A variety of mold cleanup methods are available for remediating damage to building materials and furnishings caused by moisture control problems and mold growth. The specific method or group of methods used by Bales to remediate will depend on the types of material affected. Please note that Bales' professional remediation experts may use some methods not covered in these guidelines as there are sometimes technological remediation procedures not regularly updated on this site.

The purpose of mold remediation is to remove the mold to prevent human exposure  and damage to building materials and furnishings. It is ultimately necessary to clean up mold contamination, not just to kill the mold - but to protect the health of people living in the space. Dead mold is still allergenic, and some dead molds are potentially toxic.

Method 1: Wet  Vacuum

Wet vacuums are vacuum cleaners designed to collect water. They can be used to remove water from floors, carpets, and hard surfaces where water has accumulated. They should not be used to vacuum porous materials, such as gypsum board. They should be used only when materials are still wet -- wet vacuums may spread spores if sufficient liquid is not present. The tanks, hoses, and attachments of these vacuums should be thoroughly cleaned and dried after use since mold and mold spores can stick to the surfaces.

Method 2: Damp Wipe

Whether dead or alive, mold is allergenic, and some molds are also toxic. Mold can generally be removed from nonporous (hard) surfaces by wiping or scrubbing with specific fungicidal solutions. Our remediation team then speed dry all surfaces thoroughly to discourage further mold growth. Porous materials that are wet and have mold growing on them might have to be discarded. Since molds will infiltrate porous substances and grow on or fill in empty spaces or crevices, the mold can be difficult or impossible to remove completely. Our team will carefully remove and bag all unsalvageable porous materials and remove from site as to not contaminate non-affected areas.

Method 3: HEPA Vacuum

HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air "filter") vacuums are recommended for final cleanup of remediation areas after materials have been thoroughly dried and unsalvageable contaminated materials removed. HEPA vacuums are also recommended for cleanup of dust that might have settled on surfaces outside the remediation area. Our remediation team  takes care to ensure that all traces of contamination are properly removed during this stage.

Method 4: Dry Ice Blasting

Sometimes removal of mold is best done with blasting with dry ice pellets.  These pellets implode on contact with materials and act to effectively destruct mold.  In addition, the pellets are often able to improve the visual appearance of the material being cleaned. Bales uses this method selectively as with all methods.

 Biocides

Bales use's disinfectants and biocides, killing and encapsulating the mold. We take extra precautions not to distribute mold spores throughout all unaffected areas.   Containing the affected area (we put a barrier around)  is crucial to the prevention of further contamination. Negative air machines, equipped with HEPA filtration, are utilized to remove bacteria and other contaminants from the air during restoration work.

Sampling

Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals with specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpretation of results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional guidelines. Types of samples include air samples, surface samples, bulk samples (chunks of carpet, insulation, wall board, etc.), and water samples from condensate drain pans or cooling towers.

A number of pitfalls can be encountered when inexperienced personnel conduct sampling. They might take an inadequate number of samples, there can be inconsistency in sampling protocols, the samples might become contaminated, outdoor control samples can be omitted, and you can incur costs for unneeded or inappropriate samples. Budget constraints will often be a consideration when sampling; professional advice might be necessary to determine if it is possible to take sufficient samples to characterize a problem on a given budget. If it is not possible to sample properly, with a sufficient number of samples to answer the question(s) posed, it would be preferable not to sample. Inadequate sample plans can generate misleading, confusing, and useless results.

Keep in mind that air sampling for mold provides information only for the moments in time in which the sampling occurred, much like a short movie. Air sampling will reveal, when properly done, what was in the air during the moments when the sample was taken. For someone without experience, sampling results will be difficult to interpret. Experience in interpretation of results is essential.

Bales Restoration does not take samples.  We recommend you hire an independent hygienist to sample space before and after our remediation process.

If you currently have an emergency situation, call us at 800-492-2537 NOW!  We will dispatch a crew to your location usually within the hour.  Our emergency services line will connect you to a certified technician 24 hours a day; 365 per year.  We invite you to give us a call and our trained customer service staff who are all certified mitigation specialists would be happy to assist you with any questions or comments.