Preventing Mold after a Flood

Mold is insidious and something that must deal with immediately and effectively after a flood because it is a health hazard to any and all who are exposed to it. Mold can also damage materials and one’s home—inside and out. The longer you allow mold to grow, the more difficult the cleanup and the higher the risk to your health. Mold colonies and its spores can form in three days, should the material remain wet. Even though wood and other materials may look dry, they may not be.

If you can’t find a reputable or dependable firm that is trained and licensed to deal with water and mold damage, then the job may need to be done by you. If that should be the case, here are some preventive measures you can take to keep mold out of your home and your life.

Before beginning, be sure to seal vents and ducts and make sure that the air-conditioning is off. Create a work area and seal this area off with plastic sheeting. Using tape, ensure that the plastic sheeting is in place and be sure to close it when leaving or entering the area.

• Step One: Take each room one at a time and take an inventory of what is missing, what is damaged, when items were purchased and how much you paid for them. In addition, take pictures so that you can have documents of the damage that was caused. This can be used and will be needed, to validate insurance needs.
• Step Two: Be sure to dry everything that became wet as soon as possible. This can be done by using air conditioning or by heating with fans or dehumidifiers..
• Step Three: Remove all wet carpeting and get rid of it. Bag up the carpeting in large plastic sacks and tie them securely before pitching them. The chances of mold remaining in the carpet are high. So why take a chance on keeping it and having the mold return? And it will return, if there are just small spots on the carpet.
• Step Four: Take away all wallboard that is wet and also remove any and all damp insulation. It has been found that wet insulation stays wet for a long time and eventually leads to new growth of mold that grows inside the walls. So, be sure that all of it is removed.
• Step Five: Clean items with non-phosphate detergents. Never, ever mix bleach with ammonia or vinegar! This combination is disastrous in any situation. Disinfectants can kill mold but are not able to prevent mold from returning.
• Step Six: Do everything you can to speed up the drying process of slabs, wall framing and wallboard and flooring. This can be done  by using air-conditioning, fans or heaters. Of course, contractors who specialize in this area of expertise, have the right kind of equipment that can speed up the drying process.
• Step Seven: Use a moisture meter to see if the moisture content is where it should be—should be no more than 14 percent moisture—before closing the wall.

Throughout this entire process, be sure to wear gloves and a mask. Wearing long sleeves and pants and sturdy shoes are also advised, for this will keep any mold or disinfectants away from your skin. And, when working in a certain area, be sure to isolate the area and ventilate the area to the outdoors. In addition, remove and discard all moldy materials. Be sure that they are bagged up and thrown away. Then, clean all surfaces that are plastic, concrete, glass and metal and solid wood. Usually these surfaces can be cleaned. Then you must disinfect.

Once all of these procedures have been completed, you must continually—at routine levels--check for signs of moisture or new areas of mold. Should the mold return, repeat the cleaning process and perhaps seek professional cleaning help.