Mold is a living organism that can cause many health effects, from nasal congestion and sore throat to serious reactions in people with asthma or allergies. It can enter your home through open doors, windows, ventilation ducts, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold will grow where there is moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been a flood. To protect yourself from mold when cleaning, open windows and doors for fresh air, wear non-porous gloves and protective goggles, and consult the EPA guide entitled Remediation of Mold in Schools and Commercial Buildings if the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet.
When cleaning mold, you don't need to know the type of mold. You can remove it from hard surfaces with household products, soap and water, or with a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of household linen bleach in 1 gallon of water. The CDC does not recommend testing for mold as the health effects of mold can be different for everyone. To prevent mold from growing in your home, eliminate moisture so your home is inhospitable to growth.
Make sure to avoid inhaling mold or mold spores when cleaning. Wear a disposable respirator with or without a valve to provide adequate protection. People with allergies to certain types of mold may have allergic symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, upper respiratory irritation, coughing, and eye irritation. If you suspect that there is hidden mold in your home, review and change the way you collect information.
Mold sampling should be performed by professionals with specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting the results. To protect yourself from mold when cleaning, open windows and doors for fresh air, wear non-porous gloves and protective goggles, consult the EPA guide entitled Remediation of Mold in Schools and Commercial Buildings if the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, remove mold from hard surfaces with household products or bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of household linen bleach in 1 gallon of water, avoid inhaling mold or mold spores when cleaning by wearing a disposable respirator with or without a valve, and review and change the way you collect information if you suspect hidden mold.
