Asbestos: a Matter of Time Video

This clip is from the 1959 film, "Asbestos: a Matter of Time," by the Bureau of Mines (US Department of the Interior.) The entire film is available on GoggleVideo. This clip describes key properties of asbestos and some of its uses in the 1950s. Inhaling asbestos dust, can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and esothelioma. Asbestos manufacturers knew of these diseases by the 1930s. Tens of thousands of (mostly) workers have been made sick and died from asbestos exposure. For more information, go to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) website - http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org

What is Asbestos Video

Asbestos is a tough, heat-resistant mineral that was added to the building materials of many older homes. It can pose health hazards to workers and homeowners who renovate or demolish those homes. This animation shows how asbestos fibres could damage lung tissue and lead to lung disease.

7 Steps to Remove and Kill Mold In Your Home or Building Video

From professional mold remediation expert, Rodney Koop - , a how to on finding and removing mold yourself. 7 step video to remove and kill mold

Housecleaning Tips : How to Clean Black Mold Helpful Video

Black mold is dangerous to breathe, so if black mold is seen anywhere besides a bathtub, it's advisable to call professionals to clean it. Find out how to clean black mold with a toothbrush, baking soda and vinegar with help from a professional house cleaner in this free video on black mold and cleaning tips.

Expert: Rachel Yatuzis
Contact: www.greenkleeninc.com
Bio: Rachel Yatuzis is a professional house cleaner in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in using everyday household items for cleaning purposes.
Filmmaker: Tim Brown

Housecleaning Tips : How to Identify Black Mold Video

Housecleaning Tips : How to Identify Black Mold Video

Black mold is often found in cracks or moist places, and it is simply identified as mold that is black in color. Find out how to remove caulk if black mold has infiltrated the caulk with help from a professional house cleaner in this free video on black mold and housecleaning tips.

Helpful Mold Detection and Removal Video

Here is another video from youtube that provides helpful information for detecting moisture in your home and mold sources

Video on How To Dry Out Water Damage From Flood and Cleanup Mold

VIDEO - How to Dry out water damage, leaks, floods with dehumidifiers and cleanup mold with airscrubbers
How to properly dry out after waterdamage, floods and leaks. Proper drying requires dehumidifiers and blowers properly installed. Small leaks can be dried out in 2-4 days with drying equipment. Dehumidifiers are the most important tool to use for drying, in combination with fans.

Stop Mold Without Exposing Spores Instructional Video

Video from youtube explains how to remove mold without exposing mold spores.

http://www.moldmanuscript.com  - Discover how to remove mold without spreading spores into your entire home. Find out which exact equipment and protocols to follow.

Killing Toxic Black Mold - How to Remove Mold Safely Video

Killing Toxic Black Mold - How to Remove Mold Safely

Video from Youtube.  Killing toxic black mold is easier than you might think. Just be safe and take the necessary precautions when removing large areas of mold. In this video you'll learn how to remove mold according to the most of the EPA recommendations. The complete EPA Guide to Mold Removal is available at http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html

Housecleaning Tips : How to Clean Mold From Carpet Video

If a carpet has mold in it, the first thing to do is to get all of the excess moisture up. Discover why black mold can be so dangerous to a family with help from a professional house cleaner in this free video on mold and cleaning tips.




Expert: Rachel Yatuzis
Contact: www.greenkleeninc.com
Bio: Rachel Yatuzis is a professional house cleaner in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in using everyday household items for cleaning purposes.
Filmmaker: Tim Brown

Mold Clean-up Guidance Video Part 3 of 3

Video Part 3 of 3 - Shot on location in post-Katrina New Orleans, this instructional video was produced to train residents, volunteers and small contractors how to manage clean-up efforts. The advice provided includes specific actions and the serious health effects associated with mold exposure.

Mold Clean-up Guidance Video Part 2 of 3

Video - Shot on location in post-Katrina New Orleans, this instructional video was produced to train residents, volunteers and small contractors how to manage clean-up efforts. The advice provided includes specific actions and the serious health effects associated with mold exposure. Part 2 of 3

Mold Clean-up Guidance Video Part 1 of 3

Video - Shot on location in post-Katrina New Orleans, this instructional video was produced to train residents, volunteers and small contractors how to manage clean-up efforts. The advice provided includes specific actions and the serious health effects associated with mold exposure.

Removing Mold from Your Home

Dealing with Mold and Mildew in Your Flood Damaged Home

As per the FEMA website  - After natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, excess moisture and standing water contribute to the growth of mold in homes and other buildings.

Be aware that mold may be present and may be a health risk for your family, if your home has water damage due to:

• Flooding,
• Sewage back-up,
• Plumbing or roof leaks,
• Damp basements or crawl space,
• Overflows from sinks or bathtub, or
• High humidity: steam cooking, dryer vents, humidifiers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website contains information on mold cleanup and remediation in homes, schools and other large commercial buildings.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website includes general background information about mold health hazards and mold safety recommendations.

Cleaning Up Mold: How to Get Rid of Mold

As per the New York State Department of Health Website on mold:

1. The first step to mold cleanup is to control the moisture problem. The source of the water must be identified and corrected.
2. Porous materials with extensive mold growth should be discarded (e.g., drywall, carpeting, paper, and ceiling tiles).
3. All wet materials must be thoroughly dried. If that is not possible, they should be discarded.
4. Mold growing on hard surfaces (e.g. wood and concrete) can be cleaned. Small areas can be scrubbed with a cleaning rag wetted with dilute detergent. Rubber gloves and a dust mask are recommended for jobs other than routine cleaning. For a large mold problem or if you are highly sensitive to mold, an experienced professional should do the work.
5. In areas where it is impractical to eliminate the moisture source, a 10% bleach solution can be used to keep mold growth under control. In areas that can be kept dry, bleach is not necessary, as mold cannot grow in the absence of moisture. When using bleach, ensure that enough fresh air is available because bleach may cause eye, nose, or throat irritation.
6. Continue to monitor the area for new mold growth and signs of moisture. This may indicate the need for further repairs or material removal.

