ARCHIVED - Take Action - Getting Rid of Mould

Transcript - Take Action - Getting Rid of Mould

Dr. Thomas Dignan: "The conditions for mould exist in every home. There are many materials that mould can live on if they become damp or wet. This can happen through the moisture we produce in our daily activities and water that may enter the home unexpectedly. The second video segment gave us information on how this can happen and how to identify the mould that may grow.

Because mould in our home is an issue that we all might have to deal with at some time or another, it is important to understand how to safely get rid of it.

If you or anyone else living in your home have any health concerns, consult a health care provider before starting any mould clean-up. Also before starting, make sure that anyone with allergies or other health problems, especially those related to the lungs and breathing, as well as children and the elderly are not in the area being cleaned.

Watch the following short video as an Environmental Health Officer shows how to clean a small area of mould and then talks about what to do if you have a larger area of mould."

Environmental Health Officer in home with a person he is instructing: "You can clean a small area of mould yourself. A good way to figure out what a small area of mould is considered, is to take a standard garbage bag, fold it in half and that's about 1 square meter. If the area of mould fits under that, then you can clean it yourself."

Always wear protective clothing when cleaning up mould. This includes a long-sleeved shirt, a dust mask, safety goggles, and rubber gloves. You will also need two buckets and two clean rags.

Fill one bucket with water and a bit of unscented dish detergent and a second bucket with clean water. If you are cleaning drywall, you can use baking soda instead of dish detergent.

To clean a hard surface, like a window sill like this, first scrub it with the rag dipped in the water and dish detergent and then quickly wipe it with the clean wet rag.

To clean drywall like this, follow the same basic process. Wipe the surface with the rag dipped in the water and dish detergent or baking soda. Make sure the rag isn't too wet. Then wipe it quickly with the clean damp rag. It is very important that the drywall doesn't get too wet.

After cleaning, provide a way for the cleaned materials to dry. For example, moving items away from the wall and using a rotating fan will allow the wall to dry

Other porous or absorbent materials that become mouldy should be replaced, such as ceiling tiles, upholstery and carpeting. When replacing these items the mouldy ones should be disposed of in an appropriate manner - usually just by sealing it in a plastic garbage bag and taking it to the landfill site.

It's important to find what is causing the mould and fix that it to make sure that it does not grow back."

Female Narrator: Watch the next short video segment to learn more about this.

Contact your housing manager or your Environmental Health Officer if you suspect that your home has:

• One or more patches of mould larger than 1 square meter - about the size of a regular size garbage bag folded in half.
• More than 3 patches of mould less than 1 square meter
• Patches of mould that keep coming back after cleaning
• A mould problem that you cannot solve on your own

Dr. Thomas Dignan: "Getting rid of mould will help protect your health. If you suspect that mould in your home is affecting your health or your family's health, you should contact your Environmental Health Officer or your health care provider."

Female Narrator: Learn about preventing mould by watching the next short video segment in this four-part information series on mould.