Take precautions when dealing with mold

Mold can pose a critical challenge to homeowners who took on floodwaters that may have contained sewage and chemicals that can expose you and your family to harmful viruses, bacteria, disease carriers and parasites. Cleaning and disinfecting are crucial to rebuilding. Remediation is a reliable way to rid homes and businesses of mold.

Roberto DeSouza of Mold Inspection and Testing Houston encourages those affected by Hurricane Harvey’s floodwaters, from pipe leaks to standing water, to assume they need mold testing on their homes.

“Mold starts to grow 24 to 28 hours after the area has been saturated,” DeSouza said. “After you gut the whole area and dry everything out, you should call a test company to see what type of mold is present, if any, because you can’t always see mold at first, and depending on what type of mold is present, it could be toxic.”

If you prefer to do it yourself, experts warn that bleach is not the way to go when cleaning porous surfaces such as wood, drywall and concrete. Bleach’s chemical structure prevents it from penetrating cracks and crevices where the mold is usually deeply rooted. Instead, DeSouza suggests cleaning hard surfaces with vinegar and using biocide or antimicrobial products on drywall, wood and other porous surfaces.

“Mold can grow relatively fast, within days,” Dr. Sumita Khatri, co-director of the Asthma Center at Cleveland Clinic, told CBS News. Irritation and damage to the respiratory tract are the biggest concern when mold is involved, she said, and it could have long-term effects. Eliminate mold as quickly as possible. Don’t touch it; wear rubber gloves and a mask.

Skin, eye, mouth and nose protection are recommended throughout cleanup.

FEMA cautions those with breathing problems or a weakened immune system, including children and the elderly, to avoid impacted areas.