Coeur d' Alene, ID - Dec 17, 2005 - Following the recent hurricanes, homes and buildings throughout South Florida are now facing a battle with mold and mildew—and the health problems they can cause.

Mold and mildew can trigger coughing, skin lesions, shortness of breath, fever, chills, night sweats, and sinus congestion. “As the mold grows, so will the symptoms, and the health problems can get worse,” says Jerome Covington, Assistant Chief of Staff for Lower Keys Medical Center, Key West, FL.

Moisture Control

Because of this, cleaning up after floods and hurricanes should be taken seriously, according to Danna Adams, Technical Support Manager for U.S. Products, manufacturers of professional carpet cleaning and remediation equipment.

“Professionals in restoration and remediation need to be brought in as soon as possible to assess and manage the process of removing water and restoring damaged areas of building structures,” she says.

According to Adams, the key to eradicating mold and mildew is moisture control. To accomplish this, she advises cleaning professionals to:

• First, extract the water and then decide if water-soaked upholstered furniture, carpeting, and bedding can be saved.

• If the drywall is excessively damaged, it may need to be replaced one to two feet above the floor waterline. However, this depends on the extent of the damage.

• Use a commercial flood pumper to extract excess water from carpet and pad . These machines are much more efficient in removing water (by as much as 1200 times) than thru dehumidification—this is a critical step.

• Clean all surfaces with appropriate cleansers and detergents.

• If the humidity outdoors is high, close windows, doors, and extract the moisture with dehumidifiers.

“The goal is to reduce indoor humidity as much as 60 percent,” Adams says. “The process can be extensive and lengthy, but it is the only way to eradicate the health problems associated with mold and mildew.”

The Flood King from US Products

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