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Dry Out Your Home

Floodwaters affect a house in 3 ways:

1. The water damages materials. Wallboard will disintegrate if it stays wet too long; wood can swell, warp, or rot; electrical parts can short out, malfunction, and cause fires or shock.

2. Mud, silt, and unknown contaminants in the water not only get everything dirty; they are also unhealthy.

3. Dampness promotes the growth of mildew, a mold or fungus that can grow on everything.

The following steps work on all 3 of these problems. It is very important to do these steps in order.

Lower the Humidity

Everything will dry more quickly and clean more easily if you can reduce the humidity in the house. There are many ways to lower the humidity and stop the rot and mildew. But you'll have to delay using some methods if you have no electricity. (Read Step 5 before you attempt to restore the utilities.)

·         Open up the house. If the humidity outside is lower than it is indoors, and if the weather permits, open all the doors and windows to exchange the moist indoor air for drier outdoor air. Your body will tell if the humidity is lower outdoors. If the sun is Out, it should be drier outside. If you have a thermometer with a humidity gauge, you can monitor the indoor and outdoor humidity.

On the other hand, when temperatures drop at night, an open house is warmer and will draw moisture indoors. At  night, and at other times when the humidity is higher outdoors, close up the house.

·         Open closet and cabinet doors. Remove drawers to let air circulate. Drawers may stick because of swelling. Don't try to force them. Help them dry by opening up the back of the cabinet so air can get into it. You will probably be able to remove the drawers as the cabinet dries out.

·         Use fans. Fans help move the air and dry out your home. Do not use central air conditioning or the furnace blower if the ducts were under water. They will blow out dirty air that might contain contaminants from the sediment left in the duct work. Clean or hose out the ducts first. (See Step 2.)

·         Run dehumidifiers. Dehumidifiers and window air conditioners will reduce the moisture, especially in closed-up areas.

·         Use desiccants. Desiccants (materials that absorb moisture) are very useful in drying closets or other closed areas where air cannot move through. Desiccants like those listed below are usually available at hardware, grocery, or drug stores.

• Chemical dehumidifier packs used for drying boats and damp closets.

• Cat litter made of clay.

• Calcium chloride pellets (used to melt ice in the winter). Hang pellets in a pillow case, nylon stocking, or other porous bag. Put a bucket underneath to catch dripping water. Close the closet or area being dried. Be careful. Calcium chloride can burn your skin. It will also make the air salty; so do not use this product near computers or other delicate equipment.

·         Call a contractor. There are contractors who specialize in drying out flooded buildings. They have large fans and dehumidifiers that can dry out a house in a few days. Look in the yellow pages under Fire and Water Damage Restoration or under Dehumidifying. Be careful about contractors who inflate prices after a disaster and about out-of-town contractors who request payment in advance.

Be patient. Drying your house could take several weeks. Until your house is reasonably dry, damage caused by mildew and decay will continue. The musty odor will stay forever if the house is not dried out well.

Sort Contents and Debris

You have 3 types of contents. They should go to 3 places:

• Items you want to save

 • Items to be throw out

• Garbage

Things You Want to Save

Move things you want to save to a safe, dry place, such as the second story or outside.  The longer they sit in water, the more damaged they become. Don’t leave wood furniture in the sun because it will warp as it dries. To save an area rug, lay a sheet or some other material on top of it before you roll it up so the colors will not bleed. Clean it promptly.

Things You Don't Want to Save

Put things you don't save outside to dry outside to dry until the adjuster comes to confirm your losses. Take pictures tapes and list each it record. If you are not sure whether to throw something out, decide whether it is worth salvaging by checking the information in Step 6.

Garbage

Get rid of food and anything else that could spoil immediately. Don't let garbage build up. Garbage piles will cause yet another health hazard by attracting animals and  insects. If your insurance adjuster has not come, tell your agent or adjuster that you need to get rid of potential hazards. That person will tell you how to make sure that your losses are covered. Then throw the stuff out, preferably in sealed plastic garbage bags.

Don't take chances with frozen food if the electricity went off unless the food is still thoroughly frozen and contains ice crystals. As a rule, food will remain frozen for up to 3 days in a closed freezer without power. Don't refreeze thawed food. However, you can cook raw meat that was partially thawed and then freeze it.

Dispose of discarded items properly. Do not burn or bury them. There will usually be more frequent garbage pickups after a flood. Your local newspapers or local TV and radio stations will have announcements about trash pickup schedules and droop-off sites.

How Floodwaters Affect Your Home

Once contents and debris have been cleared, the next step is to get the water out of the ceilings and walls. How you drain and dry your ceiling s and walls depends on what they are made of.

Wallboard

Most ceilings and walls are covered with wallboard, especially in newer home. Wallboard acts like a sponge, drawing water up above the flood level. It becomes very fragile if it stays wet for long and will fall apart when bumped. When the wallboard finally dries, there will still be mud and contaminants dried inside.

Wallboard that has been soaked by floodwater can be a permanent health hazard. Therefore, this book recommends that you throw out flooded wallboard. On the other hand, if the wallboard was soaked by clean rainwater, it can be dried in place with plenty of fresh air moving through the area.

Plaster

Plaster will survive a flood better than wallboard. You should not need to replace it, but it will take a very long time to dry.

Sometimes the plaster will separate from its wood laths as it dries. Then the wall will have to be removed and replaced.

Insulation

There are 3 main types of insulation, and each reacts differently to floodwaters. Styrofoam survives best; it may only need to be hosed off.

Fiberglass batts should be thrown out if they are muddy. If soaked by clean rainwater, remove them so the rest of the wall can dry. They can be put back in the wall, but it will take a very long time for them to dry.

Cellulose (loose or blown-in treated paper) insulation holds water for a long time. It can also lose its antifungal and fire retardant abilities. Therefore, flooded cellulose insulation should be replaced.

Wood

If it is allowed to dry naturally, wood will usually regain its original shape. Different layers o laminated wood, such as plywood, may dry at different rates, and that may cause the layers to separate.

Some contaminants will stay in the wood after it dries, but not as much as stays in flooded wallboard. Wood studs and sills will be covered by new wallboard and painted, so they are well removed from human contact. Therefore, wet wood studs and sills do not need to be replaced if they are allowed to dry properly.

Drain the Ceilings and Walls

Ceilings

Check for sagging ceilings. Drain them carefully as shown in Step 2. If the floodwaters went above your ceiling, you should replace it if it is made of wallboard. A plaster ceiling will dry eventually, but if it has too many cracks or sags, you will have to tear it down and replace it. Remove any wet insulation in the ceiling to allow the joists to dry.

Walls

Remove water trapped within your walls. To check for water, take off the baseboard. Stick an awl or knife into the wall about 2 inches above the floor (just above the 2 x 4 wood sill plate). If water drips out, cut or drill a hole large enough to allow water to drain freely. (Use a hand or cordless drill or saw to avoid shock.) If you are going to replace the wallboard anyway, you don't have to be neat: use a hammer to knock out a hole.

If your walls are plaster, a knife won't penetrate them. Drill a hole above the sill plate to drain the water. (Use a hand or cordless drill to avoid shock. Do not use a hammer or chisel on plaster because the plaster could shatter.

In a newer home, you may have metal sill plates. A metal sill acts as a gutter at the bottom of the wall cavity. Drill a hole at floor level to drain the water, using a hand or cordless drill.

Repeat the process to drain all the wall cavities. Depending on the spacing between studs in your walls, make a hole every 16 inches or every 24 inches. Watch out for the wiring, which is usually at the same height as your electrical outlets. If there is wet insulation, you will have to remove the wallboard in order to take out all the insulation.

Dry the Ceilings and Walls

Flood-soaked wallboard should be removed and thrown away. Plaster and paneling can often be saved, but you still need to get air circulating in the wall cavities to dry the studs and sills. Different approaches are used for different materials.

Wallboard

If dirty floodwaters soaked the wallboard at least 4 feet above the floor, take down all the wallboard and replace it. If the water was less than 4 feet deep, remove the lower 4 feet of wallboard. You can fill the gap with new 4 ft. X 8 ft. wallboard sheets installed sideways.

If you have Styrofoam insulation—or no insulation—and the wallboard was soaked with clean rainwater, you can dry the walls without removing the wallboard by using the technique explained below for plaster walls. But you will need to remove wet insulation if it is not Styrofoam.

Plaster Walls

If the plaster or wallboard is clean and in good shape, you can drill or cut ventilating holes in each wall cavity. Place holes low enough so they will be covered by the baseboard after the wall dries out. Open up the wall on both sides of interior walls. For exterior walls, drill or cut holes only on the inside of the house. However, if there is wet insulation, you will have to remove the plaster or wallboard in order to take out all the insulation.

Concrete Block

The cavities in a concrete block wall will drain on their own. The water will not damage the concrete like it will wood or wallboard.

Wall Covering

Vinyl wall covering seals the wall and keeps it from drying out. Wallpaper paste is also a favorite home for mold and mildew. For these reasons, you should remove all wall covering that got wet and throw it out. (If vinyl wall covering is loose on the bottom, you may be able to save it by pulling it off the wall up to the flood level. Clean and reapply it after everything dries.)

