U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Infographic: 8 Tips to Cleanup Mold
Office of Readiness and Response
Put on personal protective equipment (gloves, mask, goggles) to protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and skin.
Anything that was wet with flood water and can’t be cleaned and dried out completely within 24 to 48 hours should be taken outside. Take photos of discarded items for filing insurance claims.
Air it out. Open all doors and windows when you are working, and leave as many open as you safely can when you leave. Circulate. When electricity is safe to use, use fans and dehumidifiers to remove moisture.
If you use cleaning products, do not mix cleaning products together. DO NOT mix bleach and ammonia because it can create toxic vapors. Scrub surfaces. Clean with water and a detergent. Remove all mold you can see. Dry right away.
Painting or caulking over mold will not prevent mold from growing. Fix the water problem completely and clean up all the mold before you paint or caulk.
Dry your home and everything in it as quickly as possible – within 24 to 48 hours if you can.
Infographic: 8 Tips to Cleanup Mold
8 Tips to Cleanup Mold
- Protect yourself. Put on personal protective equipment (gloves, mask, goggles) to protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and skin.
- Toss! Take it out! Anything that was wet with flood water and can’t be cleaned and dried out completely within 24 to 48 hours should be taken outside. Take photos of discarded items for filing insurance claims.
- Air it out. Open all doors and windows when you are working, and leave as many open as you safely can when you leave.
- Circulate. When electricity is safe to use, use fans and dehumidifiers to remove moisture.
- Don’t mix cleaners. If you use cleaning products, do not mix cleaning products together. DO NOT mix bleach and ammonia because it can create toxic vapors.
- Scrub surfaces. Clean with water and a detergent. Remove all mold you can see. Dry right away.
- Don’t cover it, remove it. Painting or caulking over mold will not prevent mold from growing. Fix the water problem completely and clean up all the mold before you paint or caulk.
- Dry it up. Dry your home and everything in it as quickly as possible – within 24 to 48 hours if you can.
