Mold and Mold Remediation

Publication Date: 03/24/2025
Document Type: Informational Pages
Sponsor: Community Sanitation

Summary
Below you will find some tips and resources on who may be sensitive to mold, how mold may affect you, how to detect the presence of mold, and how to properly and safely clean up or remove mold.

Those who may be sensitive to mold:
Individuals with asthma, allergies, other breathing conditions, and/or immune suppression (such as people with HIV infection, cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, or those who have received an organ transplant.)

How mold may affect you:
Stuffy nose, irritated eyes, wheezing or skin irritation. Those allergic to mold may have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Those with weakened immune systems or with chronic lung diseases, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs. If you or your family have problems after exposure to mold, contact your doctor or other health care provider.

Tips for detecting mold:

•  Sight: Check to see if the walls and/or ceiling appear discolored and/or other signs of mold growth such  as clusters of black, white, or gray-green spots.
•  Smell: Check for musty, earthy, and/or foul odors or stench.
Clean Up/removal of mold:
•  Clean the building/structure within 24 - 48 hours.
•  Open doors and windows and use fans to dry the area.
•  It may be best to remove porous items which have been wet for more than 48 hours which cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. (This may include carpeting, carpet padding, upholstery, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, some clothing, leather, paper, wood, and food.)
•  Use commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water to clean surfaces.
•  Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using bleach or other cleaning products. You should also make sure the room you are cleaning is properly ventilated and you may even choose to wear proper protective items while cleaning (such as non-porous gloves, rubber boots, protective eyewear, and/or a (N-95) mask.) It may also be necessary to take breaks from cleaning in an open fresh air environment. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners.
•  Use a stiff brush on rough surface materials (such as concrete.)
•  AND Fix any moisture source and/or water leaks. There are ordinances pertaining to the maintenance of a property including water leaks and or/standing water. To report that a property owner is not fixing the water leak or standing water issues, which may be contributing to mold growth in your residence or community, please contact the Citizen's Service Bureau at 622-4800.

More helpful information regarding mold and proper mold clean up may be found at:
United States Environmental Protection Agency Website: http://www.epa.gov/mold/ [www.epa.gov]
Center for Disease Control website: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/mold/protect.asp [emergency.cdc.gov]
State of Missouri website: https://health.mo.gov/living/environment/indoorair/mold.php [health.mo.gov]