Paneling

Carefully pry the bottom of each panel away from the wall. Use something to hold the bottom away from the sill so the cavities can drain and dry out. You can nail them back into shape after they and the studs dry out. However, if there is wet insulation, you will have to remove the paneling in order to take out all the insulation.

Dry the Floor

Air needs to move around flooded floors so they can dry out. This usually means that you must remove the floor covering. Because floodwaters contain mud and dirt, most soaked floor coverings should be thrown away. Keep a piece of all discarded floor covering so the adjuster can tell its value.

Air needs to circulate below the floor to dry it out. If the crawl space of your house is flooded, pump it out. Remove any plastic sheets, vapor barriers, or insulation from underneath the floor. (Be sure to replace them when the floor and foundation are completely dry.)

If a house with a basement was flooded over the first floor remove finished basement ceilings, or cut or drill holes between all the joists to allow' circulation. Don't cut or drill near electric lines or pipes.

You have now reached the stage where your home should be protected from further damage. Exterior holes have been patched, the utilities have been turned off, and the drying process has started. It may take days or weeks, depending on the humidity, for all the wood and walls to dry out. You can do Steps 5, 6, and 7 while the house is drying. However, do not start Step 8, Rebuild and Flood proof, until the house is completely dry.

MOLD 101

What are molds?

Molds are fungi that can be found both indoors and outdoors. No one knows how many species of fungi exist but estimates range from tens of thousands to perhaps three hundred thousand or more. Molds grow best in warm, damp, and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores. Mold spores can survive harsh environmental conditions, such as dry conditions, that do not support normal mold growth.

What are some of the common indoor molds?

·         Cladosporium

·         Penicillium

·         Alternaria

·         Aspergillus

·         Stachybotrys atra

How do molds affect people?

Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs.

In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children. In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance, the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould [PDF, 2.52 MB].

Where are molds found?

Molds are found in virtually every environment and can be detected, both indoors and outdoors, year round. Mold growth is encouraged by warm and humid conditions. Outdoors they can be found in shady, damp areas or places where leaves or other vegetation is decomposing. Indoors they can be found where humidity levels are high, such as basements or showers.

How can people decrease mold exposure?

Sensitive individuals should avoid areas that are likely to have mold, such as compost piles, cut grass, and wooded areas. Inside homes, mold growth can be slowed by keeping humidity levels between 40% and 60%, and ventilating showers and cooking areas. If there is mold growth in your home, you should clean up the mold and fix the water problem. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.

If you choose to use bleach to clean up mold:

·         Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce dangerous, toxic fumes.

·         Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.

·         Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.

·         If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document also applies to other building types. You can get it by going to the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html.

·         Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product.

Specific Recommendations:

·         Keep the humidity level in the house between 40% and 60%.

·         Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months.

·         Be sure the home has adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans.

·         Add mold inhibitors to paints before application.

·         Clean bathrooms with mold killing products.

·         Do not carpet bathrooms and basements.

·         Remove or replace previously soaked carpets and upholstery.

What areas have high mold exposures?

·         Antique shops

·         Greenhouses

·         Saunas

·         Farms

·         Mills

·         Construction areas

·         Flower shops

·         Summer cottages

I found mold growing in my home, how do I test the mold?

Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a residence, and CDC does not recommend routine sampling for molds. Current evidence indicates that allergies are the type of diseases most often associated with molds. Since the susceptibility of individuals can vary greatly either because of the amount or type of mold, sampling and culturing are not reliable in determining your health risk. If you are susceptible to mold and mold is seen or smelled, there is a potential health risk; therefore, no matter what type of mold is present, you should arrange for its removal. Furthermore, reliable sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable or tolerable quantity of mold have not been established.

A qualified environmental lab took samples of the mold in my home and gave me the results. Can CDC interpret these results?

Standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable, or normal quantity of mold have not been established. If you do decide to pay for environmental sampling for molds, before the work starts, you should ask the consultants who will do the work to establish criteria for interpreting the test results. They should tell you in advance what they will do or what recommendations they will make based on the sampling results. The results of samples taken in your unique situation cannot be interpreted without physical inspection of the contaminated area or without considering the building’s characteristics and the factors that led to the present condition.

What type of doctor should I see concerning mold exposure?

You should first consult a family or general health care provider who will decide whether you need referral to a specialist. Such specialists might include an allergist who treats patients with mold allergies or an infectious disease physician who treats mold infections. If an infection is in the lungs, a pulmonary physician might be recommended. Patients who have been exposed to molds in their workplace may be referred to an occupational physician. CDC is not a clinical facility. CDC does not see patients, diagnose illness, provide treatment, prescribe medication, or provide referrals to health care providers.

