| One area of growing concern to building owners is | | | | pipes or a leaking roof, is fixed. Then make sure the |
| indoor air quality. Feeding poor indoor air quality can be | | | | problem has not escalated to a point where the carpet |
| one of over 1,000 types of mold found in the United | | | | should just be replaced.If you decide you can handle |
| States and over 100,000 types found worldwide. Mold | | | | the job, clean the carpet with a product such as a |
| and mildew can grow rampant indoors and lead to | | | | biocide that is designed to stop microbial growth. |
| various health problems such as allergic reactions, | | | | Following are some steps to follow when removing |
| asthma, sneezing, eye and skin irritation, and other | | | | mold and mildew from carpet:1. Apply a low alkaline |
| respiratory complaints. Carpets that are not cleaned | | | | all-purpose spotter and wipe it off.2. Rinse with a mild |
| and dried properly can be a haven for mold spores, | | | | acidic carpet rinse and neutralizer.3. Thoroughly dry the |
| which thrive on excessive moisture.There is no | | | | carpet.4. Apply a mildew stat carpet sanitizer. Make |
| practical way to keep mold spores from entering your | | | | sure you follow all label directions and |
| buildings. Spores enter through open doorways, | | | | recommendations. Let the solution air-dry.Although the |
| windows, and ventilation systems. People also track | | | | EPA recommends a bleach solution to kill mold in |
| mold spores through buildings, as they can attach | | | | some situations, many of the mold and mildew |
| themselves to clothing and shoes.Molds need three | | | | removers that contain bleach will harm carpet fibers, |
| things to grow: moisture, nutrients and a suitable | | | | so you should not use it. While cleaning, employees |
| material such as carpet, paper, ceiling tiles, drywall or a | | | | should wear gloves and respirators to avoid breathing |
| host of other materials. When molds are disturbed | | | | in the mold spores.After cleaning, use fans to dry the |
| they are released into the air and inhaled by the people | | | | carpet. Once you handle the mold problem and the |
| in the room. Some individuals are not affected by mold, | | | | carpet is dry, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to |
| but others can be highly sensitive.If asked to clean a | | | | remove any remaining mold spores. Vacuums with |
| carpet that has mold problems you need to first | | | | HEPA filers won't stir up the remaining mold spores |
| assess the situation. Are there underlying factors that | | | | into the air. If the area is one that will continue to have |
| are causing excessive moisture? Water problems, | | | | excessive water, you can recommend the building |
| such as broken pipes, leaking roofs, over-watered | | | | owner replace the carpet with tile or laminate flooring |
| plants or flooding, and improper carpet cleaning can | | | | so you can easily mop up the water as |
| lead to mold in carpets.Assess the situation to make | | | | needed.Copyright 2006 The Janitorial StoreSteve |
| sure that it is something your company can handle | | | | Hanson is co-founder of TheJanitorialStore.com, an |
| before agreeing to rid the carpet of mold. First make | | | | online community for owners of cleaning companies. |
| sure the source of the water problem, such as broken | | | | |