Molds are part of the natural environment and can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any organic substance, as long as moisture and oxygen are present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods and insulation. When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed.
There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment -- the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
If mold or mildew is a problem in your barracks room, you must clean up the area and eliminate sources of moisture i.e. wet materials such as spills on floors or furnishing. Clean and dry any damp or wet materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
If you are experiencing restricted breathing or other airway symptoms that you think are caused by mold exposure, consult your primary care team.
- Determine the size of the affected area, if over 10 square feet (approximately 3ftX3ft) do not attempt to remediate and submit a maintenance request.
- If affected area is found on government-owned furniture and is not coming clean, notify facility manager for future steps.
- If affected area is found in bathroom (most common) i.e. shower, walls or celling, immediately clean surface. If stains cannot be removed by scrubbing with simple detergent, notify your maintenance team.
- If in doubt about size or severity of the affected area, contact your facility manager or submit a maintenance request.
Examples of mold that occupants are responsible for cleaning affected areas. See cleaning tips for more information.
Examples of serious mold issue. Residents should not attempt to clean and should report the issue to their maintenance team and chain of command immediately.
Keep your home and office clean. Regular vacuuming, mopping, dusting and using a household cleaner to clean hard surfaces are important to remove the household dirt and debris that harbors mold or provides food for mold.
In addition to regular cleaning, if you see surface mold:
- For non-porous surfaces such as countertops, use warm soapy water. Though bleach isn’t necessary or necessarily recommended, if you prefer to use bleach, use a mixture at a ratio of one cup of bleach to one gallon of water.
- For porous surfaces such as couch cushions or clothes, use 3% hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or baking soda and water.
Mold Cleaning Steps
- Gently apply general purpose cleaner to the affected surface.
- Allow cleanser to soak for 3-5 min.
- Scrub to loosen dirt and potential mold.
- Wipe with clean, damp lint-free cloth.
- Repeat application if necessary.
- Allow area to air dry.
Additional Tips and Guidance
- Bleach is not recommended. It is not effective at killing mold nor does it remove mold from surfaces. A simple detergent solution or multipurpose cleaner should be used instead.
- Dampen area prior to cleaning. Surface dusting should include the use of cleaners to avoid sweeping mold and allergens into the air.
- Follow proper safety precautions when using harsh chemicals in a confined space. Use personal protective equipment, or PPE.
- Use cleaning agents according to manufacturer’s instructions. Always reference the product's safety data sheet, or SDS, prior to using chemicals and follow safety procedures.
Mold should be reported to different offices depending on where the mold is occurring:
- Barracks: Report serious mold issues or recurring incidents to the Directorate of Public Works via the Army Maintenance App at https://www.armymaintenance.com/. You should keep your chain of command and barracks management representative apprised of any issues too.
- Facilities: Report serious mold issues or recurring incidents to the Directorate of Public Works via the Army Maintenance App at https://www.armymaintenance.com/. You should keep your supervisor/chain of command and the facility/building manager apprised of any issues too.
- Family Housing: Report serious mold issues or recurring incidents to Island Palm Communities' maintenance team at (808) 457-4075 or on the resident mobile app. You should keep your chain of command apprised of any issues too.