My landlord or builder will not take any responsibility for cleaning up the mold in my home. Where can I go for help?

If you feel your property owner, landlord, or builder has not been responsive to concerns you’ve expressed regarding mold exposure, you can contact your local board of health or housing authority. Applicable codes, insurance, inspection, legal, and similar issues about mold generally fall under state and local (not federal) jurisdiction. You could also review your lease or building contract and contact local or state government authorities, your insurance company, or an attorney to learn more about local codes and regulations and your legal rights. CDC does not have enforcement power in such matters, nor can we provide you with advice. You can contact your county or state health department about mold issues in your area to learn about what mold assessment and remediation services they may offer. You can find information on your state's Indoor Air Quality program at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/indoor_air.htm.

I'm sure that mold in my workplace is making me sick.

If you believe you are ill because of exposure to mold in the building where you work, you should first consult your health care provider to determine the appropriate action to take to protect your health. Notify your employer and, if applicable, your union representative about your concern so that your employer can take action to clean up and prevent mold growth. To find out more about mold, remediation of mold, or workplace safety and health guidelines and regulations, you may also want to contact your local (city, county, or state) health department.

You should also read the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidelines, Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, athttp://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/mold_remediation.html

I am very concerned about mold in my children’s school and how it affects their health.

If you believe your children are ill because of exposure to mold in their school, first consult their health care provider to determine the appropriate medical action to take. Contact the school’s administration to express your concern and to ask that they remove the mold and prevent future mold growth. If needed, you could also contact the local school board.

CDC is not a regulatory agency and does not have enforcement authority in local matters. Your local health department may also have information on mold, and you may want to get in touch with your state Indoor Air Quality office. Information on this office is available athttp://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/indoor_air.htm.

You can also read the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines, Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/mold_remediation.html. 

Also, see these Web sites for more indoor air quality tools for schools:

·         http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/tfs/guidtoc.html

·         http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/tfs/guideh.html

·         http://www.healthyschools.org/index.html

How will this blog help YOU?

In case you are not familiar with, or at least have not subscribed to a blog before, I wanted you to know what this blog is all about and also why hundreds and hundreds of people literally across the world subscribe by email to its content. If you are here on this page, one of the following likely applies:

1.   You are having trouble with water and mold.

2.   You own a house and are looking to further your knowledge and education.

Either way, this blog is written for you. There is none like it on the Internet and it is here because Ruben Jr and I set the goal a few years ago to have the most educational and informative damage restoration website on the Internet. Although this blog tailors towards water and mold remediation, it certainly will have value for any home owner. In order to supply you with such education, the blog consists of the following:

§  How-to videos, new products, etc.

§  Informative articles discussing everything from chemicals to drywall issues.

By subscribing to the blog, you will receive via your email Inbox on average 1-2 articles/videos per week. We will not send other emails, spam, etc to your Inbox. We hold our subscribers in very high regard and respect your privacy. Also, it is our commitment to you to produce quality, helpful content. And remember, if an article does not apply to your situation, simply erase it, we will not be offended ;-) ....But again, we want you to be an informed home owner and this blog is our means of achieving this goal.

Finally, we ask that you do not hesitate to post questions on the blog or send them directly to us via email. Again, thanks for stopping by and welcome to our community.

Sincerely,

Ruben D Salazar Sr.

What are Molds?

What are molds?

Molds are tiny microscopic organisms that digest organic matter and reproduce by releasing spores. Molds are a type of fungi and there are over 100,000 species. In nature, mold helps decompose or break-down leaves, wood and other plant debris. Molds become a problem when they go where they are not wanted and digest materials such as our homes.

What makes molds grow in my home?

Mold enters your home as tiny spores. The spores need moisture to begin growing, digesting and destroying. Molds can grow on almost any surface, including; wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paints, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. The mold grows best when there is lots of moisture from a leaky roof, high humidity, or flood. There is no way to get rid of all molds and mold spores from your home. But you can control mold growth by keeping your home dry.

Can I be exposed to mold?

When molds are disturbed, they release spores into the air. You can be exposed by breathing air containing these mold spores. You can also be exposed through touching moldy items, eating moldy food or accidental hand to mouth contact.

Do molds affect my health?

Most molds do not harm healthy people. But people who have allergies or asthma may be more sensitive to molds. Sensitive people may experience skin rash, running nose, eye irritation, cough, nasal congestion, aggravation of asthma or difficulty breathing. People with an immune suppression or underlying lung disease, may be at increased risk for infections from molds.

