Mold

If an item has porous surfaces and is already moldy or was under floodwater, you will probably need to throw it away. This includes cardboard, carpet, padding, stuffed animals and upholstered furnishings. Mattresses and box springs also are on that list.

You will need to throw out most paper products, including books, once they are moldy. For items with sentimental value, such as a wedding album, important picture or family Bible, there is an expensive but effective freeze-drying process that can preserve those items. Place the items in a freezer as soon as you can and then get them to a preservation freeze-drying contractor.

Food items that have come into contact with mold or floodwater should be thrown away. Food preparation appliances exposed to floodwater or mold will probably need to be replaced. The cost of cleaning some of these items will often exceed the cost of replacement. Failure to clean these properly can recontaminate the home or make residents ill.

Refer to the phone book Yellow Pages categories, Mold Remediation and Mold Testing and Consulting.