Dealing With Mold After Floods

Mold can be one of the toughest and most frustrating issues to battle. If your home has experienced water damage from flooding, in as little as 24 to 48 hours mold could develop. Once started, it will continue to grow until steps are taken to thoroughly dry out the home and eliminate the source of the moisture. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that mold can be recognized by wall and ceiling discoloration and a musty, earthy odor.

Mold is a naturally existing substance in nature. However,  it can be very harmful to humans. Airborne mold spores in large quantities can cause such things as allergic reactions, asthma episodes, infections and other respiratory problems. Long term continual exposure to mold can cause nasal or sinus congestion; eye, nose or throat irritation; and adverse effects to the nervous system.

Though mold poses a threat to everyone, those at that are at the greatest risk are “infants and children, the elderly, people with diseases related to compromised immunity, pregnant women, and those with existing respiratory conditions.” Anyone falling into these categories should consult a physician immediately if they are experiencing health problems.

Here are a couple of steps to apply if your home has been flooded or exposed to water to a large degree.

First,if the humidity outside is lower than indoors, open up the house, opening all the doors and windows to flush out the moist indoor air with the dryer outdoor air. Be sure to monitor the indoor and outdoor humidity. If the humidity ever becomes higher outdoors then indoors (like at night and during rainy/foggy days), be sure to close up the house.
Clear all moist furniture from the house. They must be thoroughly disinfected and washed before bringing them back into the house.

Promote circulation of cabinets and closets by removing all the drawers and opening the doors.

Find and clean any ducts that may have been under water. This includes air conditioning or a furnace blower. The ducts may contain harmful sediment that will blow into your home. Instead, use fans to help clear the bad air and dry out your house. Couple this with dehumidifiers and window air conditioners to reduce the amount of moisture even more.

Visit your local hardware store to pick up moisture absorbing materials such as silica gel, which you can use to dry areas you can’t get fans into.If you notice instances of mold, try removing them promptly with these methods…

Use household cleaners to scrub all walls and wood furniture, mixing in about 1/4 cup of liquid chlorine bleach with every gallon of water.

Remove and replace all wall coverings. Wallpaper paste actually harbors mold and can be harmful if ignored.

Disinfectant all rooms more then once to make sure the germs and odors left by the floodwaters have been taken care of.

Note: While cleaning your home, be careful of fumes! Always use rubber gloves and a dust mask.

Unfortunately, drying out your entire home could take weeks. Even though you might think that your house is safe, mold is a tough enemy, and the lingering effects of mold could still be present long after you feel your work is done. If still in doubt, contact your health physician to test for effects of mold on the body, and get a professional to test your house.

For additional information on flood preparedness, go to www.mass.gov/mema.