Housing Program
	Mold
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	How Can I Reduce Mold Growth in My Home?
	Since it is almost impossible to filter mold spores from the air, the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. Remember, mold thrives on excess moisture and will grow in air conditioning vents, water traps, refrigerator drip trays, shower stalls, and leaky sinks. Mold will also grow anywhere water has leaked, including walls and ceilings. General Fix all sources of water leaks. Make sure windows and doors are properly weather-stripped to keep out moisture. Use air conditioners and dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the air. Dry all water damaged areas and items within 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Check houseplant soil to make sure it is not constantly damp. Mold loves moist soil. Store firewood outside. Bathroom Bathroom window. If your bathroom has a window, leave it open when showering or bathing. Bathroom door. After bathing and showering, be sure to open bathroom doors and windows. For additional ventilation, leave the bathroom door open during your shower. Shower floor: Clean the shower floor frequently, to ensure that mold does not accumulate. Bathroom walls: Do not use wall paper in the bathroom or remove it, if it is already there. Carpeting Do not carpet bathrooms or kitchen. Consider removal of carpeting in areas of heavy mold growth. Kitchen Clean the drip pan of your refrigerator frequently. Use the exhaust fan when cooking or running the dishwasher. Open a window and use the kitchen exhaust fan when boiling water and cooking.
	What Are the Health Effects Of Mold Exposure?
	There are only a limited number of documented cases of health problems from indoor exposure to fungi. Illnesses can result from both high level, short-term exposures and lower level, long-term exposures. The presence of fungi on building materials, as identified by a visual assessment or by bulk/surface sampling results, does not necessitate that people will be exposed or exhibit health effects. In order for humans to be exposed indoors, fungal spores, fragments, or metabolites must be released into the air and inhaled, physically contacted (dermal exposure), or ingested. Whether or not symptoms develop in people exposed to fungi depends on the following: nature of the fungal material (e.g., allergenic, toxic, or infectious) amount of exposure susceptibility of exposed persons Susceptibility varies with the genetic predisposition (e.g., allergic reactions do not always occur in all individuals), age, state of health, and concurrent exposures. For these reasons, and because measurements of exposure are not standardized and biological markers of exposure to fungi are largely unknown, it is not possible to determine "safe" or "unsafe" levels of exposure for people in general.
	Should I Test My Home For Mold?
	The California Department of Health Services does not recommend testing as the first step to determine if you have a mold problem. Reliable sampling for mold can be expensive, and requires equipment not available to the general public. Residents of individual private homes must pay a contractor to carry out such sampling, as it is not usually done by public health agencies. Mold cleanup is usually considered one of the housekeeping tasks of the private citizen, along with roof and plumbing repairs, sweeping and house cleaning. Another problem is that there are few available standards for judging what is an acceptable quantity of mold. In all locations, there is some outdoor levels of molds. If sampling is carried out, an outdoor air sample needs to be taken at the same time as the sample indoors, to provide a baseline measurement. Since the susceptibility of individuals varies so greatly, sampling is at best a general guide. The simplest approach is: if you can see or smell mold, you have a problem. Unless the source of moisture is removed and the contaminated area is cleaned and disinfected, mold growth is likely to reoccur. Once you know the problem exists, follow the procedure given next.
	How Do I Clean Mold?
	1. Wear gloves and, if working overhead, wear eye protection. 2. Make sure the working area is well ventilated. 3. The best solution to mold is complete physical removal. Use a stiff scrub brush, scrubbing pad or abrasive cleanser. Rinse scrubbing device thoroughly and often. Rinse area when done. 4. A less effective method is to remove mold with commercial cleaners or a simple bleach solution of 1.5 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. (Bleach straight from the bottle is not more effective) 5. Never mix bleach with ammonia. The fumes are toxic. 6. Use a sponge to apply the cleaning solution and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. 7. Dry the surface thoroughly. 8. Bag and discard any sponges or rags used for cleaning. 9. Absorbent materials that become moldy, like ceiling tiles or carpeting, may have to be replaced.
	Can Cleaning Up Mold Be Hazardous To My Health?
	Yes. Exposure to mold can occur during the cleaning stage. Mold counts are typically 10 to 1000 times higher than background levels during the cleaning of mold damaged materials. Take steps to protect your health during cleanup: When handling or cleaning moldy materials, consider using a mask or respirator to protect you from breathing airborne spores. Respirators can be purchased from hardware stores; select one for particle removal (sometimes referred to as a B95 or TC-21C particulate respirator). Respirators are not as effective removing bleach fumes, so minimize your exposure when using bleach or other disinfectants. Wear protective clothing that is easily cleaned or discarded. Use rubber gloves. Try cleaning a small test patch of mold first. If you feel that this adversely affected your health, you should consider paying a licensed contractor or professional to carry out the work. Ask family members or bystanders to leave areas when being cleaned. Work over short time spans and rest in a fresh air location. Air your house out well during after the work. CAUTION: Never use a gasoline engine indoors (e.g. pressure washer, generator) -you could expose yourself and your family to carbon monoxide.
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