What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas
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- Avoid breathing in mold or mold
spores. In order to limit your
exposure to airborne mold, you may want to wear
an N-95 respirator, available at many hardware
stores and from companies that advertise on the
Internet. (They cost about $12 to $25.)
Some N-95 respirators resemble a paper dust mask
with a nozzle on the front, others are made
primarily of plastic or rubber and have removable
cartridges that trap most of the mold spores from
entering. In order to be effective, the
respirator or mask must fit properly, so
carefully follow the instructions supplied with
the respirator. Please note that the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
requires that respirators fit properly (fit
testing) when used in an occupational setting;
consult OSHA for more information (800-321-OSHA
or osha.gov/
).
- Wear gloves. Long
gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm
are recommended. When working with water
and a mild detergent, ordinary household rubber
gloves may be used. If you are using a
disinfectant, a biocide such as chlorine bleach,
or a strong cleaning solution, you should select
gloves made from natural rubber, neoprene,
nitrile, polyurethane, or PVC (see Cleanup and
Biocides). Avoid touching mold or moldy
items with your bare hands.
- Wear goggles. Goggles that do not have ventilation holes are recommended. Avoid getting mold or mold spores in your eyes.
How Do I Know When the Remediation or Cleanup is Finished?
You must have completely fixed the water or moisture problem before the cleanup or remediation can be considered finished.
- You should have completed mold removal.
Visible mold and moldy odors should not be
present. Please note that mold may cause
staining and cosmetic damage.
- You should have revisited the site(s) shortly
after cleanup and it should show no signs of
water damage or mold growth.
- People should have been able to occupy or re-occupy
the area without health complaints or physical
symptoms.
- Ultimately, this is a judgment call; there is no easy answer. If you have concerns or questions call the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse IAQ INFO at (800) 438-4318.