Toxic Mold Treatment Tips
While some molds can be perfectly harmless or beneficial to society, certain types of molds can be toxic and extremely dangerous. Exposure to toxic molds can cause allergic reactions, asthma, eye, nose, and throat irritation, sinus congestion, and other respiratory problems. If you have mold in your home or workplace, it is in your best interest to get rid of it immediately. Here are some tips on how to make your environment mold-free.
- Small areas of mold can generally be easily treated. Sunlight, ventilation and household cleaners can be used to treat and prevent future mold growth. The installation of wall insulation and use of non-porous building materials can also help.
- Prevent excess moisture from entering the area, as molds thrive in moist environments. Make sure there aren’t any leaky pipes and pay special attention to areas around bathtubs and sinks. If necessary, use a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture content of the air.
- Damp wiping can be performed on non-porous materials. This involves wiping the area with water and detergent and allowing it to dry in a limited amount of time to prevent future mold growth. After the mold is removed, a moldicide or fungicide cleaner can be applied to the surface.
- Furniture, ceiling tiles, or building materials that can be removed should be thrown out if they have been affected by the mold. These items are absorbent and may be very difficult to treat for mold. Any materials to be discarded should be put in impermeable bags.
- HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtered vacuum cleaners can be used in the final step of mold treatment to capture any airborne mold spores to prevent contamination in other areas as well as protect those who are working in the area that is contaminated.
Note that even if the mold is killed, the chemicals and proteins that are in mold are still present which can cause reactions in humans. The mold must be completely removed in order to make the area safe.