A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home - Virginia ...

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MOLD CLEANUP GUIDELINESBathroom TipPlaces thatare often oralways damp can be hard to maintain completelyfree of mold. If there’s some mold in the shower orelsewhere in the bathroom that seems to reappear,increasing the ventilation (running a fan or openinga window) and cleaning more frequently will usuallyprevent mold from recurring, or at least keep themold to a minimum.Tips and techniques The tips and techniques presented in thissection will help you clean up your mold problem.Professional cleaners or remediators may usemethods not covered in this publication. Please notethat mold may cause staining and cosmetic damage.It may not be possible to clean an item so that itsoriginal appearance is restored.■ Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems assoon as possible. Dry all items completely.■ Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water,and dry completely.Moldgrowingon theundersideof a plasticlawnchairin an areawhererainwaterdrips throughand depositsorganicmaterial.6
Mold growingon a piece ofceiling tile.■ Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles andcarpet, may have to be thrown away if they becomemoldy. Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces andcrevices of porous materials, so the mold may bedifficult or impossible to remove completely.■ Avoid exposing yourself or others to mold (seediscussions: What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areasand Hidden Mold.)■ Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces. Clean up themold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint appliedover moldy surfaces is likely to peel.■ If you are unsure about how to clean an item, or if theitem is expensive or of sentimental value, you may wishto consult a specialist. Specialists in furniture repair,restoration, painting, art restoration and conservation,carpet and rug cleaning, water damage, and fire or waterrestoration are commonly listed in phone books. Besure to ask for and check references. Look for specialistswho are affiliated with professional organizations.7
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Page 5 and 6: allergic and non-allergic people. S
Page 7: uildings, this document is applicab
Page 11 and 12: ■ Wear gloves. Long gloves that e
Page 13 and 14: Condensation on the inside of awind
Page 15 and 16: Renters: Report all plumbing leaks
Page 17 and 18: Cleanup and Biocides Biocides are s
Page 19: NOTESAcknowledgementsEPA would like

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