This document provides instructions for safely disposing of moldy items in three steps: containment, removal, and cleanup. It advises wearing protective equipment, sealing moldy items in multiple plastic bags, and removing them through windows to contain spores. Large items should be wrapped in plastic and removed through the nearest exit. After removal, thoroughly clean the containment area and surrounding areas with mold-killing agents and HEPA vacuuming. Proper disposal and cleanup are necessary to remove mold and make the home safe again.

1. How to Dispose of Moldy Items
Mold is a huge health concern. When it grows on furniture, in the walls, in the cupboards, or on
other parts of the house it is important to get rid of these things so that the environment in the
house can be one that is healthy for those that live there. However, moving these items can cause
mold spores to be released all the way through the house. There they will stay and some will
colonize and grow causing additional problems. Moldy items need to be handled with care and you
need to make sure that you are treating the mold and the items that the mold is growing on as toxic
waste (mold is toxic). By treating mold as a toxic substance you will be able to get rid of it without it
causing your and your family further issues.
Health Concerns.
Depending on the type of mold there are a lot of health concerns. Mold can cause mild issues such
as allergies all the way to respiratory problems and major illnesses. Some people are much more
susceptible to problems. To learn more about the health concerns associated
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/rebuild/recover/fema_mold_brochure_english.pdf with mold check out the
article Mold: Is It Killing You? To get help identifying the type(s) of mold in your house check out
Mold: What Is It?
Wear Safety Equipment.
You may think it is no big deal to pull up moldy carpet, rip out cabinets, or remove walls with mold
on them, but the truth of the matter is that it is dangerous. It can cause serious health problems so
you need to make sure that you are doing it safely. You should always wear long rubber gloves when
dealing with mold. Protect your eyes with safety goggles and wear a respirator designed for
http://www.webmd.com/women/home-health-and-safety-9/mold-mildew dealing with mold to protect
your lungs. Learn more about what you should be wearing in the article What to Wear When
Removing Mold From Your Home.
Contain The Area.
If you are dealing with more than 10 square feet of mold or several large moldy items it is important
that you protect the rest of the house by containing the area. You should do this by hanging plastic
sheeting from the ceiling with duct tape. Tape it to the floor and use a double layer that is not taped
to the floor over http://www.moldcheck.com/ the doors. Run a fan in a window that sends air out of
the room. This will keep the room pressurized and will also send loose spores out of the house. For
more information on containing the mold you should see the article Mold Removal: The Containment
Area.
Small Items.
You will need lots of large black trash bags. The thicker the better, so looking for bags designed to
handle heavy duty stuff such as lawn debris is always a good idea. You will need to place each small
item into a plastic bag. Seal it with duct tape. Then place that bag into another bag and seal that bag
with duct tape. Rather than walking these bags through the house and spreading more mold take
any and all items that will fit through a window, out through the window.

2. Cut it to size.
Any items that can be cut to size should. You really want to be able to handle them in your
containment area and you don't want to spread the spores around. By cutting medium items to fit in
large plastic bags and to go out the window you will cut back on spreading the mold through the
house.
Large items.
Wrap large items in a heavy plastic sheet. Duct tape all the seems. Wrapping it in two layers is the
best option because it will make it leak less spores. If there isn't a window near by that is large
enough take it to the closest exit, but plan ahead. You want to move it around as little as possible. It
is best if you know exactly how you are getting it out of the house so that you don't have to change
your plans or move it around a lot to get it to fit the direction that you are going. You may also want
to make sure that you have duct taped corners and other areas that will touch the walls or the rest
of the house to make it as clean as possible. You want to try to avoid sending spores throughout the
house.
Trash.
All moldy items can be deposited in a regular trash can to be picked up by your local trash company.
Or you can get a construction debris bin if there will be a lot of waste. Either way there doesn't need
to be any special care there once you have wrapped and sealed away the items.
Clean Up.
You will need to remove the plastic from your containment area and seal that in two trash bags just
as you did other small items. You then want to clean the entire area with vinegar, hydrogen
peroxide, or another mold killing agent. See Mold Killing Agents for more options and information on
how to use them. A vacuum with a HEPA filter is also a good tool for getting rid of mold in the area
as well as throughout the house.
Next you want to make sure that you are cleaning up any and all areas around your containment
area and all areas that you took moldy items through. It is important to get rid of as many spores as
possible.
Prevent Future Mold Growth.

3. Mold isn't something that we can get rid of altogether. Mold spores are always in the air looking for
a place where they can colonize. In nature it is a good thing, but we really need to strive to take care
of the issue in our homes since it often causes illness. You will want to lower your home's humidity,
be on the look out for leaks, and clean up spills right away to prevent mold from coming back. For
more information on this see the article How to Prevent Mold In Your House.
Getting rid of moldy items is important to your health. Doing it right is also a health concern. Make
sure that you are containing moldy items, disposing of them, and cleaning up after them in a way
that will get rid of mold, kill mold, and make it safe for you to live in the home.