Home Improvement Advice for Disaster Recovery

Sanitation / Water Damage Do it Yourself Tips for Disaster Recovery

Flood

Despite the claim of many advertisers disinfectants are not nearly as beneficial as you might imagine. In fact many food poisoning outbreaks occur after a kitchen clean. Almost all disinfectants are neutralised by dirt, ie. dirt can stop the disinfectant working.

The only way to sanitise is:-

Clean

Then apply a disinfectant

Mold

This is seen in the USA as the new asbestos. Mold is a serious threat, it can be identified by its musty odour and black or coloured marks on surfaces.

It can be a health threat even when dead or inactive. Mold spores cover the planet, they are the planets cleaning system, eating and decomposing dead life forms including cellulose, which in a home includes:-

Wood

Wallpaper

Paints

Wallpaper glue

It can be seen to form on glass windows as invisible thin grease films support them.

Mold usually grows where a building is saturated, its internal conditions are not what would be termed "normal conditions".

Temperature and relative humidity, UV light, air movement and moisture content are key areas for growth. If a building has been restored correctly mold will not form. If mold is present, seal the area if possible, improve the drying programme, sanitise with a 10% solution of household bleach. Wear gloves, goggles and mask.