Mold And Odor Remedies For Water-Damaged Items

Before tackling the removal of mold and odor from items that suffered from water damage, be sure to address the original cause of your mold infestation problem. Maintaining humidity levels in your home at below 50% and temperatures at below 68F will eliminate the musty odors emitted by mold growing on organic material that went through water damage like fabric, paper and wood. Below are a few remedies you can use to salvage items affected by mold from water damage:

Fabric Items (clothing, curtains, linens etc)
* Discard items on which mold has been growing for an extended period (usually have a strong moldy odor);
* Dry thoroughly. Do not use fans, which will cause dried mold spores to become airborne;
* Remove the mold from dry textiles using a HEPA vacuum cleaner or a soft brush. Do this outside so mold spores won't spread inside the house;
* Wash washable clothing twice in a washing machine using Borax laundry detergent or simple soap and water. Use non-phosphate detergents (phosphate residue is mold food). To remove any remaining odor, set out to dry in the sun and use a fungicidal spray.
* Do not dry-clean mold-infected fabrics.

Furniture
Restoration remedies differ according to the type of furniture and its reaction to moisture and water damage.
* Hard surface furniture: if the surface is dry, lightly mist it with water (dry mold spores may become air borne during cleaning) and wipe with a clean cloth and alcohol. Once you have removed the mold, apply a clear coat finish to waterproof the furniture, inhibit new mold growth and prevent the spread of any remaining mold spores.
* Porous furniture (upholstered furniture, wicker furniture, furniture made of pressed wood): brush off loose mold from outer covering; vacuum to pull mold out of fibers; using soapsuds, sponge off mold and wipe with a clean cloth. You can also wipe furniture with a clean cloth and diluted alcohol or chlorine bleach solution. Avoid soaking the furniture, and let it dry out completely. Remember to clean brushes and dispose of vacuum cleaner bags to avoid the spread of mold spores. Watch upholstered furniture for several days. If odor develops, the mold has grown back. Get rid of the furniture or call in a professional.

Carpet
Discard carpet padding that has been affected by water damage. It is almost impossible to dry and mold (and odor) will almost certainly grow back. Take carpet and rugs outside, and hose down with cold clean water; rinse with a chlorine solution to discourage mold and odor; air dry thoroughly. Do not try this on water-damaged wool carpet or rugs.

Paper Items
* Lowering humidity levels is essential. Raising temperatures will not dry water-damaged books, paintings, documents, photos etc. High temperatures and humidity actually encourage mold to grow.
* Try to dry paper items within 24 to 48 hours of water damage. Minor damage can be treated by brushing off surface mold and sprinkling talcum powder to soak up moisture. Books that are more than half-wet should be placed on a towel to drain.
* Alternatively, you may freeze dry paper items. This won't eliminate mold, but it will inhibit it from growing. Place items in a plastic zip-lock bag and put them in a freezer at -10F or less. The time needed for paper items to dry depends on how wet they are, the freezer size and its temperature. After they are frozen, brush off the ice and air dry.

Musty Odor from Heat and Air Conditioning Systems
Mold can build up in air conditioner drain tubes. Spray a fungicide into the drains to kill the mold and eliminate the odor.

Unsalvageable Items
Certain mold-infested items should be disposed of for health reasons:
* Stuffed toys, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers
* Wooden cutting boards
* Bedding, mattresses and pillows retain mildew odor even after they dry; cleaning and disinfecting them costs more than replacing them.

Remember to wear protective clothing and to work in a well-ventilated area when dealing with water damage such as handling mold-contaminated items.

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