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No one wants mold in their house, office, or school. At the very least, mold is smelly and unsightly. Although not all molds are hazardous to human health, it is usually better to remove any mold growth than to leave it to grow and spread. Mold comes in many different colors: black, brown, red, blue, orange, pink, white, and green. Mold gives off a musty or earthy smell.

Generally mold grows best in humid or wet conditions from many different sources including, but not limited to, a humid environment, flooding, plumbing leaks, sewer backup, leaky windows or doors, washing machine overflow, damp basements, faulty heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system, and wet carpets. If mold is visible on a surface, a larger contamination may be hidden from view; for example, behind walls or drywall, under carpets, or above ceiling tiles.

Since some molds, especially toxic mold or toxigenic mold, cause illness in some people, the permanent elimination–also called decontamination, remediation, and abatement–of toxic mold is essential since the mold may grow back. Thus it is extremely important that any and all products which have been contaminated by the toxic mold be removed and disposed of.

In most circumstances mold can be simply removed from hard surfaces by a thorough cleaning with commercial products (recommended), soap and water, or a weak bleach solution (do not however mix bleach with ammonia since this mixture produces very dangerous fumes).

Unfortunately, absorbent or porous materials like ceiling tiles, drywall, and carpet may have to be thrown away if they become moldy because the mold cannot be removed from materials. Alternatively, a professional who has experience in cleaning mold in buildings and homes can be hired. Be sure to check for licensing, certification, and/or experience and training before hiring a mold professional. It is important to properly clean and dry the mold-infected area as an allergic reaction can occur from parts of the dead mold.

And remember that mold contamination may reoccur if there is still a source of moisture; therefore, do not keep humidity levels high in a home/office/etc., repair sources of water damage, and exhaust bathrooms and kitchens.

Toxic Mold and Pesticides

The public should be warned, though, that manufacturers of all pesticide products–products that claim to control fungus and toxic molds–are required to register their product with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is because any product that claims to prevent, destroy, or repel pests, including molds and fungus are considered pesticides and must be registered with the EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.

A manufacturer must first prove that their product is safe and effective for consumer use before being able to claim on their label that the product protects people from any disease-causing microorganism. The public can easily determine whether a product has been registered with the EPA since manufacturers are required to list the EPA registration number on the product label. The public should be wary of any product claiming to control fungus and toxic molds that do not bear an EPA registration number since the product may not be safe or effective to use.

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