Mould Removal Chemicals and Protocols
MOULD REMOVAL CHEMICALS AND PROTOCOLS
Mould grows in moist conditions and may present a mould health risk hazard if not controlled. It can also present an unsightly view, and stain and damage surfaces. Some environments are prone to mould, and even when mould is removed, it may return requiring periodic treatment. Floods commonly cause mould due to massive saturation of surfaces with bacteria and biomass. Sustained heavy rainfall saturates the ground and may cause adjoining walls to leach moisture through walls and cupboards. Moisture in cupboards may lead to mould on clothing and linen. Black mould is the common fear, but many other moulds exist. Bathroom mould, kitchen mould, and ceiling mould are common occurrences.
While many cleaners use bleach to kill mould, bleach typically just kills surface layers and bleaches them to a pale colour, so mould appears to be taken care of. In fact, the mould spores may still survive so mould regrowth occurs quickly. Effective mould removal and control requires the mould to be killed down to spores level and removed. When using appropriate chemicals, protective clothing needs to be worn to protect the skin, eyes and lungs.
When using mould control chemicals, tests should be conducted on surfaces to check for any negative impact on colour, or surface damage. Carpets and upholstery in particular may be prone to carpet cleaning chemical damage. Clothing is commonly fragile and has poor colour fastness.
Surface mould treatment levels escalate from killing mould, up to killing mould and mould stain removal and then deep cleansing of mould in highly porous surfaces, mainly external and may involve chlorinated additives. Airborne mould spores need airborne spray treatment, and both the mould and the chemical may have respiratory risk implications - notably fogging protocols on spray droplet sizes, personal protective clothing, and air extraction.
The different levels of mould removal are:
- Killing Mould - Biosan II.
- Killing Mould and Stain Removal - Percide, Mould and Moss Remover.
- Killing Mould, Stain Removal and Deep Clean with Chlorine - Mould X, Mould No More, Mould Exterminator (external use only)
- Bathroom Cleaner with Mould Inhibitor - Mountain Fresh, Lencia.
- Always do spot checks for any negative impact on colour.
Moulds create allergens which can cause an allergic reaction. Sometimes the impact is a mild irritation, some moulds are toxic. Inhaling or touching mould spores may cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and skin rash. People prone to asthma may be more vulnerable to mould impacts. Black mould is not worse than other moulds, generally.
Removing mould requires a mould killing chemical, agitation, and removal of the residues. If mould is vacuumed, it is important to use a vacuum with a HEPA 13 filter or better, anything less may allow bacteria particles to pass through the vacuum bags and filter back into the room as airborne mould. HEPA 13 vacuums can be inexpensive like the Nilfisk VP300 HEPA, and more serious hazardous vacuums have enhanced filtration cartridges capable of trapping very fine bacteria, and hazardous materials like lead particles in old paints, asbestos, and fine silica dust.
Click to Review a mould treatment video
Preventing mould involves keeping surfaces and air dry, removing liquids quickly, removing bacteria and disinfection. It's why carpet cleaners commonly use air movers in deep cleaning or flood situations to accelerate drying times. They also apply residual biocidal mould chemicals like Biosan after cleaning to attack residual bacteria. Dehumidifiers in rooms and cupboards remove moisture. Simple moisture absorption canisters in cupboards visibly extract moisture, as evidenced by the water level accumulating in the tub.
There are chemicals that are biocidal and Geca approved, and there are some that are aggressive mould cleaners with chlorine. Contact Rapid Clean Newcastle to discuss mould remediation at sales@rapidcleannewcastle.com.au or (02) 4908 2333.