Dealing with Mold After a Flood

Dealing with Mold After a Flood

In the wake of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, millions of homes have been flooded, and many of those homes likely weren't insured for flooding. Even for those that were, money can't replace the lost family heirlooms and beloved personal items that are susceptible to damage. If your home has been flooded, taking immediate action can help to minimize the damage to property and to your health.

Flood water can be contaminated with sewage and other pollutants, including gasoline and oil, potentially posing a serious health hazard. Keep children and pets away from the area until it has been thoroughly decontaminated. Wearing gloves and a mask for protection, remove any objects that have come into contact with floodwaters as soon as possible.

An even greater danger after a flood is mold-a microscopic fungus that germinates and grows in a moist or damp environment.

Indoor mold affects the upper respiratory system causing nasal and sinus congestion, cough, wheezing, irritated throat, eyes, or skin, and sinus infections; however, more serious health problems will likely occur with long-term exposure to mold.

Mold Clean-Up After a Flood

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Ventilate – Mold can't grow without moisture, so open windows and use fans and humidifiers, even if you have to rent them. Don't use a fan if you can already detect mold; it will cause mold spores to spread.

Dry & Discard – Throw out porous items (such as carpet, wood, and paper products) that may have absorbed moisture or have been contaminated with sewage. Non-porous materials (hard plastic, glass, metal, solid wood, or concrete) can be saved if they are properly cleaned. Carefully damp wipe the item to remove surface contamination, and dispose of your wipes afterwards as they’ll be contaminated with mold. For heavily contaminated items, use a HEPA vacuum first, then thoroughly scrub all contaminated surfaces with a brush, hot water, and a disinfectant.

Disinfect – Mold removal with bleach is not recommended. Although bleach kills every species of indoor mold, it only works on non-porous materials and can't reach the mold growing beneath the surface of porous materials such as drywall and wood. Plus, it's a corrosive chemical that

produces harsh fumes and is toxic to the body and the environment. Instead, use borax, vinegar, or tea tree oil to disinfect your home after a flood.

Read more about natural cleaners you can make

Borax – Borax, a natural cleaning product, effectively kills mold, especially on walls or ceilings. Borax mixed with water leaves behind a residue which will continue to kill mold even after cleaning. Add one cup of borax to a gallon of water to clean contaminated surfaces. If you're disinfecting a high-traffic area, you'll have to rinse the area since borax is unsafe to touch. In this case, vinegar or tea tree oil are better options.

Vinegar – Vinegar kills 82% of mold species and is safe to humans and animals. Pour white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle (don't water it down) and spray it directly onto the moldy surface. Leave it for an hour, then wipe clean with water and allow the surface to dry completely. To prevent mold from growing, every couple of days, spray vinegar on the surface, leaving it to dry naturally.

Tea Tree Oil – This essential oil is a potent antifungal, capable of killing all types of molds, and is antibacterial as well. To kill mold using tea tree oil, add two cups of water to a spray bottle, and add two teaspoons of tea tree oil. Spray the solution directly onto the moldy surface without rinsing or wiping. Leaving the tea tree oil on the surface will kill the mold and prevent its return.

Read more about detoxing your home with a natural cleaning regimen

If you've had water damage, expect that mold will be an issue sooner or later. You may or may not be able to detect it with your eyes or nose. If you notice that your allergies are getting worse, that's a good indicator there may be a mold problem.

Drying out wet building materials may take a while. After a flood, be patient about rebuilding your home or purchasing new furniture. Wait until everything has been completely cleaned and dried.

References:

Minnesota Department of Health

BlackMold.AwardSpace.com

What to do After a Hurricane or Flood, Houzz.com

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Lisa Roth Collins, RHN
Lisa Roth Collins is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) and is the Marketing Manager at NaturallySavvy.com. She is passionate about health and wellness and tries her best to make healthier choices every day for herself and her family. Her journey to natural health was driven by her own struggles with digestive discomfort, depression, and anxiety. Lisa returned to school in 2014 to study nutrition at the Canadian School for Natural Nutrition. She threw herself into her studies so she could learn as much as she could to help herself feel better and thrive. Upon completing the program and being certified as an RHN, Lisa began her work at Naturally Savvy where she has been able to help so many people learn to make healthier choices for themselves. Through her work, she has connected with so many incredible people in the industry whether other authors, influencers, or brands. Plus, she is affectionately known as "Techie Spice" because of her ability to wrap her head around technology. Every day she gets up with a renewed sense of energy and ready to make a difference. You can read all of Lisa's content here. In her spare time, Lisa loves to try new recipes, make delicious and nourishing meals, and she is an avid reader. For more information about Lisa, check out her profile on here.