Find, Identify and Clean Up Mold in Your Home

OTTAWA - Mold growing inside the home can pose a serious health risk, especially if you or anyone in your family suffers from asthma or allergies. But as long as you know where to look, what to look for and how to prevent or clean up mold, you should be able to keep any potential mold problems in your home under control.

To help you keep your house and family healthy, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers the following tips on how to find, identify and fight mold in your home:

- Mold needs moisture to grow. So check your home regularly for any water infiltration or leaks. Use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans to remove moisture as it is produced. Dehumidify your basement during the off- heating season. Never hang-to-dry laundry indoors. And keep the relative humidity in your home below 45 per cent in the winter.

- Get rid of any excess clutter and stored materials where there could be moisture and clean up standing water that could encourage the growth of mold. Clean and replace your furnace and heat recovery ventilator (HRV) filters on a regular basis. Clean and vacuum your home frequently, preferably with a vacuum that has a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter.

- If you think you may already have mold growth in your home, dab a drop of household bleach on the suspected spot. If the stain loses its colour or disappears, it may be mold. If there is no change, it probably isn't.

- If your house has a small patch of mold (no larger than a square metre) you should be able to clean it yourself using a solution of water and detergent - make sure to wear household rubber gloves and a dust mask for protection. Do not use bleach to clean up the problem. Bleach is an unreliable disinfectant and it can also be harmful to the environment and to those living in your home.

- If the mold patch covers an area between one and three square metres, you may still be able to clean it yourself. But you should consult with a professional first. Contact your local CMHC office for a list of qualified Residential Indoor Air Quality investigators in your area.

- If your home has an extensive or recurring mold problem, get professional help immediately to clean it up and determine how it got there in the first place.