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Guide to Mold Cleaning Products & Approaches to Remove Toxic Mold in Buildings
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• Consumer's guide to mold cleaners, mold killers, mildewcides, fungidicals, mold soaps, mold sprays, etc.
• Pros and cons of most popular mold cleaning products, solutions, sprays, cleaners, or other approaches to mold cleaning systems
• How to clean or remove mold properly
• Mold clearance inspections after cleanup

This document describes choices among common cleaning substances and methods used for mold cleanup of building surfaces and contents. This is a chapter of the Mold Action Guide, a document which provides an easy to understand step-by-step guide for dealing with toxic or allergenic indoor mold and other indoor contaminants: what to do about mold. The steps in this document will be sufficient for many building owners who want to do their own mold investigation, mold testing, mold cleanup, and mold prevention in their home or office.

• At MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE we describe the basics of how to clean off moldy building surfaces and what simple products to use.
• At MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS we provide a guide to buying and using fungicidal sprays and sealants, we describe mistakes in use of mold sprays, and we define biocide, disinfectant, sanitizer and related terms.
• At MOLD SPRAY SOURCES & TYPES we list suppliers of biocides, fungicidal sealants, and related mold sprays and cleanup products.
• At FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE we provide a Guide to Use of Fungicidal Sealants on Wood Building Material

For details about cleaning up mold in buildings, readers should see MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD. Readers should also see MOLD CLEANUP with BLEACH and MOLD CLEANUP - WOOD FRAMING & PLYWOOD and also MOLD CLEANUP MISTAKES to AVOID. Also see see TRAPPED MOLD BETWEEN WOOD SURFACES for a discussion of the question of need to remove mold from mated and inaccessible building surfaces.

© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

What to Use to Clean Off Mold from Building Surfaces, Contents, Items

Just below we answer some of the most common mold cleanup questions posed by our readers, followed by a detailed homeowner's guide to popular mold cleaners, mold removers, mold killers, and other mold cleanup approaches.

What to use to clean off mold from all of the exposed hard, cleanable surfaces: to clean off a moldy surface, you could use simple clean water, soapy water, spray cleaners, or if you prefer, a commercial biocide (follow their directions) or a dilute bleach cleaning solution. But because so many readers have asked about specific mold "cleaning" or mold "killing" methods we list and comment on these approaches below.

• Water to clean mold: After discussing mold cleaning with an expert mycologist (J.H. NYS DOH), we agreed that simple water and a scrubby sponge work fine for cleaning off superficial mold.
• Soap and water to clean mold: using any household cleaner or soap solution, works well where we want to leave a nicer looking surface.
• Color of mold does not impact choice of mold cleaner: it does not matter what color or kind of mold you are cleaning up - in most cases the cleaning methods will be just the same.
• Type of surface being cleaned impacts mold cleaner choice: the type of moldy surface or material being cleaned up matters a lot. Hard surfaces such as wooden objects or wood framing are easy to clean with any cleaning product and a scrubby sponge, rags, paper towels. See MOLD CLEANUP - WOOD FRAMING & PLYWOOD.
  • Hard surfaces that don't absorb water are easiest to clean: wipe the item in or with a solution of warm water and detergent.
    
  • Washable items such as clothes, curtains: use your washing machine and laundry detergent. Clothing that cannot be laundered can be dry-cleaned.
  • Dusty surfaces that are not actually holding mold growth can be vacuumed or cleaned using normal methods.
    Irregular surfaces such as a roof deck penetrated by nails cannot be efficiently cleaned by hand-scrubbing, and media blasting may be needed. It is virtually impossible to effectively clean moldy carpeting or moldy upholstered couches.
    Moldy insulation cannot be cleaned and must be replaced. See INSULATION MOLD.
  • Carpeting (wall to wall), carpet padding, thick upholstered furniture, sofas, and similar items that have been exposed to wet moldy conditions cannot be effectively cleaned and are normally disposed-of. (Valuable antique furniture might be stripped and sent to be reupholstered.)
    
