A well-known expert when interviewed on a local New Orleans radio station, recently said, “When you have a mold problem, simply wash down the affected area with diluted bleach.” We have seen FEMA handing out gallons of Clorox to flood-victims. Lowe’s and Home Depot stock up pallets of the stuff whenever the impending doom of a threatening hurricane is close. This is one of the most widely publicized “urban legends”. Bleach is a powerful oxidizer and can, in many instances, sanitize surfaces of certain types of bacteria but when you are faced with a wall or beams etc. covered in mold, Bleach is NOT the product to use. Contact the professionals at SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County.

Eyebrows raise in disbelief every time I say the phrase “bleach doesn’t kill mold.” Some look at me as if I’m speaking another language and they are right. I am speaking the TRUTH. Bleach (active ingredient is Sodium Hypochlorite) is very effective in removing the discoloration but may leave the microflora that will enable the mold to return in exactly the same spot when conditions are right. So, “how do you know this,” I’m asked.

Anecdotally, my wife wonders why she has to clean the same spot of mold on the bathroom tile month after month. Now she knows why. The mold has never been killed – it simply goes clear and then returns. Bleach will not kill the mold but a good biocide, or anti-microbial will.

To underscore the validity of my claim, I suggest the “Journal of Forest Products” who commissioned a study by Oregon State University a couple of years ago. The mold disappears but the microflora remains and under the right conditions the mold will begin to grow.

In our Sanitization Protocol we recommend using GREEN technologies to remove surface mold. When you use the right kind of anti-microbial, the mold will be destroyed and the underlying bio-slime will be annihilated.

SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County provides free estimates for mold remediation. We can recommend an Industrial Hygienist if needed for testing and protocol. We don't recommend using the same company for testing AND remediation as these should be completely independent of each other.

Contact SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County at 201-445-5588 or SERVPRO9475@SERVPROparamus.com