Fighting Mold With Bleach

8/31/2017 (Permalink)

Bleach can kill many types of mold but you must handle it with care

Bleach can kill virtually every species of indoor mold, along with its spores, leaving a surface sanitized and resistant to future mold growth. Unfortunately, bleach is only effective if the mold is growing on non-porous materials such as tiles, bathtubs, glass, and counter tops. Bleach cannot penetrate into porous materials and so it does not come into contact with mold growing beneath the surface of materials such as wood and drywall.

Be Careful

If you use bleach to kill mold be careful.  When you use bleach you may be exposed to harsh fumes. Ventilate the area well before you start. Open nearby windows and doors and use a fan to provide fresh air. Bleach is also harsh to your skin and body. Protect your hands and arms with long sleeve waterproof gloves.  Use eye protection.

Don’t Use Bleach At Full Strength

For maximum effectiveness and safety, dilute the bleach in water (one part bleach to 10 parts water.)  When you’re cleaning mold with bleach don’t mix the bleach with ammonia or any other household cleaner. Apply the solution to non-porous surfaces. Non-porous means the surface doesn’t allow water or other fluids to sink in. Metals are nonporous; paper is not.

Use Extra Care Around Kids, Pets, And Food

If you will use the surface you are cleaning for food preparation or if children or pets may be exposed to the surface, rinse well after the cleaning. You don’t want any part of the bleach solution to still be present when you start reusing the surface.

If food, children, and/or pets will not be near the now mold-free surface, you don’t need to rinse afterwards.  By not rinsing, the bleach will inhibit mold growing in the future.

Larger Jobs Best Left To Mold Remediation Pros

If you need to clean more than 10 square feet, check with a commercial mold remediation company like SERVPRO Of Manchester/Mansfield.

Hire With Care. Avoid This Fallacy.

Bringing in the professionals is smart, but do hire carefully. SERVPRO Of Manchester/Mansfield is a commercial mold remediation company. We’re experts in mold spore removal.  Some commercial mold restoration companies advertise, “mold removal” and may even guarantee to remove all mold. This is a fallacy.

Removing all molds from a house or business is impossible because microscopic mold spores exist almost everywhere, both indoors and outdoors.

Help From Other Blog Posts   
Every month SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield publishes educational blog posts on how Manchester and Mansfield area businesses and residents can protect themselves from disasters or clean up after them. We want to help educate you on how to deal with mold, fire, water, sewage, storm, and other damage. Here are a few additional blog posts that you might find helpful:  

Chemical Spill Safety
Cleaning Up Chemicals Or Biohazards
Cleaning Your Home After Fire And Smoke Damage
Your Home’s Dirty Places You Don’t Know About

You might also want to explore the educational information on our sister franchise’s SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield’s blog.

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
Top 50 Franchise Nationally
IICRC Certified
540 N. Main Street
Manchester, CT 06042

Call 860.649.0836

24 Hour Emergency Service

Your Home's Dirty Places You Don't Know About

2/16/2017 (Permalink)

Looks innocent. May hide 2 million bacterial cells.

Most of our work involves major cleanups and restorations like you need after storm, fire, or water damage. So people who haven’t experienced a natural storm disaster restoration often think SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield may not have words of wisdom for them. Today we’d like to disprove that myth. Here’s some information on general cleaning issues that affect us all.

Even neat and clean freaks have hidden places in their homes that are not neat and clean. You may be surprised by where the most disgusting places in homes tend to be and how to make them shine.

Most Overlooked Dirty Place In Many Homes
In a 2015 survey conducted by cleaning services startup, Handy of its 500 top-ranked pros, 37 percent of the professional cleaners rated shower curtains as the most overlooked dirty place in clients' homes. How important is this? Well, it's worth noting that in rare cases, mold, mildew, and soap scum buildup can cause serious infections.

How To Clean Those Nasty Shower Curtains
You can eliminate grime and germs on a fabric, plastic, or vinyl curtain by putting it in the washing machine along with a few towels to keep the curtain from wrinkling. Wash in warm water. Use a 1/2 cup bleach and 1/4 cup of laundry detergent. Then immediately hang dry the curtain.

Need Cleaning Help? Call SERVPRO Of Manchester/Mansfield At 860.649.0836

Clean Here First
Of course, the first place to clean is the bathroom, but did you know that in the bathroom one of the best things you can quickly do is wipe down the sink? That’s what Becky Rapinchuk, Clean Mama blogger and author of The Organically Clean Home book, recommends.

Your Own Cheap Disinfecting Spray
You can easily put together Becky’s inexpensive chemical-free disinfecting spray. Just combine  ½ cup vodka (for germ-killing properties), ½ cup white vinegar, 10 drops lavender essential oil, 10 drops lemon essential oil and 1½ cups water (distilled or boiled and cooled). Spritz your sink and other bathroom areas. Come back in 10 minutes to rub down surfaces. If you have a pedestal sink wipe down the front and sides, all the way to the floor. Now that’s something not all of us do.

Toilet Areas We Often Fail To Clean
If you meticulously scrub the toilet bowl and toilet seat weekly and there's a lingering musty smell, the next order of business is to clean two parts you're likely missing: toilet seat hinges and the base of the bowl. If you don't have a toilet seat with hinges that lift, you'll need a Phillips-head screwdriver to unscrew the hinges to remove the seat completely. Once that's done, spray the hinges and cover them completely with disinfectant. If the hinges are smelly or stained, Becky Rapinchuk suggests sprinkling a bit of baking soda on the hinges and letting that sit. That will take that odor away. Then rinse it and wipe it down. To tackle another possible source of odor, spray the outside of the bowl and behind the toilet, let it sit, and wipe up with a microfiber cloth (or paper towels if really grimy).

Need Cleaning Help? Call SERVPRO Of Manchester/Mansfield At 860.649.0836

Toothbrush Holders Home To Millions Of Germs
The benign-seeming toothbrush holding cup is one of the germiest spots in anyone’s house. Some experts say the average toothbrush holder is holding more than 2 million bacteria cells. Use one that’s dishwasher safe-- brushed stainless steel or plastic, and clean it once or twice a week.

Sponges Often Contain E. Coli
Sponges can be a breeding ground for bacteria. It's likely that the one near your sink contains E. coli and salmonella bacteria. A two-minute turn in the microwave can kill most of the viruses, parasites, and spores that grow on sponges. Still you should change your sponges every two weeks or so.

Bathtub And Shower Bacteria
About one in four bathtubs and showers harbored the bacteria known as staphylococci. That bacteria can cause problems with superficial skin lesions and urinary tract infections. Keep these germs at bay by using a mild shower spray daily. Do avoid abrasive cleaners.

For More Information
You’ll find disaster preparation, cleanup, restoration, and other information on this site and our sister site, SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield. 

Your Natural Disaster Cleanup and Restoration Service
Again, our expertise is more in natural disaster preparation, cleanup, and restoration. But we hope these cleaning tips are helpful to you. If you suffer fire, water, mold, chemical, or storm damage, call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield (860.649.0836) anytime.

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
540 N. Main Street
Manchester, CT 06042
Call 860.649.0836
24 hour emergency service