    Don't spend more on cleaning an object than its replacement cost or value.
• Total area of moldy materials affects mold cleanup approach: large areas of mold, more than 30 sq.ft. need to be cleaned up by a professional; if you are tackling a small area of mold, or are hiring someone to do so, be sure that the cleanup stops, and a professional is consulted, if your demolition/cleaning procedure discovers a large area of mold that you had not seen before. See MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD.
• Cause of mold affects mold cleanup approach: while it may be reasonable to begin a mold cleanup project as soon as the mold problem is discovered (we do want to get rid of mold indoors), the cleanup job will be ineffective and possibly you'll be wasting the effort and expense if you don't identify and fix the cause of indoor mold contamination in the first place. Once you have identified and corrected the cause of mold in your building, you'll also want to take steps to prevent future mold growth. See MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE.

Guide to Popular Approaches to Cleaning up Mold in a building or on building contents.

Basic mold cleanup safety warning: If you are doing your own mold cleanup be sure to wear appropriate protective clothing, goggles, HEPA-rated respirator, better, a respirator that filters both fine particles (HEPA) AND that filters out the MVOCs (gases produced by mold), gloves, etc. If you are asthmatic, immune impaired, sick, elderly, or an infant, it would be smart to have an expert clean up your mold while you stay out of the moldy area or building.

The U.S. EPA recommends these mold cleanup safety tips [our comments are in brackets]

• Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores.  In order to limit your exposure to airborne mold, you may want to wear an N-95 respirator, available at many hardware stores and from companies that advertise on the Internet. (They cost about $12 to $25.)  Some N-95 respirators resemble a paper dust mask with a nozzle on the front, others are made primarily of plastic or rubber and have removable cartridges that trap most of the mold spores from entering.  In order to be effective, the respirator or mask must fit properly, so carefully follow the instructions supplied with the respirator.  Please note that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that respirators fit properly (fit testing) when used in an occupational setting; consult OSHA for more information (800-321-OSHA or www.osha.gov).
• Wear gloves. Long gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm are recommended.  When working with water and a mild detergent, ordinary household rubber gloves may be used.  If you are using a disinfectant, a biocide such as chlorine bleach, or a strong cleaning solution, you should select gloves made from natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane, or PVC (see Cleanup and Biocides).  Avoid touching mold or moldy items with your bare hands. [Bleach makes people more comfortable about their mold cleanup job but except for cosmetic reasons such as removing stains, it is unnecessary in a mold cleanup project - see MOLD KILLING GUIDE and see MOLD CLEANUP with BLEACH.]
  
• Wear goggles.  Goggles that do not have ventilation holes are recommended.  Avoid getting mold or mold spores in your eyes. [We have had a few reported cases of actual loss of an eye by people who got moldy debris into an eye and failed to recognize and diagnose the problem until too late. But wearing goggles without vent holes, while safer, may mean that your goggles fog and you can't see. Don't let this mean you simply give up and take them off. Use anti-fogging goggle or eyeglass products.]

See MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD for details.

• Air purifiers for mold: portable indoor air purifiers are ineffective at correcting a mold problem in a building - just consider the mold reservoir in a mold contaminated home as an infinite particle source. The air "purifier" may pull some particles out of the air but it is no more effective at removing a mold problem than standing in the kitchen, waving your vacuum cleaner wand in the air, and expecting to pick up all of the dust from the nearby living room floor. An air purifier will indeed reduce the number of airborne particles if it is operated in a small-enough closed room, and that may improve occupant comfort, but air purifiers do not cure nor clean up nor remove an indoor toxic or allergenic mold problem.
• Air scrubbers or air sprays of fungicides and disinfectants: are popular among mold remediation companies who expect the mold clearance inspector to rely on an air test to "pass" the building after a mold cleanup job. (See MOLD CLEARANCE: FOLLOWUP STEPS for a discussion of mold clearance inspections.)
  
  Their proponents argue that these products "knock down" airborne mold in the building - a reasonable view considering that demolition and cleaning of moldy building surfaces can stir up high levels of airborne mold. A similar "cleaning" of the air inside a building after mold remediation may be attempted by "fogging" with a fungicidal sealant paint (also effective, and also risky - see FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE and our comments on fungicidal sprays just below).
  
  The mold remediator who has constructed a contained, sealed area does not want to be blamed for airborne mold entering the building from other areas that were not treated. This makes sense if the building was not fully and competently inspected in the first place, as other problem mold reservoirs outside the remediation area may be present.
  
  But in most locations, simply ventilating the building with fresh air after cleanup can produce the same results.
  
  Beware: if the moldy materials were not adequately removed, if moldy surfaces or debris were left in the work area, no amount of air sprays, surface sprays, or air scrubbing using a HEPA-filtered air handler, will correct the indoor mold problem any more than you can pick up dust from a living room floor by standing in the kitchen and waving your vacuum cleaner wand in the air. Our photo (above left) shows a horrible "professional mold remediation job" in which the cleaning company left moldy insulation and debris in the crawl space. The contractor simply stood at the crawl space entry and sprayed in some fungicidal paint.
• Bleach to clean mold: Be sure to read MOLD CLEANUP with BLEACH and MOLD CLEANUP - WOOD FRAMING & PLYWOOD and also MOLD CLEANUP - MISTAKES to AVOID. Also see see TRAPPED MOLD BETWEEN WOOD SURFACES for a discussion of the question of need to remove mold from mated, inaccessible building surfaces such as between the top of a floor joist and the under-side of subflooring.
  
  Once you've read about bleach it will be clear that any cleaning method that removes surface mold is fine: water, soap and water, household cleaners. Stains that are left behind, such as on framing lumber, are generally harmless (fungal hyphae left in the actual wood), provided that you keep the building properly dry. And if you don't keep the building properly dry, new mold growth will readily occur on many surfaces regardless of the old stains that were left from the prior mold cleanup.
• Carpet cleaning to remove mold from wet moldy carpeting is not effective regardless of method used (dry chemical, steam, wet scrubbing). Dusting carpets with baking soda is also ineffective at removing problem mold, though it might make the carpeting smell better for a while.
  Steam cleaning moldy carpets will neither kill nor remove enough mold in the carpeting nor in carpet padding to make such materials salvageable if the carpet was wet and/or harboring actual mold growth.
  Vacuuming a carpet exposed to moldy dust (say from other building areas) is fine. Vacuuming will not effectively clean a carpet that has been wet or has harbored mold growth.
  Wet moldy carpeting is generally discarded as is wet moldy carpet padding or carpet padding that was below wet moldy carpets.
• Caulk over mold? Don't caulk over moldy caulk such as in a bathroom or around a window. Even "mildew resistant" caulks are not proof against ultimate mold re growth in the new caulk, and you have not removed the problem. Cut and strip away moldy caulk, clean the exposed surfaces, be sure there is no leak behind the area to be caulked, then re-caulk with a mold resistant caulk (often sold under the incorrect name as "mildew resistant caulk".
• Clothes washing and dry cleaning to remove mold from clothing, bedding, even curtains, is generally very effective for these soft goods. Upholstered furniture, pillows, mattresses that have been wet and moldy are generally discarded as surface cleaning by any method (even steam) is unable to remove mold from deeper in the material.
• Deck Cleaner Solution vs. Media Blasting to clean mold: For cosmetic reasons we might use a more aggressive cleaner or even bleach, but that's for appearance, not because we're trying to "kill" mold. For example, where cleaning an indoor surface where wood is left exposed for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons, we may use MOLD CLEANUP by MEDIA BLASTING or we may use a deck cleaner solution (intended for outdoor use). The down side of any indoor cleaning that uses a water-based spray in quantity is having to deal with the water itself - dumping more water into a moldy building invites more mold problems. So wet methods work better outdoors or over a concrete floor that can be quickly cleaned and dried.
• Detergents to clean moldy surfaces: household cleaning detergents are just fine, liquid or powder are equally effective and involve less suds to be cleaned off.
• Dehumidifiers for mold: a dehumidifier will not clean up nor correct an existing mold problem, and temporarily, when you drop the humidity in a damp moldy area, the level of airborne mold will actually increase (the drying mold decides to release its airborne spores to find a better home). A dehumidifier is an important part of mold prevention, however. See MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE and see HUMIDITY CONTROL TO PREVENT MOLD. Also see DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE for an explanation of dew points and indoor humidity in buildings, and see MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE and HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS and VENTILATION in BUILDINGS.
• Dishwasher to remove mold: a dishwasher is effective for removing mold from most dishware and glassware; on occasion we find mold stains that have developed below cracked glazing on antique dishware, and we've had some success in correcting this cosmetic problem using bleach (below).
• Enzymes or fungicides to clean mold: while these products can produce nice looking results, and while their claim of "killing" all mold (an exaggeration in many cases), are not relevant to a proper mold cleanup (where removal is the key word), their use is not generally necessary. Read CLEANUP with BLEACH for a more complete explanation of the difference between "killing" mold and "removing" mold.

• Fungicidal sprays to "clean" mold: can be an effective surface cleaning method, but much too often we find that the mold "expert" rushes the job, relying on the spray to "kill" or "immobilize" mold without first finding and removing the mold actual problem mold reservoir. Sprays are not an effective substitute for actually cleaning or removing problem mold. See these articles:
  FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE
    FUNGICIDAL SPRAY ADVANTAGES
    MOLD SPRAY WARNINGS
  MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS - sources, choices, suppliers
  
  Our photo (left) shows small particles that were immobilized in airborne droplets of a clear fungicidal sealant spray.
• HEPA Vacuum Cleaning to remove mold: a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner is used during dry surface cleaning methods to reduce airborne moldy dust and also to clean up moldy dust and debris from building surfaces. Don't use an ordinary household vacuum cleaner or "shop vac" that is not HEPA rated or you will simply increase the level of airborne mold in the building. For an effective reduction of indoor dust levels and moldy dust levels in building areas outside of the mold remediation area, where no mold growth contamination was present, HEPA vacuuming is often recommended as a final step in complete building cleaning.
• Laundry soap to clean or remove mold: laundry soap is effective as a household cleaner but may be more concentrated than you need; we use laundry soap and two washings to clean up moldy washable goods like towels, clothing. Sometimes mold leaves a stain on soft goods and bleaching may be needed for cosmetic reasons.
• Media blasting to remove mold (see MOLD CLEANUP by MEDIA BLASTING for details) as we mention above, is useful for cleaning wood surfaces to be left exposed (for cosmetic reasons) or where the moldy surface is very irregular (such as a roof deck with protruding nails), preventing normal surface scrubbing methods.
• Mildew removers and mildewcides to clean or remove mold: a mycologist will tell you that mildew does not grow in buildings - just on living plants. Mildewcides intended for plants should be restricted to that use. "Mildewcides" sold for indoor use as a "mildew remover" or "mildew cleaner" are mold cleaning products - see Mold soaps and mold killing cleaners below.
• Mold soaps and mold killing cleaners: special cleaners sold to clean up or remove mold may be fine, but they are not more effective than using household cleaners in cleaning a moldy surface. Some cleaners that contain a biocide and report that they will kill the mold are appealing to consumer fear, but are unnecessary. See MOLD CLEANUP MISTAKES to AVOID and see MOLD KILLING GUIDE.
• Mold test kits to check for mold cleanup effectiveness: we agree that testing for the effectiveness of mold cleanup and testing for cross contamination by moldy dust between the cleanup area and other building areas is appropriate when a costly or large-scale mold remediation job is to be performed. Tests should be done by an expert who has no relationship with the mold cleaning company. Beware of mold test kits that rely on cultures (they are inaccurate - see MOLD CULTURES) and beware of amateur mold sampling that may collect screening samples from the wrong place.
• Natural or organic mold killers, organic mold cleaners, green mold removal products: these cleaners are fine to use to clean up mold, and are preferred by people who want to avoid more harsh chemicals. As our object is to remove mold leaving a clean surface, even simple water and a scrubby sponge could be used to clean a moldy surface.
• Ozone to "remove" or "kill" mold or odors is a mistake in a moldy building. One of the most ridiculous magic bullet mold fixes we have seen is a costly "tenting" of the entire building so that the structure and its contents could be "sterilized" using ozone. This magic bullet has been so abused in the mold industry that it has been specifically "not recommended" by the US EPA and other expert sources. See these articles for details:
  OZONE as a "CURE" for TOXIC INDOOR MOLD or ODORS
  WHAT IS OZONE- O3
  OZONE AIR PURIFIER WARNINGS
  OXYGEN - O₂
  OZONE HAZARDS
  STANDARDS FOR OZONE EXPOSURE
  TESTS FOR OZONE
  OZONE MSDS
  OZONE TOXICITY
  OZONE ODORS, MOLD, REFS
• Paint over mold? Don't simply paint over mold with a "mold paint" or "mildewcide paint" - these steps are ineffective, mold usually grows back through the paint, and you have not removed the problem.
• Steam cleaning to remove mold: steam cleaning can be effective in cleaning thin cloth covered surfaces but it does not penetrate sufficiently to clean a moldy couch or carpet. Remember too that our object is not to kill mold (which some steam cleaners claim and which is inaccurate and ineffective anyway). Our cleaning object is to remove the mold. Steam cleaners may claim to "destroy the mold" but in nearly twenty years of testing moldy upholstered furniture and carpets before and after they were "steam cleaned" for mold we have not found a single case where this was effective. The steam does not penetrate fully through thick upholstered materials and even a very powerful commercial vacuum cleaner cannot pull enough mold and similar small particles from the center of an upholstered couch cushion nor a carpet to leave those products mold free.
• Vacuuming to clean up mold: we recommend using HEPA vacuum cleaners to clean up moldy dust or general dust in buildings after a mold cleanup job, but not to clean surfaces where mold is growing. Don't use an ordinary non-HEPA rated vacuum cleaner or you'll just be aerating the mold and other small dust particles. Don't try to clean a surface where mold is growing by just vacuuming - it's unlikely that vacuuming will remove enough of the mold growth that is adhered to the surface.
• Vinegar to get rid of mold: because it is a mild acid, vinegar makes a good household cleaner for many surfaces. Don't choose vinegar because you think your object is to "kill the mold" - that's not the correct objective. See MOLD KILLING GUIDE.

We have no financial interest in any of these products. This data was discovered by internet search. We have no scientific data as yet regarding the effectiveness, toxicity, chemical composition, nor durability of these products. We do not recommend using thick plaster or cementious coatings as these are more likely to later crack or leak, trapping moisture inside against the wood and promoting worse mold growth.

How to Use Bleach to Clean Up a Moldy Surface

Bleaching or "killing" mold is not the objective. Bleach will not kill all of the mold anyway - we can tease viable spores out of lots of "bleached mold" samples we see in the lab.

The object of mold removal is to clean the surface, to remove loose moldy material, not to try to sterilize the surface. Certain mold-contaminated materials that cannot be cleaned (drywall, carpeting, curtains) should be discarded. Clothing and bedding linens or towels can be washed or dry-cleaned.

Keep that in mind. If you want to use bleach as a cleaning agent instead of other cleaners (soap and water would work just fine) here are some mold cleanup suggestions for homeowners from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation CMHC. Please see BLEACHING MOLD, Advice about for details of how to mix and use bleach to clean a hard surface in a building as well as warnings about where bleaching mold is a cosmetic band-aid that just won't work.

• Dilute bleach with one part household bleach to four parts of clean water (do not add other cleaners to this solution as you may accidentally cause the release dangerous chlorine gas)
• Ventilate the work area
• Wear rubber gloves and eye protection
• After physically cleaning and removing all loose mold, dirt, debris, from the surface being cleaned, let the solution stand on the surface for 10-15 minutes.
• Rinse the cleaned surface thoroughly
• Be sure that the cleaned surfaces are totally dry before restoring any building insulation, drywall, etc.
• Discard moldy fabrics or other similar materials that cannot be surface-cleaned.

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• Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD
MOLD ACTIVITY in BUILDINGS
MOLD AGE - Old is the Mold?

MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE
MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD
MOLD CLASSES, HAZARD LEVELS
MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE
MOLD CLEANUP COMPANIES
MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD
MOLD CLEANUP - BLEACH
MOLD CLEANUP - HEALTH RISKS
MOLD CLEANUP - LIMITATIONS
MOLD CLEANUP - MISTAKES to AVOID
MOLD CLEANUP - MEDIA BLASTING
MOLD CLEANUP - SAFETY WARNINGS
MOLD CLEANUP - WOOD FLOORING
MOLD CLEANUP - WOOD FRAMING & PLYWOOD
MOLD CLEARANCE - POST-REMEDIATION INSPECTION

MOLD TEST KITS for DIY MOLD TESTS
MOLD TESTING SERVICES
MOLD TEST METHODS, ACCURACY
MOLD TEST PROCEDURES

• "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, CMHC, "Moisture and Air, problems and remedies, Householders Guide," NHA 5968, 1989, reprinted to 1995 cmhc-schl.gc.ca 800-668-2642. Cette publication est aussi disponible en francasi sus le tire: L'air et l'humidite - LNH 5969.
• US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building US EPA
• US EPA - Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo - en Espanol

Here are the Details on How to Clean Up or Remove Toxic or Allergenic Mold in Buildings

Mold Cleaning Procedures & Mold Remediation Standards Guidelines

• How to Clean Moldy Wood Framing & Sheathing How to clean/seal mold from/on exposed lumber or plywood subfloor or roof sheathing indoors - some suggestions based on our field and laboratory research
• Mold Cleaning, Remediation, & Clearance Testing Standards
• Building Floods - Steps to Clean and Prevent Mold Home Page - Advice on Cleaning Mold and Preventing Future Mold after a building flood
list of links to documents including other States: California Mold Cleanup Standards, Texas Mold Cleanup Standards, Pennsylvania Mold Cleanup Standards, EPA, CDC, and other U.S. state, federal, and world mold standards
• How to Find and Test For Mold in Buildings A 'how to' photo and text primer on finding and choosing the right spots to test for mold in buildings
• Media Blasting: Mold Removal by Media Blasting - A test report (complete article, with illustrations) on the effectiveness of baking soda media blasting for cleaning fungal contamination in buildings, Daniel Friedman, Dennis Melandro, originally published in Indoor Environment Connections, Rockville MD, June 2003
• Mold spores in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens.
• Stuff that is not mold but is often mistaken for it - things you may not want to test. Also, not all "black mold" is toxic - here are examples of harmless black mold.
• MN University of Minnesota - Fungal Abatement Safe Operating Procedure
• NY New York City Mold Remediation Guidelines - Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments
• "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA includes http://www.epa.gov/mold/whattowear.html on what to wear while cleaning up mold.

Directory of Producers of Mold Remediation Products, Fungicidal Sprays, Sealants, Biocides, Washes

See MOLD SPRAY SOURCES & TYPES for our complete product list;

We have no financial interest in any of these products. This data was discovered by internet search. We have no independent scientific data as yet regarding the effectiveness, toxicity, chemical composition, nor durability of these products. Producers of mold remediation products are welcome to Contact Us by email (please, not by telephone) to suggest product listings, website technical content, or technical corrections.

• Anabec Systems - 9393 Main St. • P.O. Box 433 • Clarence, NY 14031 see http://www.anabec.com/index.cfm Tel: 800-369-8463 Anabec NG2000™ produces many products used in mold remediation projects.
• Bioshield BST - Bioshield BST Protectant RTU75™ - Bioshield Technologies - Bio Shield Technologies
  P.O. Box 15, Clarks Summit, Pa 18411, Tel: 717-489-1728 Fax - 717-489-0228
  Email – info@bioshieldtech.com
  Web – www.bioshieldtech.com - http://www.bioshieldtech.com/Contact-Us-a/138.htm The company indicates that it
  "... offer a wide assortment of ... antimicrobial and personal protection products .... We work with only the industry’s leading manufacturers—DuPont, Agion, Discovery Medical, Anabec Systems, Woodward Labs, ..."
  
