contents remediation | Mold Free Living

Do We Really Have to Leave and Get Rid of EVERYTHING?

Mold cross contamination when you have to leave or remediate your home is a huge concern—and, if it is not, it should be. The stressful topic can begin with a large cross-contamination question, like if we have mold, does that also mean that all of our possessions have mold too? And, can scale down to more focused questions: Is my car also contaminated since I drove it while living in the moldy home? Is a mattress contaminated if it wasn’t in the same room in my house as the mold? Can some things be cleaned and taken with us immediately? Can one contaminated object infect my whole home? As you can see, the line of questioning, scrutiny, and intricacies of cross contamination can be totally endless and totally overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be, though. The matter of cross contamination can actually be broken down quite scientifically and methodically to help you with the whole ordeal.

To begin, I think it can benefit anyone dealing with mold to look at the cross-contamination issue from a macro-perspective and to understand how mold, mold spores, fragments and mycotoxins (gases emitted by some mold species) actually spread and contaminate an indoor space in the first place. With that knowledge, you can better approach dealing with your possessions and deciding which things to try to save or to take with you. There will always be unique situations or specifics that don’t fit this guide, but for the most part, it should help just about anyone dealing with a mold problem.

When the Mold Issue Is Small

Before I get into the nitty-gritty, I want to acknowledge that not every situation requires drastic action. There are many instances when a mold issue is confined and small. In these cases, simply containing, fixing and remediating the mold problem, and then washing, wiping down, or getting rid of items close to the source is enough. Also, if your immune system is robust and the mold hasn’t affected your health, you may be able to tolerate cleaned possessions better than others would. But, if you are ill, your family members are ill, and you have had to flee a moldy home, you should take the utmost caution in regards to your possessions and cross contamination.

What is Cross Contamination and Why Is It Such a Problem With Mold?

Cross-contamination is the process by which bacteria or other microorganisms are unintentionally transferred from one substance or object to another, with harmful effect. It is an issue in a “sick” indoor space, because mold spores, mycotoxins and the other pathogenic microbes in a water-damaged environment spread by way of central HVAC systems, disturbance, and contact to all surfaces and materials. Porous materials are especially vulnerable to mold. This is because the toxins produced by molds are basically free radicals. They have the ability to bind to fabrics and to release spores and additional mycotoxins over time. The finer spores and particles released by molds can permeate porous surfaces and are not easy to remove.

When Your Belongings Have Been Contaminated by Mold, Can You Save Them?

What Works, What Doesn’t Work, and When to Cut Your Losses

What happens when you are trying to perform the difficult task of remediating your belongings after they have had a significant mold exposure? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot. There are so many little things that can affect, hamper, and negate all of your well-intentioned efforts. It can be very frustrating and time consuming. The most maddening part can actually be the fact that, even with the best, most meticulous cleaning and remediation efforts, and the most effective mold-specific products, some items just cannot be saved. This is a sad, but important truth that many people must come to terms with for the sake of their health.

Now, I realize that the topic of contents remediation is vast. There are so many different kinds of materials and items that can be contaminated with mold; therefore, I am not able to address everything in one post. But, I can share with you how I addressed this issue for a reader who tried cleaning some of his belongings that were exposed to mycotoxin-producing molds in his former home.

This reader’s former housing situation was not a good one and made him sick with mold toxicity. He has since moved to a mold-free space and is doing everything he can to keep that new space clean and safe. He is also trying to recover his health at the same time—making his endeavors that much harder, because any exposure or misstep could send him back into a relapse and having to re-initiate the detox and recovery progress. Thus, getting his belongings properly and safely remediated is very important before he brings them inside his new home. Wisely, he has tested all items with mold test plates before and after his efforts, so that he knows if what he is doing is working and which things are safe to introduce into his new home.

The reason he wrote me, though, is not for advice on methods or products to use. His problems are with the very frustrating test results AFTER his efforts to clean the items. As you will see, he tried fogging them outside with EC3. For greater a greater understanding, here is some of our email communication to get you up to speed: