Replies

1. 
   rjw | Mar 01, 2010 11:31pm | #1

   Check out the EPA web site

   AND with your insurance agent.

   Mold cleanup for $$ is/can be a high liability endeavor

1. 
   dabonds | Mar 09, 2010 10:04pm | #5

   Timbor, Timbor, Timbor, That is all anyone needs to know about mold remediation. Comes in crystaline form and is meant to be dissolved in water and then sprayed onto whatever material you want to protect. Stopps mold including dryrot. Lasts FOREVER and also prevent many wood invasive insects such as: termites, carpenter ants and palmetto bugs. Extremely low toxicity for pets and humans. Continually permeates into the wood until it has equilibrated and then last FOREVER. Also happes to be a class one flame inhibiter. I live in NEW ORLEANS. Whatever problems you have are childs play for us. Use it trust it. put it on EVERTHING and forget it.

2. 
   DanH | Mar 02, 2010 08:21am | #2

   Either do nothing (which is a perfectly acceptable option) or hire a mold remediation company to treat it.

3. 
   BarneyD | Mar 02, 2010 10:44am | #3

   Your local building store should have products in the paint dept. I have used them but I am not sure how effective they are

4. 
   Jeff_Clarke | Mar 02, 2010 07:48pm | #4

   These guys are some of the best - http://traskresearch.com/

   I have used their products (well-protected!) with great success.

5. 
   wane | Mar 10, 2010 08:18am | #6

   10 % solution of bleach, nothing more, nothing less, if you have prevented what caused the issue (water) then the bleach will kill it.

1. 
   DanH | Mar 10, 2010 09:44pm | #7

   Most authorities don't recommend bleach, both because it doesn't do a very good job, and because it's fairly toxic for what good it does do.

1. 
   wane | Mar 11, 2010 08:19am | #8

   I and almost everyone else in N america where clothes washed in a much stronger solution of bleach than 10 %, most "authorities" would much rather sell a specialty product, that has less market time than bleech.  Bleach works perfectly, just as the more expensive soltns do if the moisture source is resolved.

1. 
   rjw | Mar 11, 2010 12:47pm | #9

   Wane, as a home inspector, I have followed the "mold issue" very closely since it first surfaced in the 90's

   Most exports stopped recommending the use of bleach over a decade ago.

   First: the bleach might kill the actively growing mold, but does not kill the mold spores, which are in a massively higher concentration than that occurring 'naturally.

   Unless you get rid of the spores, the chances of recurrence are significantly higher, even with the original water source "fixed," where there are high spore counts, localized high humidity can lead to a resurgence of mold growth

   Second, although the EPA is somewhat cryptic on the issue, it does warn against aerosolized cleaners, which I believe means chlorine bleach in a sprayer or spray bottle.  

   When aerosolized, bleach can be extremely dangerous.  The comparison to laundry use is misplaced.

   >>most "authorities" would much rather sell a specialty product, that has less market time than bleech. 

   Actually, it was the government agencies, EPA, NYC Dept of housing(?) and some of the leading state sites which led the way on dropping the bleach recommendation/advice.  They don't sell products

   >>Bleach works perfectly,

   All of the information I have studied over the years is to the contrary.

   If you have a source which supports that sweeping assertion, I would be very interested in knowing what it is so that I can best advise my clients.

   I would love it if it could be shown that "Bleach works perfectly," because that would make my job explaining this stuff vastly easier. 

   (Personally, for clean up using the manual scrubbing techniques the exsperts recommend, I advice using powder form automatic dishwashing detergent - it is inexpensive, has TSP in safe amounts, and surface emulsificants (sp?) and rinse agents).

   Effective mold cleanup also requires elbow grease, which is probably pretty much skipped by the "just use bleach" crowd.