How to Prevent Mold in a Home After a Flood

Wear protection and safety gear. Use an N95 disposable respirator, and goggles to protect your face. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, and make certain not to touch any contaminated area without gloves.

Seal vents and ducts in the house and turn off the air conditioner. Use vent coverings or seal air ducts with plastic and tape. Turn off the heat and cooling system.

Designate a work area and seal the area with plastic sheeting. Seal the plastic sheeting with tape and be sure to close it each time you enter or leave the work area.

Make a mold solution to clean contaminated items. Combine one part bleach with four parts water. Add 3 oz. TSP (trisoduim phosphate) for every gallon of water and bleach mixture.

Remove rugs and carpet. Most carpets you will not be able to salvage because of the trapped contamination underneath the textiles and the rotting wood or floorboards underneath. You may clean some rugs with the solution and allow to air dry, but be aware of colorfast fabrics that the solution may bleed.

Remove contaminated items from your home and wipe down the walls and floors with solution. For items you can salvage, clean them with solution and return to the home. Dispose of the items that you cannot restore.

Clean the work area thoroughly with solution and get rid of work gear and supplies. Do not reuse the rags or other cleaning materials and be sure to seal those items in plastic before removing them from the home.