• Fiberlok Technologies, Tel: 800-342-3755 - http://www.fiberlock.com/products/8360.html
  MSDS sheets for the company's products can be found at http://www.fiberlock.com/products/msds.html
  The company refers website visitors to a dealer locator network and states
  "In the event you are unable to locate a distributor near you, please call us at 1-800-342-3755 "
• Foster Products, 1105 Frontenac St., Aurora IL 60504, Tel: 800-231-9541, Email: fosterproducts@hbfuller.com - http://www.fosterproducts.com/ -
  MSDS sheets for the company's products can be found at http://www.fosterproducts.com/default.aspx?PageID=msds
• Microban Antimicrobial Products - http://www.microban.com/. The company indicates that
  "Microban® antimicrobial protection is built-in to products during manufacturing to provide continuous antimicrobial product protection. Microban protection can be found in hundreds of consumer, industrial and medical products around the world."
• Protex 63, Trask Research, W.M. Barr, P.O. Box 1879, Memphis, TN 38101, - http://www.traskresearch.com/contact.html - Tel: 1-866-370-2499 The company indicates that
  "Protex 63 is an EPA registered fungicidal sealant that seals against mold, mildew, and green algae" and
  "Protex™ 63 is a durable, sealant and coating that resists mold, mildew and algal growth. Protex™ dries clear and does not affect the appearance of most surfaces. Protex™ is especially formulated for exterior use."
  MSDS data sheets are available from the manufacturer.
• Rocima™40, produced by Dow Chemical Company's subsidiary Rohm and Haas, is a
  "Broad spectrum, non-metallic liquid fungicide for a wide variety of fungal organisms"
  http://www.rohmhaas.com/wcm/products/product_detail.page?display-mode=tds&product=1120851
  The MSDS can be found at http://www.rohmhaas.com/wcm/products/product_detail.page?display-mode=msds&product=1120851

Other Mold Cleaning Products, Paint Additives, Fungicidal Sealants, Paints, Coatings

• http://environmentsensitive.com/air.html Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate (DOT)
• http://www.wwenvironmental.com/paint.htm paint additive that includes a mildewcide, website includes MSDS and some product info
• http://www.allergystore.com/mold.htm - Sure Cote [we do NOT recommend using the mold test kit sold by this website]
• http://www.allerx.com/x158.htm = AllerX X-158 claims to protect from mold for 180 days
• Waterglass (Sodium Silicate) used as a binder in paints may also be a possible coating. It is water soluble and produces a "heat resistant and intumescent" film. However to date we have no data regarding its use in this application.
• Fungicidal sealant paints such as Fosters 40-51™ clear coating (here's the Fosters 40-51 MSDS for Foster's 40-51) or Microban™ (here's Microban's web, a typical MSDS for paint containing Microban, and here's a paint supplier's claims)
• Readers and product suppliers are welcome Contact Us by email (please do not telephone) to suggest additional products to this list and to provide technical literature on product use and effectiveness.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
• Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
• Adkins and Adkins Dictionary of Roman Religion discusses Robigus, the Roman god of crop protection and the legendary progenitor of wheat rust fungus.
• Kansas State University, department of plant pathology, extension plant pathology web page on wheat rust fungus: see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/path-ext/factSheets/Wheat/Wheat%20Leaf%20Rust.asp
• "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
• US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building US EPA
• US EPA - Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo - en Espanol

Mold Contamination Testing, Cleanup, Prevention: references & products

• The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems
• Aerobiology, Building Science, Microscopy, & Laboratory References, an extensive technical bibliography
• Allergens: what they look like in buildings
• Associations: Sick House, Sick Building, SBS - Air Quality, Government, Private Associations and Information Resources
• Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9 (you can buy this book at Amazon)
• Atlas of Mold Related Illness: Index of Symptoms and health, physical, neurological, psychological, and other complaint which people suspect may be mold or building-related.
• Atlas of Indoor Mold, Online Clinical Mold Atlas, Toxins, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
• Black Mold that is Harmless Photos of recognizable, usually harmless black mold on wood, bluestain, ceratocystis, ophistoma
• Building Floods: quick steps after a building flood or plumbing leak can prevent costly mold contamination
• Classes of Mold: what types of cosmetic, allergenic, or toxic mold are a problem? Can mold be cleaned-up successfully?
• Clinical Mold References - Detailed bibliography of mold reference texts
• "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
• "Disease Prevention Program for Certain Vegetable Crops," David B. Langston, Jr., Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables, University of Georgia (PDF document) original source: www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/209797.html
• "Disease Prevention in Home Vegetable Gardens," Patricia Donald, Department of Plant Microbiology and Pathology, Lewis Jett
  Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension - extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6202
• "Management of Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica, in Greenhouse Peppers," Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia - Original source: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/peppermildew.htm
• Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our own technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
• Fiberglass: Mold in Fiberglass Insulation© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
• Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, is available from the InspectAPedia online bookstore - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
• Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7 (English) (buy at Amazon)
• Looking for Mold Procedure: what mold is often found where in buildings - simple technical presentation
• Meruliporia: the house eating fungus or "poria"
• Mold Action Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions, What to do about mold, mildew, and other indoor allergens
• MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE Photos of what mold looks like in buildings
• MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD Photos of NOT-mold material that is sometimes mistaken for mold
• MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
• MOLD BY MICROSCOPE Mold under the microscope - photo identification of the most common indoor molds found in buildings
• Mold FAQs Answers to Most Questions about Indoor Mold, Mold Related Illness, Mold Cleanup, Mold Prevention
• US EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building US EPA
• Mold spores in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens
• Mold Test Kits - How to Collect and Send Your Own Mold Sample to our mold testing lab or to any mold lab you wish
• Most Common Indoor Molds Found in Buildings, A Table of
• Mycology, Fundamentals of Diagnostic, Fran Fisher, Norma B. Cook, W.B. Saunders Co. 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6 (buy this book at Amazon)
• Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
• Rot concerns in buildings-some building mold such as Meruliporia incrassata "Poria" risks serious rot and hidden structural damage
• US EPA: Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo - en Espanol

OTHER IAQ ISSUES: How To Find and Address Other Indoor Air or Indoor Environment Contaminants Besides Mold

Mold or allergens may not be the only or even the main indoor environmental contaminant. Don't let media attention to mold cause so much enviro-scare fear that other, possibly more urgent hazards go un-addressed.

• Fiberglass building insulation and HVAC duct work insulation hazards
• Sewage and Septic backup contamination in buildings: inspection, testing, remediation, & references to expert sources
• Other environmental risks: Asbestos, carbon monoxide, electromagnetic fields, environmental illness, fiberglass, MCS - multiple chemical sensitivity, toxic gases, etc
• Indoor Gas Sampling Plan for Residential Buildings lists a number of toxic indoor gases which we test for, depending on the building complaint and building conditions
• Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
• Pet control - if you can't say goodbye to your bird, cat, dog, guinea pig, hamster, tropical fish, then limit the areas they occupy and limit the airflow from that area to sleeping or other areas of the building, use allergenic bedding, eliminate wall-to-wall carpeting, improve housecleaning including use of a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner. For more details see our article Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Information for Asthmatics and Indoor Air Quality
• Rodents, Mice, Squirrel Control - I find high levels of mouse and rodent dander, fecal dust, and urine-contaminated dust in some buildings, and high levels of these materials in building insulation in those locations. If you have a mouse problem, particularly if mice and their waste (fecals or urine) are contaminating the building HVAC or building insulation, may need both steps to clean up or remove infected materials and steps to stop an ongoing rodent problem. If squirrels are a problem, the cleanup needs to include closing off entry openings into the building. Get some help from a licensed pest control expert.
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