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Mold cleanup job mistakes: relying on bleach to kill mold.
Here we explain how as relying on bleach to kill mold is by itself an unreliable mold remediation procedure that is not recommended. The proper objectives of an effective mold remediation job are to remove moldy materials that can't be cleaned and to clean surfaces that can be cleaned.
Bleach, diluted bleach, or bleach sprays used in cleaning may be appealing but they are unnecessary,
potentially dangerous (if you get bleach in your eyes), and the use of bleach tends to lead to improper and
inadequate cleaning - if you substitute "spraying bleach" for actually cleaning or removing the mold your cleanup will
not be successful.
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USING BLEACH - Bleach as a "Mold Medicine" to try to kill mold or prevent mold in buildings
[Click to enlarge any image]
Leaks at the window (photo at left) led to mold growth behind wallpaper as well as in the wall cavity. Surface cleaning of the wall was ineffective and occupant complaints continued in this building.
The object of mold remediation is to clean, or remove, the majority of the mold particles
(spores, conidiophores, hyphae, mycelia) from the target surface.
The operative word to fix in mind is to "clean" or
"remove" the problem mold.
"Killing" the mold is not the correct objective
First of all because our lab work shows that you're
unlikely to kill all of the mold on a surface using bleach, unless you use it at a concentration and duration which is so
strong that you're likely to completely destroy the "bleached" material,
Second of all because even if you could
"kill" every mold spore, you are at risk of leaving toxic or allergenic particles in place - they may be dead but still
toxic.
Our photo shows nice healthy black Stachybotrys chartarum spores collected from a "mold-killing bleach" treated surface in a building.
Finally, "mold removal" only works if you're cleaning a relatively hard, non-porous surface such as finished
wood, painted metal, or plastic.
Soft materials like Sheetrock™ or drywall which have become moldy generally should be
removed, the exposed surfaces cleaned, and then new drywall can be installed (after you've also corrected the reason for
the mold growth in the first place).
Spraying anything if spraying of fungicides or sealants is to be used in place of actual cleaning or removal of mold
is an improper and inadequate practice which risks leaving a reservoir of toxic or allergenic particles in the building.
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In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. (727) 595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com 11/06 and 04/2008
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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.
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, [PDF] 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
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
"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
Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, - 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)
US EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
Mycology, Fundamentals of Diagnostic, Fran Fisher, Norma B. Cook, W.B. Saunders Co. 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.