WARNING:
Never mix chlorine with ammonia products, as the result is extremely toxic.
Using bleach can cause serious health problems.
The fumes are very caustic and great care must be taken not to breath it in too much.
It is also very damaging to clothing and carpeting, the human body, and the environment.
Never mix chlorine with ammonia products, as the result is extremely toxic.
How to control mold
Prevention
- Reduce humidity in your home by opening windows for approximately 30 minutes daily.
- Prevent leaks due to rain; and when unavoidable, dry and treat water damage within 24 to 48hours.
- Regularly clean places that accumulate humidity such as showers, faucets and pipes and the floor areas around such fixtures.
- Limit carpets and plants in your home.
- Use air purifier to drastically reduce high contamination levels.
- Whenever possible, leave objects exposed to sunlight after cleaning. It is very important that objects are dried after cleaning otherwise they will be subject to new mold contamination.
- Porous materials such as wood, fabric, cushions, and mattresses retain water and are likely to be contaminated, making it difficult to clean them. In the event that these objects are contaminated, it is advised to dispose them.
Opposing Views and Confusion.
Does Bleach Really Kill Mold?
Why Chlorine Bleach is NOT Recommended for Mold Remediation.
Chlorine Bleach Is Active Ingredient in New Mold & Mildew Products.
The appearance of new mold and mildew household products on store shelves is on the rise. Most are dilute solutions of laundry bleach. The labels on these mold and mildew products state that they are for use on (again) hard, non-porous surfaces and not for wood-based materials. Instructions where not to apply the products are varied. A few examples where the branded products should not be applied include wood or painted surfaces, aluminum products, metal (including stainless steel), faucets, marble, natural stone, and, of course, carpeting, fabrics and paper. One commercial mold and mildew stain remover even specifically states it should not be applied to porcelain or metal without immediate rinsing with water and that the product isn’t recommended for use on formica or vinyl.
Before purchasing a mold and mildew product, read and fully understand the advertised purpose of that product and correctly follow the use instructions of a purchased product. The labeling claims on these new products can be confusing some say their product is a mold and mildew remover while another says their product is a mildew stain remover and yet others make similar ‘ambiguous’ claims. Make double sure that the product satisfies your intended need on the surface to which it is to be applied. If your intention is to kill mold, make sure the product does exactly that and follow the directions for usage. Consumers may find that mixing their own diluted bleach solution will achieve the same results as any of the new mold and mildew products. Keep in mind that the use of chlorine bleach is not for use on mold infected wood products including wall board, ceiling tiles, wall studs, fabric, paper products, etc.
Why Chlorine Bleach is NOT Recommended for Mold Remediation.
Conclusion.
Laundry bleach is not an effective mold killing agent for wood-based building materials and NOT EFFECTIVE in the mold remediation process. OSHA is the first federal agency to announce a departure from the use of chlorine bleach in mold remediation. In time, other federal agencies are expected to follow OSHA’s lead. The public should be aware, however, that a chlorine bleach solution IS an effective sanitizing product that kills mold on hard surfaces and neutralizes indoor mold allergens that trigger allergies.