggles when working above your head. Have no exposed open sores. Put up containment so that mold particulates aren’t spread beyond the work area. Read the Cutting Edge tab before you start work!!! Briefly, what you will learn at the Cutting Edge tab is that demolition and cleaning can release many tiny microparticles that can be inflammagens (start an inflammatory cascade in a susceptible person). These tiny microparticles do not settle out in dust. They remain as suspended particles in room air. In other words, a “good” remediation job can be done according to industry standards, and,in some ways, the area can be left unhealthy.

There is a specialized fogging and wipe/down method that can remove these microparticles. This is talked about in the Cutting Edge tab. OK, I got that out of my system. Now let’s move on with the topic of how to remediate mold. So you know you have mold now, and perhaps you are contemplating getting someone in (a professional mold remediator?) to deal with it. air purifier capacityWhere do you go from here? air purifier cleans dustHow do you find a good remediator?electronic air cleaner clicking The purpose of the information in this tab is to ARM YOU AGAINST THE MOLD INDUSTRY. There are plenty of ignorant, incompetent, inadequately trained, greedy remediators out there. Some charmers, alas, turn into bullies when their work is questioned.

Some of my esteemed remediator colleagues know exactly what I’m talking about and would agree with me. It takes work and commitment to be a professional in this field. And, if you take a look at the Cutting Edge tab, you’ll see information that even the best of the professionals may not be aware of…information that could impact on your health. The other side of the coin is if you will be doing the work yourself, or have a local handyperson do the work, or your own contractor. How can you remediate mold safely for all concerned, including the health of your home? Let’s get to work with learning how to remediate mold! I’m going to give you an overview of common fungi (molds), followed by tips for choosing a remediation firm. Here’s what you need to know about common molds Tip: There is so much we do not know about mold. The science is in its infancy and is very complex. The bottom line is: There should be no mold growth in your home. Just get rid of it (safely and effectively).

It does not need to be killed before it’s gone. If it’s gone, it’s gone. Protect vulnerable surfaces from mold growth by encapsulation (sealant), moisture control, proper storage, and good housekeeping with a true-HEPA vacuum cleaner and damp-dusting. In-depth spring and fall cleaning are good practices.can grow in leak areas and areas of condensation; can grow under faulty shower installations and on drywall; associated with asthmatic and other symptoms. Aspergillus and Penicillium (Asp/Pen): Green, white; can grow just from elevated relative humidity and condensation; very common in basements and at leaks (wall cavities, ceiling cavities); can grow on furniture in damp areas; linked with many health issues; spores become airborne easily; can grow in sinus and lung tissue and migrate through the body. Chaetomium: Sometimes seen on the bottoms of ceiling beams in the basement and on the bottoms of rafters in the attic as black splotches. These are often of little consequence, left over from the time of construction, dead mold – but should be removed before a house is put on the market.

Spray with Concrobium mold stain remover. Even dead mold particulates can be allergenic, so wear a P100 or N95 respirator whenever dealing with mold.grows at areas of condensation (window sills, AC vent covers, AC systems, window AC units, shower ceilings, shower curtains); most common outdoor mold; spores don’t become airborne that easily indoors and so the mold can be wiped off; allergenic to some people, plus linked with other health issues. Cladosporium contains melanin to protect it from UV-C. This black stain may remain after wiping off the mold. Stachybotrys: Black, needs prolonged wetness from water leaks or flooding to grow, likes drywall, spores do not become airborne as easily as Asp-Pen; linked with pulmonary hemorrhages in infants under 8 months and neurological damage, etc., in all ages. Trichoderma – green (sometimes seen on basement subflooring by plumbing pipe access holes; can have similar toxins to Stachybotrys). Ulocladium – black, grows in leak areas, sometimes on attic sheathing

Helpful points of discussion with remediators What to anticipate from a remediation job I’m going to give you a list of possible jobs (different scenarios) that you might need at your home – and what to expect from a professional remediator. You or your handyperson can also follow these steps – but I cannot assume any responsibility for your work. So if you have any questions, or if you are prone to respiratory issues, or if someone who is ill lives at your home, or if you have a baby at the house …consider hiring a professional remediator. Remediation guidelines – what to expect Workers must wear personal protection (P100 or N95 respirator, preferably with nostril valve, etc.). If working overhead, wear goggles. OSHA requires a worker using a respirator to have health clearance first from a physician, because of the added resistance to breathing. You can get the health questionnaire at www.osha.gov and then search on “respirator health questionnaire.”

Please see Scenario 4 regarding containment, negative pressure, and contents. Tip: From a health perspective, the purpose of the filter is to protect the AC coils from dust and dirt. The coils are the site of condensation. If they are clean, there is no problem. If they are dirty, mold grows. Tip: Before contracting with a service, read the EPA brochure on duct cleaning. Go to www.epa.gov/iaq and search on “duct cleaning.” Post-remediation testing is typically done after a professional remediation job. Not only do you want assurance that a good job was done, but the professional wants to be able to look back and say, “It was fine when I left.” Here are types of testing: Question: What are considered good results with post-remediation testing? Answer: I look for single digits in raw counts for Aspergillus and Penicillium. However, each inspector is left to his or her own opinion on this. Some inspectors would accept higher counts than I would. Aspergillus and Penicillium spores are, for me, marker molds of how good a job has been done.

That said, there’s something you should be aware of. If a negative air machine has recently been shut off, spore counts could be artificially low. Wait a week or two and they might be higher. Most remediators don’t want to wait too long, because they don’t know “what you might have done wrong since they were there,” i.e., forgotten to run the dehumidifier, opened windows, etc.I do tape-testing to better the chances that sufficient demolition has been done. Plus, there’s the visual check of surfaces like the tops of hot water heaters to make sure dust removal has been thorough. I also touch a tape to the top surfaces of cross bar supports between ceiling joists in the basement to see if all surfaces have been cleaned – or just the ones the remediator figured the inspector would visually check. Well, we are now at the end of this section. I remind you that the Cutting Edge information has relevance here. More information on mold clean up can be found at my other two related sites: