Mold is caused by a moisture issue within the area where the mold is growing. The first step in mold remediation is resolving what is causing the moisture and allowing the mold to thrive. Mold can begin to grow within 24 – 48 hours of moisture building up in an area. It is important to remove whatever is causing the moisture, or to decrease the humidity with the use of dehumidifiers or increased ventilation. Mold remediation is a pointless task if the initial causes are not also dealt with. It is important that anyone working on the situation is properly protected. Mold can cause many types of health issues, which is why mold remediation is so important. When cleaning up the mold, all exposed areas of skin should be covered and goggles, a filter mask and rubber gloves should be worn. Anything that becomes contaminated with the mold during clean-up should be sealed in a plastic bag before removal from the area to prevent contaminating somewhere else. There are a number of different methods that can be used to remove the mold from the contaminated area. Before beginning any mold remediation work, the area should be sealed off to prevent mold spores travelling to different areas. Mold releases spores when it is disturbed, which is why protective measures are so important during mold remediation. Wet vacuums, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuums and damp wiping with disinfectant are all ways to remove mold. Finally, for porous surfaces where the mold may have infiltrated the object, it may have to be discarded. | | |