Having mold in one’s home is one of the scariest discoveries someone can make. The only thing that frightens people more than that is the prospect of having to remove that mold. Luckily, in most cases there are professionals who can do that, but there are also times when they simply aren’t available due to flooding, hurricanes, or some other form of disaster. In any case, no one is ever expected to be an expert on mold removal from their home, but they can be better prepared. Here are a number of tips on what to do when it comes to mold cleanup:

First, access whatever information you can find and learn as much as possible about mold. After that, document everything in the house related to the mold issues. This is great for people with insurance, as this provides proof of the issues that were dealt within the home. Everything that’s documented should also be properly dated and referenced. After that, it’s time to get ready to for mold remediation. 

Before entering the house to conduct mold cleanup, make sure to wear the proper protection. The government recommends a proper respirator, goggles, gloves, rubber boots, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts at the very minimum. Ignore these recommendations at your own peril; they can save lives.

Be ready to toss everything out that is contaminated from floodwater and can’t be properly sterilized. This means specifically, all items that can be saved are ones that can be properly cleaned and then dried within one to two days.

Dry the home and everything in it as soon as possible. This means walls, floors, furniture, and everything else that can be rescued for future use.

Proper ventilation is a must. This means that fans and dehumidifiers should be used if electricity is on. If it’s not, then open every door and window in the building to allow air to circulate and aid in drying out the property.

Before starting the cleaning process, make sure that proper chemicals are used to clean up the home. Most importantly, never combine two cleaning products, as a two. or three-in-one way of dealing with things. This is incredibly dangerous and can create toxic fumes. Bleach, for instance, should never be combined with anything else but water!

Remember that this isn’t a simple job of touching up things. Covering up issues or painting over them isn’t an option here. Everything has to be properly dried. Surfaces need to be scrubbed clean in order to ensure that mold contamination doesn’t continue or have a chance to set in.

Once the clean-up of the home is complete, everyone’s work is still not done. It’s important to stay vigilant. Keep an eye on the house and watch for any evidence of continuing water damage. Also, watch for any issues with recurring mold. If any people occupying the home begin to experience the effects of mold contamination, then call a professional company in immediately.