If you are conducting a mold remediation job in your home or in your business, then the mold spores will become airborne and the risk of breathing these spores in becomes a much higher. Anything that can stir up the mold spores is something that should be avoided unless you are wearing a respirator, which you should be wearing, anyway. What can stir up mold spores? Breaking up any porous material that is contaminated with mold, peeling or stripping wallpaper to remove it, using any invasive procedure to look for mold inside a wall, and using household fans or air conditioners to dry wet items can stir up these spores. If you are planning on doing anything like this and not hiring a professional, please wear a respirator.
The minimum amount of PPE that should be used when you are cleaning up after mold is an N-95 respirator. This device will cover your mouse and nose and will keep out about 95 percent of any particles in the air around you. These are available in most general hardware stores.
If you are looking for something a little stronger, then a full or half-face APR (air purifying respirator) that has a HEPA filter on it is something you might want to consider. Make sure that the respirator you purchase is approved for use by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It should be noted that these do not protect your eyes.
If you are in a situation where there is a large amount of mold growth and you will need a long amount of time to remove it, then you will want and need a powered air purifying respirator. These are full-face and use a blower to force the air through a HEPA filter that will collect any mold spores that are in the air. You must be trained to use this kind of respirator and the usage of it must be in compliance with the regulations of OSHA.
Some disposable clothing will be needed while you are cleaning up mold. If you are on a serious budget and it is not that much mold to deal with, you can use some disposable paper towels. If you are not on a budget, then some disposable foot and head coverings and a body suit made of something breathable, like TYVEK should be used. There will be gaps around the wrists and ankles and these need to be sealed up with something such as duct tape.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Miami Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors and
Orlando water Damage companies.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Mold Dogs Are Not Used By Professionals
If you think that your home or business may have a problem with mold, you might hire the first mold remediation company that you can find to come and take a look at your property, but how do you know if they are truly professionals or not? One obvious way to tell is whether or not they employ the use of dogs in order to locate mold in a building.
The use of these “mold dogs” is not only inhumane, but very unprofessional. There are plenty of other techniques that can be used to detect the presence of mold in a household or a business and true professionals know this. Professional companies often have mycologists on hand to determine just what kind of mold that you are dealing with and how dangerous it can be to your health. Mold dogs only detect if mold exists on the property, not how much exists or how toxic it is.
The use of dogs to locate mold in the home is also obviously detrimental to the health of the dog. Dogs and other animals are no less susceptible to the health effect of mold than human beings and often by the time the mold infection in a dog or cat is recognized by the owner, it is too late and beyond treatment. Dogs that are used to sniff out mold are very likely to develop respiratory infections and skin infections, especially around the nose and mouth. The purpose of a mold dog is to actively inhale the mold spores and this is EXACTLY what people are advised not to do when they are performing mold remediation. This is all but the deliberate infection of an animal that cannot do anything to help itself if it needs medical attention. Dogs and other animals are not aware of the existence of medical treatment and cannot alert their owners that something is wrong with them. It is up to human beings to care for them, since we are the only species on the planet capable of caring for another, especially when it does not benefit us.
There are many other methods used to detect mold, such as mold testing kits that you can put around your home after stirring up the air in the room. Mold spores will drop onto these tests and begin to grow. When sent to a laboratory, they will let you know what kind of mold is in your home and also what level of toxicity you are dealing with.
Any company who uses mold dogs is not a professional company that you want to use to remove mold from your home. Support the humane treatment of animals and help stop the use of mold dogs.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New York flood water damage restoration and other states and cities such as
South Carolina mold remediation companies across the united states.
The use of these “mold dogs” is not only inhumane, but very unprofessional. There are plenty of other techniques that can be used to detect the presence of mold in a household or a business and true professionals know this. Professional companies often have mycologists on hand to determine just what kind of mold that you are dealing with and how dangerous it can be to your health. Mold dogs only detect if mold exists on the property, not how much exists or how toxic it is.
The use of dogs to locate mold in the home is also obviously detrimental to the health of the dog. Dogs and other animals are no less susceptible to the health effect of mold than human beings and often by the time the mold infection in a dog or cat is recognized by the owner, it is too late and beyond treatment. Dogs that are used to sniff out mold are very likely to develop respiratory infections and skin infections, especially around the nose and mouth. The purpose of a mold dog is to actively inhale the mold spores and this is EXACTLY what people are advised not to do when they are performing mold remediation. This is all but the deliberate infection of an animal that cannot do anything to help itself if it needs medical attention. Dogs and other animals are not aware of the existence of medical treatment and cannot alert their owners that something is wrong with them. It is up to human beings to care for them, since we are the only species on the planet capable of caring for another, especially when it does not benefit us.
There are many other methods used to detect mold, such as mold testing kits that you can put around your home after stirring up the air in the room. Mold spores will drop onto these tests and begin to grow. When sent to a laboratory, they will let you know what kind of mold is in your home and also what level of toxicity you are dealing with.
Any company who uses mold dogs is not a professional company that you want to use to remove mold from your home. Support the humane treatment of animals and help stop the use of mold dogs.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New York flood water damage restoration and other states and cities such as
South Carolina mold remediation companies across the united states.
Mold Cleanup Techniques
There are a variety of different methods that can be used to clean up mold in a household or a business, but depending on the kind of material that is affected, you might want to use one over the other. Some professional mold removers might use techniques that they have developed on their own and if it is not listed here, it does not mean that it is not an effective technique for mold removal.
Using a wet vacuum is one method that can be used. These are vacuum cleaners that are specially designed to collect liquids from a hardwood floor, concrete, carpet, and etcetera. Any surface where water has started to accumulate and simply stand is where these vacuums can be used. They should not be used on porous materials, however, like gypsum boards. Use them only when the area is still wet, because it might spread mold spores if it is not sufficient. Clean and dry the equipment after each use, since mold and its spores can stick to these surfaces.
Using a damp cloth to wipe mold away from nonporous surfaces such as a countertop or a vinyl floor can be effective in getting rid of mold, but using mold killing chemicals is essential. Dry these surfaces as quickly as you can after you finish so that mold does not re-start growing in the area that you just finished cleaning. The instructions for any mold and fungus killing chemicals should be followed completely and if you have any porous materials that have become contaminated with mold, you will want to throw these away. Mold can usually not be completely removed from these items.
A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is something that you should invest in whether you are a homeowner or someone who rents a building. Even if you do not suspect mold contamination, this will help keep the air in your home cleaner. When used after cleaning up mold, it will collect the mold spores and will not redistribute them into the air. After being used to clean up after a mold removal, the filter and the contents of the vacuum need to be disposed of in some well-sealed plastic bags. Always wear a respirator and gloves when handling this material and do not let it get on your skin. Avoid stirring up the contents of the vacuum.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New Jersey mold damage restoration and other states and cities such as
Connecticut mold remediation companies across the united states.
Using a wet vacuum is one method that can be used. These are vacuum cleaners that are specially designed to collect liquids from a hardwood floor, concrete, carpet, and etcetera. Any surface where water has started to accumulate and simply stand is where these vacuums can be used. They should not be used on porous materials, however, like gypsum boards. Use them only when the area is still wet, because it might spread mold spores if it is not sufficient. Clean and dry the equipment after each use, since mold and its spores can stick to these surfaces.
Using a damp cloth to wipe mold away from nonporous surfaces such as a countertop or a vinyl floor can be effective in getting rid of mold, but using mold killing chemicals is essential. Dry these surfaces as quickly as you can after you finish so that mold does not re-start growing in the area that you just finished cleaning. The instructions for any mold and fungus killing chemicals should be followed completely and if you have any porous materials that have become contaminated with mold, you will want to throw these away. Mold can usually not be completely removed from these items.
A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is something that you should invest in whether you are a homeowner or someone who rents a building. Even if you do not suspect mold contamination, this will help keep the air in your home cleaner. When used after cleaning up mold, it will collect the mold spores and will not redistribute them into the air. After being used to clean up after a mold removal, the filter and the contents of the vacuum need to be disposed of in some well-sealed plastic bags. Always wear a respirator and gloves when handling this material and do not let it get on your skin. Avoid stirring up the contents of the vacuum.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New Jersey mold damage restoration and other states and cities such as
Connecticut mold remediation companies across the united states.
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