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.

It is very important to remove the source of moisture first, before beginning remedial action, since mold growth will return shortly if an effected area becomes re-wetted.

• Identify and correct the moisture source
• Clean, disinfect, and dry the moldy area
• Bag and dispose any material that has moldy residues, such as rags, paper, leaves, or debris.

Materials that are porous and can trap molds, such as paper, rags, wallboard, and rotten wood should be decontaminated and thrown away. Other items such as glass, plastic, or metal can be kept after they are cleaned and disinfected.

Again, fix the source of moisture and then you can begin clean-up.

• Wear gloves when handling moldy materials
• Remove porous materials (examples: ceiling tiles, sheetrock, carpeting, wood products)
• Carpeting can be a difficult problem - drying does not remove the dead spoors. Disposal of the carpet should be considered
• Bag and discard the moldy substances
• Allow the area to dry 2 or 3 days
• If flooded, remove all sheetrock to at least 12 inches above the high water mark. Visually inspect the wall interior and remove any other intrusive molds. (This step may have to be carried out by a licensed contractor).

CAUTION: Spores are easily released when moldy material is dried out.

Before disinfecting contaminated areas, clean the areas to remove as much of the mold (and food it is growing on) as possible.

• Wear gloves when doing this cleanup
• Use a non-ammonia soap or detergent, or a commercial cleaner, in hot water, and scrub the entire area affected by the mold
• Use a stiff brush or cleaning pad on block walls or uneven surfaces
• Rinse clean with water. A wet/dry vacuum is handy for this.

CAUTION: Bleach fumes can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and damage clothing and shoes. Make sure the working area is ventilated well.

Carpeting presents some additional challenges in dealing with mold because when it becomes wet, it's very difficult to dry quickly enough to prevent mold growth. 

• When possible, carpeting should be lifted so that it and the floor underneath can dry thoroughly. 

• To accelerate drying, you should use fans and de-humidifiers.

•  When mold growth has started on the carpeting, both the carpet and the pad must be removed for cleaning and drying. 

• Pads that contain mildew should be discarded because its nearly impossible to clean and destroy all the mildew in a pad. 

• Compared to carpeting, padding is a relatively low cost item. Most wall-to-wall carpeting is best cleaned by a professional rug cleaner or restorer. 

• But if you decide to clean it yourself, the best results will occur with a carpet that can be removed from the floor. 

• Apply rug shampoos with carpet shampooing equipment. Follow the manufacturers directions. Be sure to remove all detergent used in cleaning because any that's left behind will accelerate future soiling. 

As was stated earlier, cleaning moldy carpets and pads is a difficult process, and in many cases, you'll find it's impossible to save the pad and carpeting and both end up being discarded.

Exposure to mold can occur during the cleaning stage. Mold counts are usually higher than background levels during the cleaning of mold damaged materials. Protect your health during cleanup and if you are sensitive to mold or cleaning products/chemicals, consider using a qualified mold remediation contractor.

• 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 N95 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.

Ventilation and a duct systems can become contaminated with mold. (CAUTION: older duct systems may be asbestos insulated.) If your home's air duct system has had water damage, first identify the type of air duct construction. Sheet metal systems, or sheet metal with exterior fibrous glass insulation, can be cleaned and disinfected.

If the system is sheet metal with an internal fibrous glass liner, or are made entirely of fibrous glass, the ductwork normally will need to be removed and discarded. Ductwork in difficult locations may have to be abandoned. If you have other questions, contact an air duct cleaning professional, or licensed contractor.

Odors can persist. Continue to dry out the area and search for any hidden areas of mold. If the area continues to smell musty, you may have to clean the area again. Continue drying and ventilating the area. Do not replace flooring or begin rebuilding until the area has dried completely.

