Re: Suggestions for Mold Clean-up

[Guest guest]

Mandy,

is the mold coming from inside the walls from a water leak in a pipe? if so that

needs to be fixed before any sealant is involved. Also did you get it tested to

see if its toxic mold or not? if its toxic mold you need a professional to

handle the matter. This stuff is just too dangerous to mess with on your own.

amandajsnyder <amandajsnyder@...> wrote:

Hello,

There is mold on the walls near the toliet in my home. I have sensitivites and

I want someone

to clean it. I am wondering if somebody could recommend the best process for

this.

I don't believe that the community I live in has the financial resources nor

the know-how to

carefully remove parts of the wall and replacethem. I have been looking into to

sealants to

apply to the walls to contain the mold within the walls. Does anybody have any

suggestions

of types of sealants to use?

I am also wondering what the best cleaning solution to use is. I hear mixed

things about

bleach.

I appreciate your input!

Mandy.

[Guest guest]

>

> Hello,

>

> There is mold on the walls near the toliet in my home. I have

sensitivites and I want someone

> to clean it. I am wondering if somebody could recommend the best

process for this.

>

> I don't believe that the community I live in has the financial

resources nor the know-how to

> carefully remove parts of the wall and replacethem. I have been

looking into to sealants to

> apply to the walls to contain the mold within the walls. Does

anybody have any suggestions

> of types of sealants to use?

>

>

> I am also wondering what the best cleaning solution to use is. I

hear mixed things about

> bleach.

>

> I appreciate your input!

>

> Mandy.

I know bleach is controversial but I have had alot of luck using it.

I've used it for really large jobs (practically my whole basement

ceiling) and small spot jobs (a tiny leak in the ceiling of my

husband's office). I've found that hydrogen peroxide is the least

smelly and most effective if you treat the area two times.

I would also seriously consider just cutting out the infected area. I

know it may leave you with a space that you cannot fix right now, but

depending how bad the area is the mold may be through and through the

wall and won't be bleachable.

Good luck!

>

[Guest guest]

Mandy,

EE is exactly correct to advise against using a sealer without

removing the mold. Also, if the dampness that is growing the

mold is from a toilet leak then you have a sewage problem that is

more of a health concern than a mold problem. The moisture,

whether a leak or from condensation, must be stopped. All

damaged walls, etc, should be removed. Mold should be

removed.

As for " toxic mold, " almost any mold is capable of being toxic,

depending on the specific conditions of the environment it is in.

But none are toxic all the time. Testing for toxicity can be very

expensive and is not definitive because there are no exposure

levels indicating safe or unsafe. Just remove it.

All current methods of remediation by recognized authorities

(EPA, CDC, NYC, ACGIH, IICRC, NADCA, ACCA, IOM)

recommend any mold be removed in a manner that doesn't

spread it around, and the sources of dampness be identified and

stopped (or more mold will grow). These methods of removal do

not change according to the type of mold, toxigenic or not. All

types of mold should be removed and all are removed exactly the

same way.

I suggest you save your money by not testing and put it toward a

professional to properly assess the situation, the extent and

locations that need removal, and a professional contractor that

will conduct the remediation according to the guidelines and

standards by EPA and IICRC S520. Actually, the water damage

is the critical one and the best standard is ANSI-IICRC S500,

especially for sewage (Category 3 water).

Avoid the consultants and contractors that want to spray it with a

chemical, including bleach. They don't kill very well and killing

doesn't do much good anyway because dead mold is the same a

live mold for almost all health effects (the exception is infections,

which are not usual).

Also, dampness that grows mold will also grow bacteria so mold

sampling alone may give you false information for determining

when work is sufficient. Many on this board will tell you how

negative mold tests do not mean their reactivity stops.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> Mandy,

> is the mold coming from inside the walls from a water leak in a pipe? if so

that needs to be fixed before any sealant is involved. Also did you get it

tested to see if its toxic mold or not? if its toxic mold you need a

professional to handle the matter. This stuff is just too dangerous to mess with

on your own.

>

> amandajsnyder <amandajsnyder@...> wrote:

Hello,

>

> There is mold on the walls near the toliet in my home. I have sensitivites

and I want someone

> to clean it. I am wondering if somebody could recommend the best process for

this.

>

> I don't believe that the community I live in has the financial resources nor

the know-how to

> carefully remove parts of the wall and replacethem. I have been looking into

to sealants to

> apply to the walls to contain the mold within the walls. Does anybody have

any suggestions

> of types of sealants to use?

>

> I am also wondering what the best cleaning solution to use is. I hear mixed

things about

> bleach.

>

> I appreciate your input!

>

> Mandy.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I think we all are answering you assuming that you have verified that the

main source of water is a leak inside the wall or condensation inside the

wall from a leak somewhere else, and done whatever you can to reduce the

humidity inside your apartment, (especially using a bathroom vent fan and

opening a window for make up air when you use the shower, so you wont be

depressurizing your apartment and sucking mold into your living space

through any cracks in the walls.) that goes without saying.

That said, I agree with everyone else who says that you need to address the

cause of the water leak first. The mold you see on the outside of the wall

is probably nothing compared to the mold inside of it. You need to have that

leak fixed and the moldy material completely replaced. But BE CAREFUL when

that wall is opened up. Really, if it is making you sick, you want that to

be done by a professional which means that the bathroom needs to be sealed

off from the rest of your apartment so that the mold fragments and spores

that escape wont contaiminate your whole living space and belongings. That

could easily make you far sicker if it isn't done using the right procedure.

Basically, that is making sure that the cloud of moldy fungal fragments and

spores that is released when the wall is cracked open and the sheetrock

removed goes right out of a window or is filtered out. (HEPA filter is

essential)

One way is to make sure the bathroom door is CLOSED and tape is applied

around the edges. Make sure anyone who does this is wearing a GOOD mask,

which is either a N-100 disposable mask (not N-95!) or a professional

quality HEPA-quality mask (purple cartridges) and also that the moldy stuff

goes right into a plastic bag that is closed.

IMPORTANT: Before all leaks have been fixed, that sheetrock needs to be

thrown out in a sealed bag.

After the repairs have been done, etc, the removed sheetrock should be

replaced with new, non-mold-growing sheetrock. (slightly more expensive but

worth it..)

If there is water condensing inside the wall, it has to be coming from

somewhere, either a water leak or maybe there are holes in the wall which

are allowing warm moist indoor air to come into contact with cold outer

wall.. in any case, mold needs water to grow.

Good luck!