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Table 1: Water Damage - Cleanup and Mold Prevention

Table 1 presents strategies to respond to water damage within 24-48 hours. These guidelines are designed to help avoid the need for remediation of mold growth by taking quick action before growth starts. If mold growth is found on the materials listed in Table 1, refer to Table 2 for guidance on remediation. Depending on the size of the area involved and resources available, professional assistance may be needed to dry an area quickly and thoroughly.

Table 1: Water Damage - Cleanup and Mold Prevention
Guidelines for Response to Clean Water Damage within 24-48 Hours to Prevent Mold Growth*
Water-Damaged Material†	Actions
Books and papers	For non-valuable items, discard books and papers. Photocopy valuable/important items, discard originals. Freeze (in frost-free freezer or meat locker) or freeze-dry.
Carpet and backing - dry within 24-48 hours§	Remove water with water extraction vacuum. Reduce ambient humidity levels with dehumidifier. Accelerate drying process with fans.
Ceiling tiles	Discard and replace.
Cellulose insulation	Discard and replace.
Concrete or cinder block surfaces	Remove water with water extraction vacuum. Accelerate drying process with dehumidifiers, fans, and/or heaters.
Fiberglass insulation	Discard and replace.
Hard surface, porous flooring§ (Linoleum, ceramic tile, vinyl)	Vacuum or damp wipe with water and mild detergent and allow to dry; scrub if necessary. Check to make sure underflooring is dry; dry underflooring if necessary.
Non-porous, hard surfaces (Plastics, metals)	Vacuum or damp wipe with water and mild detergent and allow to dry; scrub if necessary.
Upholstered furniture	Remove water with water extraction vacuum. Accelerate drying process with dehumidifiers, fans, and/or heaters. May be difficult to completely dry within 48 hours. If the piece is valuable, you may wish to consult a restoration/water damage professional who specializes in furniture.
Wallboard (Drywall and gypsum board)	May be dried in place if there is no obvious swelling and the seams are intact. If not, remove, discard, and replace. Ventilate the wall cavity, if possible.
Window drapes	Follow laundering or cleaning instructions recommended by the manufacturer.
Wood surfaces	Remove moisture immediately and use dehumidifiers, gentle heat, and fans for drying. (Use caution when applying heat to hardwood floors.) Treated or finished wood surfaces may be cleaned with mild detergent and clean water and allowed to dry. Wet paneling should be pried away from wall for drying.
* If mold growth has occurred or materials have been wet for more than 48 hours, consult Table 2 guidelines. Even if materials are dried within 48 hours, mold growth may have occurred. Items may be tested by professionals if there is doubt. Note that mold growth will not always occur after 48 hours; this is only a guideline. These guidelines are for damage caused by clean water. If you know or suspect that the water source is contaminated with sewage, or chemical or biological pollutants, then Personal Protective Equipment and containment are required by OSHA. An experienced professional should be consulted if you and/or your remediators do not have expertise remediating in contaminated water situations. Do not use fans before determining that the water is clean or sanitary. † If a particular item(s) has high monetary or sentimental value, you may wish to consult a restoration/water damage specialist. § The subfloor under the carpet or other flooring material must also be cleaned and dried. See the appropriate section of this table for recommended actions depending on the composition of the subfloor.

KEYWORDS: This Guide provides information and guidance for homeowners and renters on how to clean up residential mold problems and how to prevent mold growth. Caution: try not to breathe in the spores of any mold that you grow. Leave bags or jars closed so the spores don't get loose in large numbers. You are normally exposed to mold spores in the air all of the time, but when they are grown for experiments, you have amplified the number of spores you are growing by much higher numbers than found in the environment. Asthma & Mold, Mold Headache. Water contamination can have a negative affect on the health of you and your family. The effects may be immediate or long term. A USGS survey found that 70% of private wells were contaminated. EPA recommends that you test for a minimum of coliform bacteria, nitrate and lead, even if you have public water. Skin Diseases, Stachybotrys Information, Mold Scientist, Mold & Landscaping, , Mold Test Kit, Mold Testing Laboratory. Molds need a moist environment with moderate temperatures to grow. . Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce. Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or un-addressed. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. Lift Tape Test, Physical Mold Samples, fungi Test Instructions, Mold Testing Instructions, Chain of Custody, Mines, Gas Stations, Industrial Facilities, Old Cemeteries, Farm fields, , Dumps, Improper disposal of paints, motor oils, etc. on private land. Recreational use of the public water supply. Lead pipes in the home, Septic Systems, Acid Rain, Decaying Matter or other natural contamination. water testing, drinking water, health, pregnancy, fitness, nutrition, drinking, water, testing, quality, analysis, water analysis, water quality, e. coli, bacteria, lead, ph, iron, pesticides, pcb, radon, arsenic, mtbe, nitrates, voc, oil, fuel, h. pylori, trichloroethylene, tce, coliform, healthguard, health guard, womens heath, child health, home health, health and fitness, epa, environmental, pollution, contamination. Mold Test Interpretation, Clothes Mold, Car and Van Mold, Removal, Wallpaper Mold, Air Conditioning Mold, Crawl Space Mold, Bathroom Mold. Molds can only be positively identified with a microscope. Bluish-green to green molds are usually Penicillium or Aspergillus. Black to brown-black molds can be Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, or Stachybotrys chartarum (a highly toxic mold). Reddish or pink molds are usually species of Fusarium. Plumbing leaks, house plants, toxic, airborne molds, cooking steam, shower bath steam and leaks, wet clothes, dirty HVAC systems. Find out where the air filters are for the building and sample at the beginning of the system, and then continue sampling at rooms further and further away from the air supply system. You can sample for mold spores which are mixed up in the dust that accumulates on the surfaces of air-duct grillwork.

Investigating, Evaluating, and Remediating Moisture and Mold Problems

Table 1: Water Damage - Cleanup and Mold Prevention