Mold Clean Up and Testing Tips for California Residents

Mold is a natural part of the environment, but exposure to elevated levels while indoors can be a problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that mold can cause many health effects. These may include coughing, wheezing, or a skin rash, but the agency also stated that people with asthma or who are allergic to molds may have more severe reactions.

For those who do encounter mold, in many instances - especially if the problem is significant, it’s often best to allow a qualified professional to assess the extent of damage and make the necessary recommendations for cleanup procedures.

The CDC published 8 Tips to Clean Up Mold. The tips listed by the agency for DIYers tackling small jobs include:

1. Protect yourself - Put on personal protective equipment (gloves, mask, goggles) to protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and skin.
2. Toss! - Take it out! Anything that was wet with floodwater and can’t be cleaned and dried out completely within 24 to 48 hours should be taken outside. Take photos of discarded items for filing insurance claims.
3. Air it out - Open all doors and windows when you are working and leave as many open as you safely can when you leave.
4. Circulate - When electricity is safe to use, use fans and dehumidifiers to remove moisture.
5. Don’t mix cleaners - If you use cleaning products, do not mix cleaning products together. DO NOT mix bleach and ammonia because it can create toxic vapors.
6. Scrub surfaces - Clean with water and a detergent. Remove all mold you can see. Dry right away.
7. Don’t cover it; remove it - Painting or caulking over mold will not prevent mold growth from reoccurring. Fix the water problem completely and clean up all the mold before you paint or caulk.
8. Dry it up - Dry your home and everything in it as quickly as possible - within 24 to 48 hours if possible.

“Controlling moisture and humidity are key for keeping your indoor area clean,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at LA Testing. “For residents of California that suspect mold growth, LA Testing has multiple laboratories across the state that offer mold and other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) testing services, sampling supplies, and building inspection tools. Testing can be instrumental for identifying elevated levels of mold in air, mold growth on surfaces, and confirming the area was not contaminated during mold remediation and for clearance testing confirming the mold was effectively removed.”

LA Testing has sponsored an educational video discussing the CDC’s mold cleanup tips that can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/U8MB2eW1bhc.

To learn more about mold and IEQ testing services, sampling supplies, and inspection tools, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. For access to IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash, and smoke damage, particulates, and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health, and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego, and Ontario.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail