Chlorine Bleach and Mold

The Effectiveness of Chlorine Bleach in Fighting Mold

When faced with mold, many home and business owners are directed to use chlorine bleach to kill and destroy the unsightly problem.  However, what many people don’t know is that bleach is actually very ineffective against fighting mold growth.  There are many reasons why chlorine bleach is not recommended for the clean up of mold.  Because of these reasons, even the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fails to register bleach as a disinfectant to kill mold.  Here are a few of the reasons behind the ineffectiveness of bleach:

• Chlorine bleach is too diluted to kill mold permanently:  Bleach is simply too weak to kill the mold on most surfaces, especially porous surfaces.  The structure of bleach prevents it from penetrating porous materials such as wood and dry wall.  Because mold grows its roots deep into the surface of a material, the bleach can only kill what is on the surface, allowing the roots of the mold to grow back.  If mold is simply sitting on a hard surface, the bleach could help kill it, though it also depends on how much cleaning the surface will need, because bleach cannot penetrate through dirt to kill the mold. 

• Chlorine bleach cannot cut through a dirty surface:  Because bleach cannot clean dirt and only masks it by making it transparent, any soiled surfaces that need mold removal will first need to be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed before attempting to disinfect with the bleach.  This adds double the time to kill and remove the mold as compared to a product that could be applied to soiled surfaces.  In addition, organic material quickly deactivates the killing power in bleach.  This means that if a surface is not rinsed well enough, the bleach will becomes ineffective even though there is a clean surface. 

• What killing power chlorine bleach does have rapidly diminishes:  Besides the fact that contact with organic material will quickly deactivate its killing and disinfecting power, chlorine bleach also has a very short shelf life.  As the bleach sits on the grocery store shelf or in the cupboards in a home, the Chlorine ions escape continuously through the plastic.  It is reported that there is a 50% loss in killing power in an unopened container of bleach in just the first three months.  Imagine how much killing power that chlorine bleach will have six months after leaving the warehouse; not much left to kill the powerful mold.

Groups such as the EPA, the Wall Street Journal, Health Departments of various states, and even Clorox, the leading manufacturer of chlorine bleach, have all stated that bleach is very ineffective at cleaning, disinfecting and killing mold.  Given this fact, it is evident chlorine bleach is weak, a poor remover of dirt, and a product that will only mask the problem deep below the surface.  Chlorine bleach should not be the first choice for mold removal, even on hard, non-porous surfaces in homes and businesses.

Servpro Ready Plan App

The Servpro Ready Plan App is a free application for smartphones that allows users to save valuable time in case of a water or fire emergency. The video link below details the app, set up, and practical use of this great app. Invaluable for business owners, property managers, and residential customers alike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBXTKZBnUB4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING

BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING

If  you went to work on Monday morning, only to find yourself unable to access your office building, how would you respond?

Disasters and resulting business interruption can devastate companies. It is estimated that up to 50% of small and medium sized businesses that close due to a disaster never reopen. The majority of those that did reopen had some type of response plan in place. The more comprehensive the plan, the lower the costs and time to get operations back in operation.

In plain language, BCP is working out how to stay in business in the event of disaster. Typical incidents include local events like building fires or floods. Good business continuity plans will keep your company up and running through interruptions of any kind: power failures, IT system crashes, natural disasters, supply chain problems and more. I have seen first hand how businesses which are not prepared for a disaster can be burdened with unnecessary costs or lost revenue related to extended business interruption during a catastrophic event.

SERVPRO has reviewed, enhanced, or developed Emergency Response Plans for many businesses, small and large, in our area. By doing so, these businesses are now better positioned should the unimaginable happen. Our "Emergency Ready Program" is designed to be the starting point for a comprehensive Disaster Business Continuity Plan.

Water Seepage

Water Seepage

When we talk of seepage, generally we are talking about water penetration into the basement area. Standing water inside and/or seepage into residential crawl spaces and basements can cause frustrating problems for the homeowner.

                                                

-Difficulty gaining access under the house for inspecting, maintaining, and servicing electrical circuits, drains and water lines, heating and air conditioning, and other utilities

-Wet basements and crawl spaces are sources of high humidity, which can produce surface condensation, mold, musty odors, and an unhealthful environment

-Moisture can cause deterioration of floor joists, beams, sub flooring, insulation, and electrical-mechanical systems

-Prolonged water around the foundation wall can soften the soil and weaken its bearing capacity, increasing the possibility of wall settlement and cracking.

-Seepage under the foundation may erode soil away and cause the wall to drop or crack. Excessive moisture can eventually penetrate the sub flooring and buckle the flooring or cause warping, making doors and cabinets difficult to close or open.

Putting drains and sump pumps on the interior will help keep the basement from flooding, but will not prevent water from seeping through the walls. Relatively simple solutions can often yield significant results. First, make sure your gutters and downspouts are in good condition and that the water from the downspouts is directed well away from the foundation. Second, make sure the ground surrounding your foundation slopes away from the house, thus encouraging water to run away from your basement walls

http://www.servprowessex.com/

Welcome

Thank you for visiting our blog. Over the coming months we will be providing our readers with information in the fire, water, and mold remediation industry. Please book mark us and visit us frequently. Thanks for your interest and we look forward to being a resource for you.

Sincerely
Servpro of Western Essex County
Servpro of Central Union County