Rick, I am a claims adjuster. I knew that bleach was very weak, but the thought of putting an oxidizer on an item that loves dark and damp places just floors me. Kentucky is advising their citizens very wrong with this approach. You have to kill and remove it, and bleach will not do either. Now using bleach as a disinfectant will work.
The most effective way that I know of to deal with mold and mildew is to remove the damaged items (drywall, paneling, carpet and insulation down to the subfloor and studding and then high powerwash it with a strong commercial detergent and then use high heat to dry it out with good ventilation. After that, application of either an antimicrobial agent or just coating it with oil based klitz. Water based kiltz will not work.
My old home was flooded several times. Each time to a depth of about three feet. Before the water was actually out of the yard, my demo started. I was cleaning the upstairs as the water was being pumped out of the basement. By the time the NF adjuster arrived, my home was on the dryout schedule and I was starting to coat the upstairs. By the time that most people in the area had just seen their adjuster, I was back in and cleaning my yard. All it took was getting started and doing it right the first time.
Paul you are correct Bleach is very corrosive and is 99% water. Bleach effectiveness is weak on mold and more so in this case you have a host of bacteria coming into the home or building. Bleach loses its effectiveness with in seconds when introduced to the ambient air. If the mold has had time to establish it will ebbed into the substrates like roots. I recommend you contact a local environmental person to come in and do your assesment even if you hire a company to dry your house out. Good luck
Rick Hollister CEI, CMR, CLI
Environmental Administrators, Inc rhollister@environmentaladministrators.com
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Rick, I am a claims adjuster. I knew that bleach was very weak, but the thought of putting an oxidizer on an item that loves dark and damp places just floors me. Kentucky is advising their citizens very wrong with this approach. You have to kill and remove it, and bleach will not do either. Now using bleach as a disinfectant will work.
The most effective way that I know of to deal with mold and mildew is to remove the damaged items (drywall, paneling, carpet and insulation down to the subfloor and studding and then high powerwash it with a strong commercial detergent and then use high heat to dry it out with good ventilation. After that, application of either an antimicrobial agent or just coating it with oil based klitz. Water based kiltz will not work.
My old home was flooded several times. Each time to a depth of about three feet. Before the water was actually out of the yard, my demo started. I was cleaning the upstairs as the water was being pumped out of the basement. By the time the NF adjuster arrived, my home was on the dryout schedule and I was starting to coat the upstairs. By the time that most people in the area had just seen their adjuster, I was back in and cleaning my yard. All it took was getting started and doing it right the first time.
I have been told that since bleach is an oxidizer, to never use it to clean up mold contamination.
What gives with this?
Paul you are correct Bleach is very corrosive and is 99% water. Bleach effectiveness is weak on mold and more so in this case you have a host of bacteria coming into the home or building. Bleach loses its effectiveness with in seconds when introduced to the ambient air. If the mold has had time to establish it will ebbed into the substrates like roots. I recommend you contact a local environmental person to come in and do your assesment even if you hire a company to dry your house out. Good luck
Rick Hollister CEI, CMR, CLI
Environmental Administrators, Inc
rhollister@environmentaladministrators.com