What Can I Do With Mold-Damaged Belongings?

10/11/2021 (Permalink)

Mold-covered cabinet.

What Should I Do With Mold-Damaged Items?

It can be frustrating to discover that a mold infestation has not only damaged your Wind Gap, PA home, but managed to contaminate some of your most prized personal belongings. When your possessions have become a breeding ground for mold, what can you do with the contaminated items? Can you keep your mold-infested belongings?

Throw Them Out

Unfortunately, the primary answer when it comes to mold cleaning and removal is to throw out the contaminated items. Once mold has infested an object it can be extremely hard to remove it entirely, particularly if it’s penetrated beneath a porous surface. Keeping the items means another infestation is not only likely, but inevitable when your possessions are a ticking time bomb of spores.

Here are a few things to remember when throwing out mold damaged items:

• Don’t put them in porous or open bags while waiting to throw them out
  
• Don’t burn them, as this can release dormant spores into the air
  
• Don’t store them anywhere wet prior to disposal
  
• Don’t donate them to shelters or other organizations
  
  

Your best option is to remove the items in airtight bags and immediately transport them to an appropriate place for disposal. For large items such as furniture, if you cannot wrap them in plastic at the very least use gloves or hire professionals to handle the items. Avoid skin-to-skin contact with mold at all costs, particularly black mold.

What If the Items Have Sentimental Value?

If you absolutely need to keep your personal belongings, there may be options for mold cleanup and mold remediation. Special services and devices such as Esporta machines can work to remove mold from items such as paintings, clothing, and leather. You still may not be able to eliminate all mold damage, but proper mold cleaning may at least ensure that your prized possessions aren’t active carries for a fresh outbreak.