Welcome to Health Haven with Jazmyne!  As we navigate these unexpected changes in our daily lives, my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by Hurricane Helene. In previous newsletters, we’ve covered steps to maintain a green and healthy home, including brief discussions on mold prevention and cleaning. In light of recent events, I want to offer some helpful tips on safely addressing mold after flooding.

If you are planning to help clean after a disaster, it is important to have the right safety gear.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you use hard hats, goggles, N95 masks (or a respirator with high protection level), heavy work gloves, waterproof boots with steel toe and insole (not just steel shank), earplugs or protective headphones if you’re working with noisy equipment, and at least 2 fire extinguishers (each with a UL rating of at least 10A).  If where you’re cleaning will have sewage involved, it is important to wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles.

Preventing Mold Growth

When it comes to preventing mold growth, the CDC also recommends airing out your home by opening doors and windows and using fans to dry wet areas which should be positioned to blow the air outdoors.  If there is anything that you were unable to dry quickly such as mattresses, carpeting, rugs, books, stuffed animals, pillows, baby toys etc., it is recommended that these items are thrown away.  If there is drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or floodwater, it should be removed and discarded.  Additionally, you should have any leaks in roofs, walls, or plumbing repaired, and clean all surfaces with hot water and laundry or dish detergent such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood, countertops, etc.

Cleaning up mold after this storm is essential for a safe and healthy home. One effective solution is to mix 1 cup of household bleach with 1 gallon of water. If you plan to use bleach, remember never to use it in a closed space—ensure that windows and doors are open for proper ventilation. Also, never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaning products, as this can create dangerous fumes.

After cleaning, be sure to wash thoroughly with soap and water. If you have any open cuts or sores that came into contact with floodwater, clean them immediately with soap and water, then apply antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection. The clothes worn during cleanup should also be washed in hot water and detergent, separately from uncontaminated clothing.

I hope that this information was helpful and if you would like to learn more, here is more information.