Clearwater, Florida is an area that sees a lot of hurricane activity, so mold prevention is likely something that you have concerns about if you live in the area. Mold can start to grow within 24-48 hours after water damage occurs in your home. Here is a helpful guide for you to use to prevent mold from growing in your home after a hurricane—or steps to take if mold is already present.
How To Prevent Mold After A Hurricane
If your home experienced storm damage that included flooding or water intrusion of any kind, time is of the essence when it comes to preventing mold growth. If you have evacuated your home due to a storm, do not return until it is safe to do so. When it is safe to return, here are some steps you can take to prevent mold growth:
- Wear personal protective equipment to protect your eyes, nose, skin, and mouth—N95 (or higher rated) respirators, gloves, goggles, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants—if there is any chance of mold in the home.
- Use a wet vacuum to remove water from floors, carpets, and hard surfaces.
- Dry your home and everything in it as quickly as possible. Within The first 24-48 hours if at all possible.
- If there is no power, open all doors, windows, closets, cabinets, drawers, attic and basement/cellar access, and especially any interior rooms with no windows or doors to the outside. Do this as soon as you are able to safely re-enter your home to allow air to flow throughout the house and aid the drying process.
- If power is available and safe to use, close all doors and windows to the outside (and open up all of the interior rooms, drawers, cabinets closets, etc) and turn on the air conditioner or heater to help assist with drying and dehumidifying.
- If you see signs that mold has already begun to grow, do not use any fans to assist with drying out your house. Fans will spread microscopic mold spores to other surfaces and areas of the home. Dehumidifiers can be used and are strongly recommended.
- If there are no signs of mold, use fans and dehumidifiers to help reduce the amount of moisture in the home.
- If there are any holes in the roof of your home where water or rain can enter, have them covered with a well-secured tarp.
Clearwater Mold Removal & Remediation
If your home experiences Water Damage and mold growth following a hurricane or severe flooding, the best practice is to hire Mold Removal & Remediation Professionals. You want to hire a reputable licensed firm. Trained, experienced, and qualified professionals from Mold Removal Companies can safely clean up mold damage and help you prevent it from recurring. Able Restoration, Inc. is a longstanding, local building & restoration company based in Clearwater, and we have decades of experience with Mold Removal in Florida. If you need Mold Removal or Mold Remediation in Clearwater, we are here to help!
How To Clean Up Mold After A Hurricane
If a large storm event has taken place, many people will be contracting Clearwater Mold Removal Professionals. There are some things you can safely do to prevent mold from spreading before the professionals arrive!
- Always wear your protective gear when cleaning mold.
- Remove mold growth from hard, non-porous surfaces with a bleach solution (no more than 1 cup of household bleach in 1 gallon of water). Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners.
- Take an inventory of your damaged items for insurance before removing or cleaning anything in the home.
- Cover moldy material with plastic sheeting before removal to control the spread of mold spores.
- Moldy or soaked carpeting, carpet padding, upholstery, fabrics, mattresses, furniture, etc should be removed and discarded as soon as possible. Special throw rugs may be cleanable by a professional but should still be removed from the home.
- Surface mold can be cleaned from your china, hard plastic, glass, and metal surfaces and objects. Solid wood can also be cleaned since mold grows only on its surface.
- If you discover mold on porous home materials, it is highly recommended that you call in Mold Removal and Remediation Professionals. This included plaster, drywall, insulation, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, flooring (that is not solid wood flooring) and any else that is absorbent or porous.
Mold Removal Health & Safety
While taking precautions such as wearing protective gear is always a good idea, some people have a greater health risk than others from mold exposure. Children, seniors, and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions, who are pregnant, or have diseases that compromise the immune system should avoid mold exposure and cleanup activities. In these cases, it is important that you call your Clearwater Mold Professionals and have the mold cleaned up by a trained and experienced team.
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