Can I Control Mold Growth in My Home?

June 11 2011 -

Can I control mold growth in my home?

Yes you can. Dry out the house and fix any moisture problems in your home:

• Stop water leaks, repair leaky roofs and plumbing. Keep water away from concrete slabs and basement walls.
• Open windows and doors to increase air flow in your home, especially along the inside of exterior walls. Use a fan if there are no windows available.
• Make sure that warm air flows into all areas of the home. Move large objects a few inches away from the inside of exterior walls to increase air circulation.
• Install and use exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
• Ventilate and insulate attic and crawl spaces. Use heavy plastic to cover earth floors in crawl spaces.
• Clean and dry water damaged carpets, clothing, bedding, and upholstered furniture within 24 to 48 hours, or consider removing and replacing damaged furnishings.
• Vacuum and clean your home regularly to remove mold spores.
• Check around your windows for signs of condensation and water droplets. Wipe them up right away so mold can’t start to grow.

Source: Washington State Department of Health

What Cleans Up Moldy Furniture?

What cleans up moldy furniture?

How to clean your moldy furniture depends on how it reacts to water. See chart below:

Reaction to Water	Items	Recommendations
Doesn't absorb water and is washable.	Wood, metal, plastic, glass, and ceramics objects.	Wipe with a solution of lukewarm water and laundry detergent.
Absorbs water and is washable.	Clothes and bedding.	Wash in laundry.
Absorbs water but not washable.	Beds, sofas and other furniture.	These items may have to be discarded. Or, try to save by vacuuming well and allowing to air out. If there is no odor it may be okay. Mold can come back, so watch for any mold growth or mold related health problems. Discard the item if you suspect mold is growing inside or outside the item.

SOURCE: Washington State Department of Health

What Are Molds?

What are molds?

Molds are tiny microscopic organisms that digest organic matter and reproduce by releasing spores. Molds are a type of fungi and there are over 100,000 species. In nature, mold helps decompose or break-down leaves, wood and other plant debris. Molds become a problem when they go where they are not wanted and digest materials such as our homes.

Source: Washington State Dept of Health

Mold in Your Home Video

Watch the Northwest Clean Air Agency's video Mold in Your Home for mold causes, prevention, and cleanup. The video is about 12 minutes long and plays in Windows Media Viewer.
Order a free DVD of this video by calling 360-428-1617. The DVD is in English and Spanish. In addition to the mold video, the DVD also contains a video on controlling and reducing asthma triggers.

Source Washington State Department of Health

10 Things You Need To Know About Mold

As per the USEPA Website

Ten Things You Should Know About Mold

1. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.
2. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
3. If mold is a problem in your home or school, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture.
4. Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.
5. Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60%) to decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.
6. Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
7. Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.
8. Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
9. In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).
10. Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.

If you have IAQ and mold issues in your school, you should get a copy of the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit. Mold is covered in the IAQ Reference Guide under Appendix H - Mold and Moisture.

Basic Mold Cleanup Procedures

As per the USEPA website -

The key to mold control is moisture control. It is important to dry water damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth. If mold is a problem in your home, clean up the mold and get rid of the excess water or moisture. Fix leaky plumbing or other sources of water. Wash mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. Absorbent materials (such as ceiling tiles & carpet) that become moldy may have to be replaced.

As per the CDC -

Sensitive individuals should avoid areas that are likely to have mold, such as compost piles, cut grass, and wooded areas. Inside homes, mold growth can be slowed by keeping humidity levels between 40% and 60%, and ventilating showers and cooking areas. If there is mold growth in your home, you should clean up the mold and fix the water problem. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.

If you choose to use bleach to clean up mold:

• Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce dangerous, toxic fumes.
• Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.
• Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.
• If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document also applies to other building types. You can get it by going to the EPA web site athttp://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product.

How to Identify the Cause of a Mold and Mildew Problem

As per the USEPA website -
Mold and mildew are commonly found on the exterior wall surfaces of corner rooms in heating climate locations. An exposed corner room is likely to be significantly colder than adjoining rooms, so that it has a higher relative humidity (RH) than other rooms at the same water vapor pressure. If mold and mildew growth are found in a corner room, then relative humidity next to the room surfaces is above 70%. However, is the RH above 70% at the surfaces because the room is too cold or because there is too much moisture present (high water vapor pressure)?
The amount of moisture in the room can be estimated by measuring both temperature and RH at the same location and at the same time. Suppose there are two cases. In the first case, assume that the RH is 30% and the temperature is 70^oF in the middle of the room. The low RH at that temperature indicates that the water vapor pressure (or absolute humidity) is low. The high surface RH is probably due to room surfaces that are "too cold." Temperature is the dominating factor, and control strategies should involve increasing the temperature at cold room surfaces.
In the second case, assume that the RH is 50% and the temperature is 70^oF in the middle of the room. The higher RH at that temperature indicates that the water vapor pressure is high and there is a relatively large amount of moisture in the air. The high surface RH is probably due to air that is "too moist." Humidity is the dominating factor, and control strategies should involve decreasing the moisture content of the indoor air.