Trask Research, Inc. - Mold Problem Solving

Mold Remediation on Floor Tile

By Matthew Yurina, Mold Inspector/Remediator

CONTAIN- the mold from spreading into uncontaminated areas;

KILL- the mold;

REMOVE- the dead mold and materials used for remediation; and

PROTECT- the cleaned out area against future mold infestations.

Step one in any mol d c leanup project is to acquire the proper personal protective equipment ( PPE ): P100 respirator, gloves, goggles and protective clothing. If you can’t get hold of Tyvek coveralls or some form of disposable clothing, then wear something that covers the whole body that you can wash thoroughly in Oxy Mold. It’s an oxygen-enzyme based cleaning product designed for safe use in washing machines, and is extremely efficient in removing mold, mold spores, stains and odors from clothing.

Step two will be to contain the moldy area as close to the source as possible. You may need to perform Mold Tests in order to understand the full extent of the mold infestation. Since mold spores can spread very easily you’ll want to section off any nearby areas/rooms that are uncontaminated with 6 mil polyethylene sheeting. If the mold problem is very small and you can’t smell it, then this may not be entirely necessary, but there’s never anything wrong with taking precautions; some types of mold travel quicker and easier than others. Always err on the side of caution.

Once you’re sure you know the scope of the mold infestation you’ll want to be sure you know exactly what caused its growth in the first place. Any leaks or other sources of moisture will have to be fixed as soon as possible. Be sure to dry out the area as good as possible. To do this in a bathroom or kitchen setting where the floor is made of linoleum or ceramic tile can be difficult, as mold infestation beneath the surface will require the linoleum or tile to be pulled up, possibly even bagged and disposed of.

Once all moldy surfaces have been exposed and dried out, it’s time to apply the Oxy Mold MX-501™ concentrate. The MX-501 is an EPA registered fungicide that’s designed to kill any type of mold on virtually any type of surface. In a small mold infestation applying the MX-501 with a hand held spray bottle of garden pump sprayer will be sufficient, but in an advanced infestation where you can actually smell the mold, the best option is to fog the MX-501. Fogging is most effective in empty or gutted rooms or structures, and it’s not recommended to fog a furnished living space. An air based, cold Fogger will atomize the fungicide, turning it into micron sized particles that can easily kill mold spores in the air and the growth on the surfaces. With either method you’ll need to apply the MX-501 at least twice, allowing 24 hours to dry in between. Once you’ve finished the two applications give the entire area time to dry. Visit the mold remediation instructions for Crawlspaces or Basements to learn how to fog the MX-501, and for information on containment, air filtration and HEPA vacuuming to remove dead mold from the structure.

The next step is to return to the area and perform clearance testing. If the job was done correctly the mold tests should be negative and show little or no mold growth whatsoever. At this point it should be safe to go ahead and replace tile, flooring or anything else that had been removed.