Cleaning up Molds after Flooding and Hurricanes

Cleaning up Molds

Before beginning work on a flooded home, make sure the electricity is turned off. Unplug appliances and lamps, remove light bulbs and cover plates of wall switches or outlets that got wet. If local building inspection code allows you to disconnect wiring from switches and outlets, do so and throw them away. If your building inspector says that you cannot disconnect the wiring, pull them forward, away from the wall, and leave them connected.

• Remove as much mud as possible. Once you have checked the water system for leaks, hose down the inside of the house and its contents. It is best to use an attachment that sprays soap to wash and rinse the walls, floors, furniture, sockets, electrical boxes, and other major items that got muddy. Use a non-ammonia soap or detergent, or a commercial cleaner in hot water and scrub the entire area affected by the mold. A stiff brush or cleaning pad works well on block walls or uneven surfaces. Rinse clean with water. A wet/dry vacuum is handy for this process.
• Remove heating and cooling registers and ducts, then hose them to prevent contamination when blowing through the ducts at a later date. Next, scientists recommend washing with a disinfectant that is quaternary, phenolic or pine-oil based. If ducts are in a slab or otherwise inaccessible, have them cleaned professionally.
• Disinfect and dry the moldy area. It is critical to remove the source of moisture, before beginning to clean up, as mold growth will return, if the area becomes wet again.
• Bag and dispose any material that has moldy residues, such as rags, paper, leaves, or debris. Harder materials such as glass, plastic, or metal can be kept after they are cleaned and disinfected.
• Wear gloves when handling moldy materials. Moldy materials should be removed as follows:
• Remove porous materials (examples: ceiling tiles, drywall, carpeting, wood products)
• Carpeting can be a difficult problem – drying does not remove the dead spores. If there is heavy mold, consider replacing.
• Allow the area to dry 2 or 3 days.
• If flooded, remove all drywall to at least 12 inches above the high water mark.
• Visually inspect the wall interior and remove any other intrusive molds. (This step may have to be carried out by a licensed contractor).
• Use caution, as spores are easily released when moldy material is dried out. When cleaning these damaged materials, consider wearing a mask or using a respirator. Respirators can be purchased from hardware stores; select one for particle removal (sometimes referred to as a N95 or TC-21C particulate respirator). Respirators are not as effective removing bleach fumes, so minimize your exposure when using bleach or other disinfectants.
• After thoroughly cleaning and rinsing, disinfect the area with a solution of 10 percent household bleach (e.g., 1 1/2 cups bleach per gallon of water). Using bleach straight from the bottle will not be more effective. Never mix bleach with Ammonia – the fumes are toxic. Avoid excessive amounts of runoff or standing bleach. Make sure the working area is well ventilated. st. If you feel that this adversely affected your health, you should consider paying a licensed contractor or professional to carry out the work.
• Ask others to leave the areas during the cleaning process.
• Work over short time spans and rest in a fresh air location.
• Air your house out well during and after the work.

Never use a gasoline engine indoors – you could expose yourself and your family to carbon monoxide.

If mold odors persist, continue to dry out the area and search for any hidden areas of mold. If the area continues to smell musty, you may have to re-clean the area. Continue to dry and ventilate the area. Don’t replace flooring or begin rebuilding until the area has dried completely.