A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home

This Guide is also available as a downloadable pdf and en español

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On this page:

• Overview
• Mold Basics
• Mold Cleanup
• Mold Cleanup Guidelines
• What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas
• Is the Cleanup Complete?
• Moisture and Mold Prevention and Control Tips
• Hidden Mold
• Cleanup and Biocides
• Additional Resources

Overview

This Guide provides information and guidance for homeowners and renters on how to clean up residential mold problems and how to prevent mold growth. The content on these web pages is based on EPA's publication "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home." Updates have been made to some resources and links.

Mold Basics

• The key to mold control is moisture control.
• If mold is a problem in your home, you should clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem.
• It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.

Why is mold growing in my home?

Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.

Can mold cause health problems?

Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis).

Magnified mold spores

Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing.

This [guidance] provides a brief overview; it does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. For more detailed information consult a health professional. You may also wish to consult your state or local health department.

How do I get rid of mold?

It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.

Mold Cleanup

If you already have a mold problem - act quickly. Mold damages what it grows on.
The longer it grows, the more damage it can cause.

Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, follow the guidelines. However:

• If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document is applicable to other building types.
• If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold. Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations in EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygenists (ACGIH), or other guidelines from professional or government organizations.
• If you suspect that the heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system may be contaminated with mold (it is part of an identified moisture problem, for instance, or there is mold near the intake to the system), consult EPA's guide Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? before taking further action. Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold - it could spread mold throughout the building.
• If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.
• If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting cleanup.

Mold Cleanup Guidelines

Bathroom Tip:

Places that are often or always damp can be hard to maintain completely free of mold. If there's some mold in the shower or elsewhere in the bathroom that seems to reappear, increasing ventilation (running a fan or opening a window) and cleaning more frequently will usually prevent mold from recurring, or at least keep the mold to a minimum.

Tips and techniques

The tips and techniques presented in this section will help you clean up your mold problem. Professional cleaners or remediators may use methods not covered in this publication. Please note that mold may cause staining and cosmetic damage. It may not be possible to clean an item so that its original appearance is restored.

• Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.
• Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.
• Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely.
• Avoid exposing yourself or others to mold (see discussions: What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas and Hidden Mold).
• Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel.
• If you are unsure about how to clean an item, or if the item is expensive or of sentimental value, you may wish to consult a specialist. Specialists in furniture repair, restoration, painting, art restoration and conservation, carpet and rug cleaning, water damage, and fire or water restoration are commonly listed in books. Be sure to ask for and check references. Look for specialists who are affiliated with professional organizations.

What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas

It is important to take precautions to limit your exposure to mold and mold spores.

• 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 consult our Frequently Asked Questions database and ask a question if you don't find what you need.

Moisture and Mold Prevention and Control Tips

Moisture Control is the Key to Mold Control

• When water leaks or spills occur indoors - act quickly. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.
• Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
• Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.
• Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.

• Keep indoor humidity low. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive ($10-$50) instrument available at many hardware stores.
• If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes act quickly to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source. Condensation can be a sign of high humidity.

Actions that will help to reduce humidity

• Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves, and kerosene heaters to the outside where possible. (Combustion appliances such as stoves and kerosene heaters produce water vapor and will increase the humidity unless vented to the outside.)
• Use air conditioners and/or de-humidifiers when needed.
• Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or dishwashing, etc.

Actions that will help prevent condensation:

• Reduce the humidity (see preceding page)
• Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and/or windows, when practical. Use fans as needed.
• Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation.
• Increase air temperature.

Renters: Report all plumbing leaks and moisture problems immediately to your building owner, manager, or superintendent. In cases where persistent water problems are not addressed, you may want to contact local, state, or federal health or housing authorities. You can also contact your state health department.

Test or Sampling for Mold

Is sampling for mold needed? In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building's compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting 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 organizations.

Hidden Mold

Suspicion of hidden mold

You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannot see the source, or if you know there has been water damage and residents are reporting health problems. Mold may be hidden in places such as the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets and pads, etc. Other possible locations of hidden mold include areas inside walls around pipes (with leaking or condensing pipes), the surface of walls behind furniture (where condensation forms), inside ductwork, and in roof materials above ceiling tiles (due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation).

Investigating hidden mold problems

Investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and will require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth. For example, removal of wallpaper can lead to a massive release of spores if there is mold growing on the underside of the paper. If you believe that you may have a hidden mold problem, consider hiring an experienced professional.

For more information, please visit hardware mold.