• Periodically clean and dry the walls and floors around the sink, bathtub, shower, toilets, windows and patio doors using a common household disinfecting cleaner.
• Regularly wipe down and dry areas where moisture sometimes accumulates, like countertops, windows and windowsills.
• Use the pre-installed bathroom fan or alternative ventilation when bathing or showering and allow the fan to run until all excess moisture has been vented from the bathroom.
• Use the exhaust fans in your kitchen when cooking or while the dishwasher is running and allow the fan to run until all excess moisture has been vented from the kitchen.
• Ensure that your clothes dryer vent is operating properly, and clean the lint screen after every use.
• When washing clothes in warm or hot water, watch to make sure condensation does not build up within the washer and dryer closet; if condensation does accumulate, dry with a fan or towel.
• Do not overfill closets or storage areas. Ventilation is important in these spaces.
• Do not allow damp or moist stacks of clothes or other cloth materials to lie in piles for an extended period of time.
• Thoroughly dry any spills or pet urine on carpeting.
• Open windows. Proper ventilation is essential. If it is not possible to open windows, run the fan on the apartment's air-handling unit to circulate fresh air throughout.
• In damp or rainy weather conditions, keep windows and doors closed.
• If possible, maintain a temperature of between 50 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at all times.
• Clean and dust regularly. This is usually required by a rental lease agreement.
• Regular vacuuming, mopping, and use of environmentally safe household cleaners are important to remove household dirt and debris that contribute to mold growth.
• Immediately report to the management office any evidence of a water leak or excessive moisture in your apartment, storage room, garage, or any common area.
• The landlord or management office should also be told immediately if any mold cannot be removed by simply applying a common household cleaner and wiping the area. Also report any area of mold that reappears despite regular cleaning.
• A failure or malfunction of a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning system or laundry system also needs to be dealt with immediately. Leases usually prohibit a tenant from blocking or covering any of the heating, ventilation or air-conditioning ducts in an apartment.
• Inoperable doors or windows and musty odors also should be reported quickly.

• moisture condensation on windows
• cracking of plasterboard
• drywall tape loosening
• wood warping
• musty odor
• visual evidence of mold.

If you see any of the above, seek out and take steps to eliminate the source of water penetration, as quickly as possible.

• In damp areas you may need to install dehumidification equipment.
• In bathrooms install proper ventilation (fans, windows).
• Do not allow moisture build-up on walls, such as in bathrooms.
• Keep basements dry and free of standing water or moisture on walls.

Water in your home can come from many sources. Water can enter your home by leaking or by seeping through basement floors. Showers or even cooking can add moisture to the air in your home. The amount of moisture that the air in your home can hold depends on the temperature of the air. As the temperature goes down, the air is able to hold less moisture. This is why, in cold weather, moisture condenses on cold surfaces (for example, drops of water form on the inside of a window). This moisture can encourage biological pollutants to grow.

There are many ways to control moisture in your home:

• Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing. (The ground should slope away from the house.) Water in the basement can result from the lack of gutters or a water flow toward the house. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants to grow.
• Put a plastic cover over dirt in crawlspaces to prevent moisture from coming in from the ground. Be sure crawlspaces are well-ventilated.
• Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture to the outside (not into the attic). Vent your clothes dryer to the outside.
• Turn off certain appliances (such as humidifiers or kerosene heaters) if you notice moisture on windows and other surfaces.
• Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants.
• Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows. (A storm window installed on the inside works better than one installed on the outside.) Open doors between rooms (especially doors to closets which may be colder than the rooms) to increase circulation. Circulation carries heat to the cold surfaces. Increase air circulation by using fans and by moving furniture from wall corners to promote air and heat circulation. Be sure that your house has a source of fresh air and can expel excessive moisture from the home.
• Pay special attention to carpet on concrete floors. Carpet can absorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants to grow. Use area rugs which can be taken up and washed often. In certain climates, if carpet is to be installed over a concrete floor, it may be necessary to use a vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) over the concrete and cover that with sub-flooring (insulation covered with plywood) to prevent a moisture problem.
• Moisture problems and their solutions differ from one climate to another. The Northeast is cold and wet; the Southwest is hot and dry; the South is hot and wet; and the Western Mountain states are cold and dry. All of these regions can have moisture problems. For example, evaporative coolers used in the Southwest can encourage the growth of biological pollutants. In other hot regions, the use of air conditioners which cool the air too quickly may prevent the air conditioners from running long enough to remove excess moisture from the air. The types of construction and weatherization for the different climates can lead to different problems and solutions.

There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.g., sheet metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several important points to understand concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:

• Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible inspection, so ask the service provider to show you any mold they say exists.
• You should be aware that although a substance may look like mold, a positive determination of whether it is mold or not can be made only by an expert and may require laboratory analysis for final confirmation. For about $50, some microbiology laboratories can tell you whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of sticky household tape is mold or simply a substance that resembles it.
• If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy it cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
• If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place are not corrected, mold growth will recur.