DEALING WITH MOLD

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Posted on Sun, Oct. 09, 2005

DEALING WITH MOLD

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/home/12844382.htm

If you have a mold problem, here's what you can do:

• Avoid cleanups yourself if you have asthma or allergies.

• Before embarking on cleanup, make sure you correct the source of

the problem -- a leak, for example.

• Decide if you can do the job yourself. The EPA divides mold

remediation into three categories: small for areas less then 10

square feet, medium for areas between 10 and 100 square feet, and

large for affected areas greater than 100 square feet. Chemist

C. May suggests anything larger than ''small'' is best left

to professionals.

• Determine the three categories of water that contribute to the

problem. Category 1 is clean water from rainfall or water supply

pipes. Category 2 is gray water from a washing machine or

overflowing toilet or water from a very dirty carpet. Category 3 is

black water from a sewer backup or river water. May suggests

Category 2 or 3 water cleanups be handled by professionals.

• When cleaning the affected area, wear a mask and long rubber

gloves. Also recommended: plastic safety goggles and a properly

fitted mask with a NIOSH rating of at least N95.

• Work in an area that's well ventilated.

• Clean the small area of mold with a solution of one part household

bleach and 10 parts water. Apply with a sponge and let it sit for 15

minutes, then dry the surface. Dispose of sponges used for the

cleaning.

• If you choose to hire a professional, make sure the contractor has

experience cleaning up mold. The company should follow the

recommendations in the EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and

Commercial Buildings as well as guidelines from the American

Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists and other

professional organizations.

• Insist on proper containment from the mold remediation company to

safeguard your family and your home.

• Check your insurance policy to see under what conditions, if any,

mold testing and cleanup are included. Usually mold sampling and

remediation are covered only if the problem is a result of an event

already covered by insurance. For example, mold as a result of

hurricane damage is likely to be covered, but mold growing after a

leaky kitchen faucet was not properly maintained is not.

Sources: Environmental Protection Agency, The Mold Survival Guide

for Your Home and for Your Health, Insurance Information Institute