Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2008 - (Page 10)

Mold reMoval (continued from page 5) States. Other fungi can infect hair, skin, and nails. “Many species of mold produce toxic metabolites called mycotoxins, which are believed to be most prevalent in spores (both living and dead spores). Mycotoxins are of special concern since some may present a [significant] hazard to humans including nerve damage, organ damage, and cancer.” While experts agree that mold poses potentially severe health hazards to humans, the true extent of the danger remains unknown. What is certain, however, is that wet carpet can be a harbor for mold, and professional carpet cleaners and remediation services need to know how best to remove it in order to keep their customers satisfied and safe. Not All Options Are Solutions According to the study abstract: “Significant differences were found among all three methods for removal of fungi over time. Steam was significantly better than the other two methods with 99 percent efficiency in removal of Cladosporium sphaerospermum from wetted carpet after 24 hours and 30 days incubation time. The other two methods had declining efficiencies of fungal removal over time, from a maximum of 82 percent and 81 percent at 24 hours down to 60 percent and 43 percent at 30 days for detergent and high-flow, hot water extraction, respectively.” cleaned, it can end up not only smelling foul, but playing host to the mold itself. • Hot-water extraction with detergent: Still, often erroneously, referred to as “steam cleaning” (despite the fact that the water falls far short of the 212-degree minimum necessary to boil water, let alone create steam), hot-water extraction has been used for years by professionals to rejuvenate carpet. Yet, Rick Hoverson, president of Advanced Vapor Technologies, provides insight into the conundrum this method presents for mold removal from carpet: “Hot-water extractors use chemicals pumped in with water, and even expensive, top-of-the-line extractors only get 85 percent to 90 percent of the water out [of the carpet] that they put into it. So, they leave at least ten percent of the water behind. This means they also leave ten percent of the chemical behind. The chemical residue can attract dirt and organic soil—the nutrients that, in the wet environment, encourage mold. Also, often the chemicals themselves contain toxins that may be potentially harmful.” • Steam vapor: Originating in Europe, this increasingly popular method of cleaning turns water from a liquid into a low-moisture, “dry” steam vapor hot enough to loosen soil and kill bacteria and mold. Because so little water actually enters the carpet, it does not exacerbate the saturation problem. (“Extractors generally use water defined in gallons per minute; steam vapor defines it as quarts per hour,” Hoverson says.) And the absence of chemicals means no sticky residue to further aid and abet mold growth. Other bonuses of the steam-vapor cleaning method include: • Faster overall process, factoring drying time; • In-depth soil, mold, and microbial remediation due to steam’s penetrating properties; • Less labor intensive (heat does much of the work); • Low water usage (carpet dries (continued on page 12) When it comes to carpet, there are several mold-remediation methods available: • Throw it out: While expedient, this may not be a welcome suggestion to customers operating under budget constraints (and what customers are not these days?), especially for larger carpeted areas and when the wet carpet is not worn out. • Wet and Dry Vacuuming: This option is feasible, but only if the carpet was relatively clean, just slightly wet, and likely to dry quickly—and in areas with low humidity and adequate air flow to assure rapid drying. All mold needs is a moist environment and nourishment to flourish. A wet, even slightly soiled, carpet provides the right breeding ground for bacteria and mold that vacuuming alone cannot remove. Also, dry mold spores can become airborne during the vacuuming process, further contaminating the environment and aggravating human airways. And, if the vacuum isn’t emptied and adequately 0 Executive Housekeeping Today/March 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2008 Contents Executive Corner Mold Issues: Restoration and Prevention Mold Removal with Steam Vapor: Study Validates New Technology Frugal Housekeeper Executive Housekeeping Today Virtual Magazine is a Big Hit with Readers! Executive Profile The Green Scene 2008 Convention Information Inside the Industry Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside I.E.H.A. What I.E.H.A. Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2008

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