How to deal with mold in your house

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October 22. 2005 1:35AM

How to deal with mold in your house

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Got mold and mildew in your house after the storms? Here is some

helpful information from the Louisiana Department of Health and

Hospitals to help you deal with it.

People at Greatest Risk for Health Effects from Mold:

• People with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions may

be more sensitive to mold.

• People with immune suppression (such as people with HIV infection,

cancer patients taking chemotherapy, and people who have received an

organ transplant) are more susceptible to mold infections.

• If you or your family members have health problems after exposure

to mold, contact your doctor or other health care provider.

Possible Health Effects of Mold Exposure:

• People allergic to mold may have a stuffy nose, irritated eyes,

wheezing, or skin irritation, difficulty breathing and shortness of

breath.

• People with weakened immune systems and with chronic lung

diseases, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold

infections in their lungs.

You may recognize mold by:

• Sight (Are the walls and ceiling discolored, or do they show signs

of mold growth or water damage?)

• Smell (Do you smell a bad odor, such as a musty, earthy smell or a

foul stench?)

• Moldy smells are a sign of molds and mildews, even if you cannot

see them. If a building smells moldy, check for hidden molds and

moisture

Cleaning Up Mold and Mildew:

• Mold and mildew readily grow in damp conditions, particularly in

wet areas. Wet materials must be removed and the building dried

completely.

• Remove standing water. Clean up and dry out the building as soon

as possible. Open doors and windows. Where possible, use fans to dry

out the building.

• If your home has been flooded, it may be contaminated with mold.

Consider wearing a N95 designated facemask, rubber boots, rubber

gloves and goggles inside your home when working with moldy

materials.

• When in doubt, take it out. Remove and throw away all porous items

that have been wet. These items can remain a source of mold growth

and should be removed from the home.

• Remove and throw away all wet carpet and padding.

• Bedding, mattresses, pillows, and upholstered furniture that are

wet should be removed and thrown away. Launder all other clothing,

sheets, and towels in hot soapy water.

• Remove all wet sheetrock, paneling, fiberglass or cellulose

insulation and other porous wallboards. Remove at least 12 inches of

wallboard above the water line or the damp area because of " wicking "

of water up the walls. Clean wall studs after removing wallboards

and allow studs to dry completely.

• Wash non-porous materials with soap and water and a stiff brush

followed by a solution of chlorine bleach and water. Nonporous

materials include tile floors, countertops, metal objects, plastic,

glass and other hard nonabsorbent materials. Concrete and brick

surfaces may also be cleaned this way. Dry completely.

• Remove mold growth from hard surfaces with soap and water, and

disinfect with a bleach solution of 1 to 2 cups of bleach in 1

gallon of water. Repeat clean up and removal procedures as needed.

- Never mix bleach with ammonia. Mixing bleach and ammonia can

produce dangerous, toxic fumes.

- Open windows and doors to provide fresh air and ventilate the area.

- Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.

• Materials that cannot be effectively cleaned and dried should be

placed in plastic garbage bags for disposal.

• Valuable items such as books, wood furniture, or papers should be

discarded if they cannot be cleaned. Saving damaged items may

require hiring professionals such as conservators who are familiar

with cleaning and restoration techniques.

• Check your air conditioning and heating systems for damage.

Discard wet or water-damaged filters. You may need to hire a

professional to inspect your system or clean vents and air ducts.

• High humidity can cause mold growth even in areas not directly in

contact with floodwaters. Mold may be behind furniture, under

carpeting, under wood floors, behind and under cabinets, in closets

and attics or in between walls.

• Contact a professional mold remediation consultant for further

advice.

Finding a Licensed Mold Clean-Up Contractor:

1. Log onto www.lslbc.state.la.us/findcontractor.asp or call 1-866-

310-7879

2. Contact the LSLBC, Louisiana State Licensing Board for

Contractors for do's and don'ts when you hire a contractor.

3. Check with your insurance agent for referrals.

4. Get the contractor's business name and address.

5. Get in writing the estimated start and completion dates and the

total amount to be paid when the work is done.

6. Never pay more than 10 percent of the total cost down at the

beginning of the job.

For information, visit http://www.bt.cdc.gov/diseasters/floods or

call the Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals at 1-888-293-

7020.