How Do I Remove Mold?
Negative air pressure containment areas should be built to encase areas prior to efforts to remove mold. HEPA (High Efficiency…
How Do I Remove Mold?
Negative air pressure containment areas should be built to encase areas prior to efforts to remove mold. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) scrubbers/filters capable of cleaning the air inside the containment area should be in operation continuously while work is taking place and for approximately seventy-two hours afterwards. This process cleans fungal spores from the air and prevents cross-contamination. At HealthyAir, we use standard EPA protocols for cleaning mold.
Several processes and products to remove mold have come into the market over the past few years. Dry ice and various other media products for machine blasting – also referred to as sand blasting – are used in extreme situations. But the vast majority of mold cleaning can be done by hand. HealthyAir recommends an EPA registered fungicide intended to remove mold or clean mold. Bleach will not kill mold. It is important to choose cleaning products that actually kill mold so existing mold will not grow back. Of course if conditions that sustained mold growth are not eliminated new mold growth will eventually occur.
The following is an effective process to remove mold in unfinished basements and crawl spaces:
- Remove and bag all floor insulation in the crawl space and basement and discard.
- Fog the entire basement and crawl space with industrial strength hydrogen peroxide fungicide, including but not limited to sub-flooring, floor joist and wood bracing. Industrial strength hydrogen peroxide used to remove mold is composed of 16% to 18% hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide we use at home is 3%. Hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria, virus and fungus but leaves no chemical residue after drying.
- After fogging, clean and HEPA vacuum all wood surfaces and spot sand heavy mold reservoirs.
- After cleaning, using an industrial atomizer, apply a clear acrylic mold inhibitor to encapsulate wood surfaces to prevent future mold growth.
