indoor
air quality may appear to be the least of your problems.
However, failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce
moisture and humidity can present serious long-term health
risks.
Standing water and wet materials are a breeding
ground for microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria and mold.
They can cause disease, trigger allergic reactions, and continue
to damage materials long after the flood.
Clean-up priorities will vary depending upon the
kind and seriousness of damage to your structure. But assuming
major concerns such as structural safety, basement flooding, and
electrical and water systems have been addressed, clean-up can
begin inside.
The CDC’s National Ag Database recommends
taking
the following steps based on information from the Cooperative
Extensions of the University of Wisconsin, Illinois and
Pennsylvania State University: Start cleaning your furnishings
as soon as possible. Your aim should be to thoroughly dry and
clean the space before trying to live in it or have permanent
repairs made. Early efforts should include taking furniture,
carpet and other materials outside to dry and prevent mildew.
As you begin clean-up, focus
on accomplishing the most important tasks first, and resist
over-exerting yourself.
• If day care is present,
clean children’s toys, cribs, playpens and play equipment.
Boil any items a toddler or
baby might put in his or her mouth. Discard stuffed toys,
water-logged toys and non-cleanable items.
• Keep chemicals used for
disinfecting and poisons used for insect and rodent control out
of children’s reach.
• Wear protective clothing on
legs, arms, feet and hands while cleaning up debris.
• Wash exposed skin frequently
in purified water. Wear rubber gloves to protect against
contamination and skin irritation.
• Try using a pump-up garden
sprayer or hose to remove layers of mud from hard surfaces.
• Scrub with a
cleaner/detergent solution and a brush to remove remaining
surface oil. Rinse with clean water.
• Wash with a disinfectant,
such as chlorine bleach, pine oil or a phenolic product.
Remember, a product is
considered to be a “disinfectant” only if it is labeled as such.
Rinse well.
• Dry items thoroughly to
prevent mildew growth.
• Sanitize.
• Brush off mold and mildew
growth on items outdoors to prevent scattering of spores in the
house.
• Vacuum floors, ceilings and
walls to remove mildew. Then wash surfaces with a
detergent/household cleaner and water solution.
• Wipe mildew-stained areas
with a cloth dampened with a solution of 1 cup of chlorine
bleach or rubbing or denatured alcohol to 1 gallon water.
Pine-based or phenolic products also work well.
Preventing Mildew Growth
• Use an air conditioner,
dehumidifier or heater, if available, to remove moisture.
Use fans to circulate air and
open all windows.
• Turn on electric lights in
closets and leave doors open to dry the dampness and humidity.
• Spray with a fungicide or
other mildew preventive product. Read and follow instructions
and precautions on product label. Dry thoroughly.
When cleaning mold from
buildings, select a method most appropriate to the situation.
Since molds gradually destroy
the things they grow on, if mold growth is not addressed
promptly, some items may be damaged such that cleaning will not
restore their original appearance. If mold growth is heavy and
items are valuable or important, you may wish to consult a
restoration/water damage/remediation expert.
The following four methods are
guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; other
cleaning methods may be preferred by some professionals.
• Method 1: Wet vacuum (in the
case of porous materials, some mold spores/fragments will remain
in the material but will not grow if the material is completely
dried). Steam cleaning may be an alternative for carpets and
some upholstered furniture.
• Method 2: Damp-wipe surfaces
with plain water or with water and detergent solution (except
wood — use wood floor cleaner); scrub as needed.
• Method 3: High-efficiency
particulate air (HEPA) vacuum after the material has been
thoroughly dried. Dispose of the contents of the HEPA vacuum in
well-sealed plastic bags.
• Method 4: Discard - remove
water-damaged materials and seal in plastic bags while inside of
containment, if present. Dispose of as normal waste. HEPA vacuum
area after it is dried.
Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
• Minimum: Gloves, N-95
respirator, goggles/eye protection.
• Limited: Gloves, N-95
respirator or half-face respirator with HEPA filter, disposable
overalls, goggles/eye protection.
• Full: Gloves, disposable
full body clothing, head gear, foot coverings, full-face
respirator with HEPA filter.
Containment
• Limited: Use polyethylene
sheeting from ceiling to floor around affected area with a slit
entry and covering flap; maintain area under negative pressure
with HEPA filtered fan unit. Block supply and return air vents
within containment area.
• Full: Use two layers of
fire-retardant polyethylene sheeting with one airlock chamber.
Maintain area under negative pressure with HEPA filtered fan
exhausted outside of building. Block supply and return air vents
within containment area. ❑