Cleanup and Biocides

Biocides are substances that can destroy living organisms. The use of a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup. There may be instances, however, when professional judgment may indicate its use (for example, when immune-compromised individuals are present).

In most cases, it is not possible or desirable to sterilize an area; a background level of mold spores will remain - these spores will not grow if the moisture problem has been resolved. If you choose to use disinfectants or biocides, always ventilate the area and exhaust the air to the outdoors. Never mix chlorine bleach solution with other cleaning solutions or detergents that contain ammonia because toxic fumes could be produced.

Please note: Dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed.

Additional Resources

Acknowledgements

EPA would like to thank Paul Ellringer, PE, CIH, for providing the photo of Mold growing on the back side of wallpaper.

Notes

Please note that this document presents recommendations. EPA does not regulate mold or mold spores in indoor air

Products and tools to help prevent mold growth in your home

Walking through the hardware store, you may have noticed an increase in the amount of devices that claim to prevent mold. Dehumidifiers, air filters, specialty vacuums, etc. – do they work as advertised? Do you really need the functions they provide? Before you invest your hard-earned money in these gadgets, take a minute to read about my experiences with these products.

Dehumidifiers for mold prevention

Dehumidifiers are a great tool for preventing mold growth. Mold grows when there is a water source, which could be a leak, a flood, or high humidity. Dehumidifiers do a great job of keeping the relative humidity in your home at a low enough level (below 50% is best) to deter mold growth. Be sure to have good ventilation in your home (and closets) for the dehumidifier to work best. You can also purchase an inexpensive hygrometer, an instrument used to measure relative humidity, at most hardware stores.

HEPA Air Purifiers

HEPA air purifiers often claim to trap 99% of dust, mold spores and pollen in the air. I have found this to be true, in my experience. These devices do a good job of filtering the air you breathe in your home, which can be invaluable to people with allergies. Drawbacks: a bit pricey (usually over $100) and they usually only cover the area of one or two rooms. If you decide to purchase one, make sure it has a HEPA filter. Only HEPA filters can trap mold spores.

HEPA Vacuums

There are some pretty fancy vacuums out there these days, and the expensive ones usually offer HEPA filtration. This means that they filter out the smallest dust, dander, mold spores, etc that are in your carpet, instead of just kicking them up into the air when they clean the bigger dirt particles. Like HEPA air purifiers, I find HEPA vacuums to work well. (If you are purchasing a vacuum and want to trap mold spores, make sure it has a HEPA filter for the same reasons you need a HEPA filter for your air purifier as described above.). In fact, I recommend anything using HEPA media when it comes to improving indoor air quality.

MoldTough Drywall

This is a relatively new drywall product out there that advertises itself as mold resistant. While it is definitely more mold resistant than plain drywall, it still doesn’t prevent water from getting behind the drywall and soaking the insulation and 2x4s, causing mold growth. I recommend using this product in kitchens and bathrooms, where you know there will be an extra amount of water present, but not throughout the whole house.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats offer a valuable contribution to mold prevention in your home by effectively managing indoor humidity levels. These advanced devices can monitor and regulate the temperature and humidity, ensuring that your living spaces remain within the optimal range to discourage mold growth. By seamlessly integrating with your HVAC system, smart thermostats can adjust cooling and heating cycles based on real-time data, preventing excessive humidity that could foster mold development.

Additionally, some smart thermostats offer humidity monitoring and control features, allowing you to set specific humidity thresholds and receive alerts if levels become too high. This proactive approach not only maintains a comfortable and healthy living environment but also significantly reduces the risk of mold proliferation, safeguarding both your home's structural integrity and the well-being of its occupants.

The first three products can definitely help those of us with allergies. But if you don’t suffer from severe allergies, none of these products are really necessary if you keep your house clean and dry, with lots of ventilation and fresh air exchange. Dormant mold spores are everywhere in our environment – in the air we breathe and the carpet we walk on. These dormant spores are just waiting for a damp food source to germinate on. But if you ventilate your home well, stop leaks right away, and dry out flooding right away, you shouldn’t ever have to worry about a mold problem in your home.

Research can help determine which mold prevention tool is right for you and your home

Researching mold prevention is crucial to preserving the health and integrity of your living environment. Mold growth not only poses potential health risks, such as respiratory issues and allergies, but it can also lead to extensive property damage and costly remediation efforts.

By researching effective mold prevention strategies, you better identify potential risks and implement proactive measures to remove the mold. Informed research equips you with the tools to make informed decisions about proper ventilation, humidity control, maintenance routines, and the utilization of appropriate technology.

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