Kill That Mold! The 5 Deadly D's You Need to Do

Eric Green, the president of Planet People, provided the following information about controlling mold and mildew in your home.

• Detect It — Where there’s a mold issue there’s a water issue. To eliminate and prevent mold you need to stop water from infiltrating your home. Determine the source of the water ingress that is causing the mold – like leaking roofs, cracked foundations, clogged drains or faulty plumbing – and fix the problem.   
• Dry It — If there is too much water to sweep out of your home, consider a shop vacuum or invest in a water pump (or rent one at your local hardware store) to remove water-filled areas. Once the water is removed, use fans to circulate and absorb moisture in the air. If weather permits, open all doors and windows; indoor mold spore counts are typically higher than outdoor counts. Open closet and cabinet doors to allow air to circulate through all these areas.
• Ditch It — Throw out water-logged and mold-infested materials that are replaceable, such as carpeting or ceiling tiles. The general rule is: if in doubt, throw it out. If drywall has absorbed water, the drywall should be cut out 12 inches above the water level and replaced once the room is dried out.
• Deactivate It — Use an EPA-registered, non-toxic solution to fight remaining indoor mold.  It’s important to treat hidden areas in a home such as crawlspaces, closets and under furniture to be sure they remain mold-free.  Special fogger units, which mist mold cleaners into the air to treat large or inaccessible spaces such as basements and attics, are available for rent at The Home Depot Tool Rental department.
• Dehumidify It — Run a dehumidifier to take additional moisture out of the air. Maintain indoor relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent and monitor humidity levels with a hygrometer, an inexpensive device found at many hardware stores.