Removing Mold

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Correcting problems that allow mold and other microbes to grow is still the most important way to prevent mold from reoccuring. But what do you do about growths that have already started and need to be removed? Removing a microbial growth from building surfaces requires the use of a sanitizing or disinfecting agent.

Mold can be dangerous to your health, even if you aren’t allergic, It should be eradicated as soon as it is found.

If you do not see mold growth, but notice a musty odor, mold may be growing behind water-damaged materials, such as walls, carpeting or wallpaper. Persons removing mold should wear gloves, eye protection and a dust mask or respirator to protect against breathing airborne spores (an N95 dust mask or respirator may be purchased in hardware stores). If you have health concerns, you should consult your doctor before doing any mold cleanup.

Non-Porous Surfaces

 Removal of microbial growth from non-porous surfaces can generally be accomplished by:

  1. Thoroughly cleaning the surfaces with a detergent
  2. Rapidly drying the cleaned surfaces

Biocides, such as chlorine bleach are generally not needed or recommended for non-porous surfaces because:

  1. Biocides possess a number of limitations and hazards
  2. Studies have shown that cleaning with detergents may be as effective as cleaning and treatment with a biocide [American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists]

Porous Materials

When only a small portion of porous materials contain mold, disinfection is often used rather than replacing the materials. Selecting the right disinfecting compound is important. The best treatment you can use is one that is fast-acting, works on a broad range of pathogens, is cost effective, and does not leave active residual chemicals. Sounds fairly simple doesn’t it? Actually it is, and again it isn’t. That’s because the most important issue in your selection process is to ensure that the chemical used does not leave residuals, resulting in more problems for the building occupants’ health.

In the past, property managers have asked if the use of a chlorine solution was sufficient to remove and kill the growths. While the answer is yes, the downstream problems that can occur from the use of chlorine may increase your risk of liability.

During recent years, the use of chlorine dioxide has become more popular with water intrusion experts, duct cleaners, and indoor air quality consultants. That’s because chlorine dioxide works exceptionally well on a wide range of microorganisms in a very short time. In addition, chlorine dioxide breaks down to a simple salt, eliminating any chance for toxic residue to exist.

Don’t be confused into thinking that chlorine and chlorine dioxide are the same. They are separate chemicals that react differently. In addition, their chemical by-products have little in common.

Chlorine reacts by "adding" chlorine atoms. This can create trichloromethanes and dioxins, both known to be powerful carcinogens. In addition, the concentration of chlorine that is needed to be effective is too high to use safely.

Chlorine dioxide typically reacts with organics through the addition of oxygen. When chlorine dioxide reacts, it is reduced to the chlorine ion, which is part of the salt found in seawater and table salt.

If you are faced with the presence of biological growths in porous materials, you should consider the use of chlorine dioxide over chlorine for its sterilizing abilities and the reduced potential for exposure to long-term liabilities.

Remember to always study the Material Safety Data Sheet for chlorine dioxide first, to ensure that you can apply the product in the safest possible manner, using the proper equipment for the job.

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