Summer brings the rainy season to south Florida.  In the western United States it means the beginning of the monsoon.  Along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, tropical storms and waves bring flooding rains.  For many parts of the country, summer means dampness.  Anytime you get dampness, you have the first ingredient necessary for a mold factory to begin production.

That is why the first step in any mold cleaning is to stop the water and prevent dampness from recurring.  In places like the bathroom, this can be easier said than done because the area is by nature designed to get wet.  In those instances, air circulation is critical.  You can install exhaust fans or just open a window.  If your mold is the result of a flood or water leak, then only once the water is removed and the area is dried out are you ready to clean.

If a porous surface has mold, it might be better to throw it away than to clean it.  This is true of acoustic ceiling tiles and wallpaper as well as sheetrock that has been damaged by water.  Some porous surfaces can be safely cleaned (such as leather) and washable fabrics.  When cleaning the surface, use a soap and water solution.  Any soap with a high pH value will clean mold.  We think the best cleaner for mold is M1 House Wash because it is so versatile.  You can use House Wash to remove mold from bathroom tiles, walls, leather, floors, counter tops, many wood surfaces and more.  If the surface is also stained by the mold, you can mix the House Wash with household bleach (something we do not recommend) or you can mix it with OxyBoost powdered bleach.  We recommend the use of OxyBoost for removing mold stains because it is made with sodium percarbonate.  When this ingredient comes in contact with the oxygen in hot water it creates an incredible stain fighting solution.  Also, OxyBoost does not create harmful, toxic gasses the way regular chlorine bleach can.  We have even used a mixture of HouseWash and OxyBoost to pressure wash the mold from the exterior of our mountain cabin and deck.  Because both of these places are situated close to a fresh water supply, we are always concerned to use non-toxic products to protect the waterway.  I’ve even used a mixture of HouseWash and OxyBoost in a carpet cleaning machine to clean the rug we used as our display flooring during the many home shows we did for our indoor environmental company.

There are many people that will tell you to use vinegar for cleaning mold, but aside from the smell I am always concerned about any damage it might do to the material you are trying to clean.

Once the surface mold is cleaned and any stain removed you are ready to treat with an antimicrobial.  For mold, we always recommend the use of Vital Oxide.  After the surface has completely dried, spray or coat it liberally with Vital Oxide.  This chlorine dioxide solution will kill any residual spores.  It will not damage most surfaces (I always recommend testing in a small place first) and once it has done its job of killing the mold it will oxidize into simple table salt.  It is amazing how something that is so strong and powerful a disinfectant and antimicrobial can break down safely with no toxic fumes or by-products.

If the area is one that will be repeatedly exposed to water (such as in a bathroom or outdoor patio furniture) you can use a coating to help keep the mold from coming back.  We use the companion product to the HouseWash, which is SureCote.  The clear SureCote sealant provides a protective coating that inhibits the growth of mold.  The coating is flexible and non-yellowing so it can be used on outdoor furniture and leather.  The duration of the protection really depends on how often the area is exposed to water.  Repeated dousing with water will cause the coating to break down.  What this means in practical terms is that in my shower that gets wet 2 or 3 times a day, the SureCote doesn’t last as long as it does on my front door, which while exposed to the elements every day only gets wet when the rains blow in from the north.  The SureCote in the bathroom may last several months, on my front door it lasts about 3 years.

If you are cleaning a large area do be sure to contain the mold clean up.  That means if you are gutting one room, make sure that room is sealed from the others and that you run a HEPA cleaner during and after the work. It makes no sense to clean one area and then just spread it to another!

Lastly, if the mold was in your closet, it won’t hurt to wash the clothes to remove any stray spores.  You can use AllergenWash by Alkaline Labs or if the clothing is hot water washable, just use hot water.  No special sprays or coatings should be necessary for your clothes.  Don’t hang them back in the closet until you have the mold clean up complete.  No need to do the same job over again is there?

Of course, if the mold is extensive and covers large areas, you will want to bring in an expert.  Just make sure to check their references and don’t let them scare you.  While some molds are toxic and cause allergies, others are benign.  Either way, you don’t want them in your house unless they are in your antibiotic or blue cheese.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl
The Allergy Store