Can I remediate mold myself?

Is your job small enough?

Before you buy supplies, check the job against this list. If you can say yes to every line, it’s a reasonable do-it-yourself project.

• The total moldy area is under about 10 square feet, the EPA’s rough limit for homeowner cleanup.
• You know why it grew, and the leak, condensation or humidity has been fixed.
• The mold is on a hard surface, or on a porous item small enough to bag and throw away.
• The water that caused it was clean, not sewage or floodwater.
• No one in the home has asthma, mold allergies, a weakened immune system or a doctor’s concern about mold.
• You don’t smell mold in other parts of the house.

If you’re unsure whether there’s more growth than you can see, testing answers that before you start. See whether you need a mold test if you can already see mold.

What you need

• An N95 respirator that seals to your face
• Goggles without vent holes and long rubber or nitrile gloves
• Detergent, warm water, scrub brushes and disposable rags
• Heavy plastic bags and tape
• A spray bottle of plain water to keep mold damp while you work
• A HEPA vacuum, if you have one or can rent one
• A fan to exhaust air out a window, never blowing across the mold into the house

Our answer on what happens if you clean mold without a mask explains why the respirator matters even for small jobs.

Step by step

1. Close off the room. Shut the door, turn off the HVAC or cover the vents, and keep kids and pets out.
2. Mist, don’t soak. Lightly dampen the mold so spores stay put when you touch it.
3. Bag porous items first. Moldy ceiling tiles, cardboard, a small piece of carpet or pad go straight into a bag inside the room, then the bag gets sealed.
4. Scrub hard surfaces with detergent and water, rinsing your rag often and discarding used rags into the bag.
5. Wipe again, then dry. A second pass with a clean damp cloth picks up residue. Then dry the area completely, using fans and a dehumidifier.
6. Clean up the room. HEPA vacuum or damp wipe nearby surfaces and the floor. Don’t dry sweep.
7. Bag your cleanup waste and take it outside. Wash your clothes separately and shower.

Skip the bleach on anything porous and never mix cleaners. Our answer on what not to spray on mold explains why. In a bathroom, the approach is a little different; see bathroom mold remediation.

Signs to stop and call

Sometimes a small job turns out not to be small. Stop and get help if you find growth on the back of drywall or inside a wall, discover soft or stained subfloor, uncover more than you expected once you start, or see the mold return within a few weeks. Each of these means the moisture or the growth goes further than a surface cleaning can reach.

Also stop if anyone in the home starts to feel unwell during or after the cleanup. That’s the moment to check in with a doctor and let a professional finish the work behind proper containment.

We remove mold and mycotoxins from buildings. We don’t diagnose or treat medical conditions. If you or anyone in your home has symptoms, please talk with a doctor. With your permission, we’re glad to share test results with them.