A small number of molds produce toxins called mycotoxins. When people are exposed to high levels of mold mycotoxins they may suffer toxic effects, including fatigue, nausea, headaches, and irritation to the lungs and eyes. If you or your family members have health problems that you suspect are caused by exposure to mold, you should consult with your physician.

When is mold a problem?

You know you have mold when you smell the "musty" odor or see small black or white specks along your damp bathroom or basement walls. Some mold is hidden growing behind wall coverings or ceiling tiles. Even dry, dead mold can cause health problems, so always take precautions when you suspect mold.

Mold is often found in areas where water has damaged building materials and furniture from flooding or plumbing leaks. Mold can also be found growing along walls where warm moist air condenses on cooler wall surfaces, such as inside cold exterior walls, behind dressers, headboards, and in closets where articles are stored against walls. Mold often grows in rooms with both high water usage and humidity, such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements. If you notice mold or know of water damaged areas in your home, it is time to take action to control its growth.

When should I sample for mold?

You don't need to sample for mold because in most cases you can see or smell mold. Even a clean, dry house will have some mold spores, but not enough to cause health problems. If you smell mold it may be hidden behind wallpaper, in the walls or ceiling, or under the carpet. If you suspect you have hidden mold be very careful when you investigate, protect yourself from exposure in the same manner as you would for a clean-up. See the chart below.

Can I control mold growth in my home?

Yes you can. Dry out the house and fix any moisture problems in your home:

• Stop water leaks, repair leaky roofs and plumbing. Keep water away from concrete slabs and basement walls.
• Open windows and doors to increase air flow in your home, especially along the inside of exterior walls. Use a fan if there are no windows available.
• Make sure that warm air flows into all areas of the home. Move large objects a few inches away from the inside of exterior walls to increase air circulation.
• Install and use exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
• Ventilate and insulate attic and crawl spaces. Use heavy plastic to cover earth floors in crawl spaces.
• Clean and dry water damaged carpets, clothing, bedding, and upholstered furniture within 24 to 48 hours, or consider removing and replacing damaged furnishings.
• Vacuum and clean your home regularly to remove mold spores.
• Check around your windows for signs of condensation and water droplets. Wipe them up right away so mold can’t start to grow.

What can I use to clean up mold?

Clean up mold and take care of the problem by following the advice above to keep your home dry and keep mold out. Act fast! Mold damages your home as it grows. Clean it up as soon as possible. If using a commercial mold removal product, remember to read and follow the label, which will help you get the most out of the product and keep you and your family safe.

Size the Moldy Area	Decide if you have a large or small area of mold. A small area is less than about ten square feet, or a patch three feet by three feet square. To clean a small area, follow the advice below. You may use a cotton face mask for protection. If you have a lot of mold damage (more than ten square feet) consider hiring a cleaning professional. If the moldy area has been contaminated by sewage or is in hidden places, hire a professional. To find a professional, check under "Fire and Water Damage Restoration". If you decide to clean up on your own, follow the guidance below.
Use Protection	Wear goggles, gloves, and breathing protection while working in the area. For large consolidated areas of mold growth, you should wear an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) approved particle mask.
Seal the Area	Seal off area from the rest of your home. Cover heat registers or ventilation ducts/grills. Open a window before you start to clean up.
Remove Items	Remove all your furnishings to a mold-free area. Clean the surrounding moldy area then follow cleaning directions below for the items you removed and the new space.
Bag Moldy Trash	Bag all moldy materials and tie off the top of the bag. Bring them outdoors and place in your garbage container right away.
Scrub Surfaces	Scrub hard surfaces: First wash with a mild detergent solution, such as laundry detergent and warm water. Allow to dry. (Optional step) Then wipe with a solution of 1/4 cup bleach to one gallon of water. Wait 20 minutes and repeat. Wait another 20 minutes. Last apply a borate-based detergent solution and don't rinse. This will help prevent mold from growing again. A borate-based laundry or dish washer detergent has "borate" listed on the ingredients label.
Clean and Wash	Give the entire area a good cleaning, vacuum floors, and wash any exposed bedding or clothing.
Monitor	Check regularly to make sure mold has not returned to the clean-up area.

What cleans up moldy furniture?

How to clean your moldy furniture depends on how it reacts to water. See chart below:

Reaction to Water	Items	Recommendations
Doesn't absorb water and is washable.	Wood, metal, plastic, glass, and ceramics objects.	Wipe with a solution of lukewarm water and laundry detergent.
Absorbs water and is washable.	Clothes and bedding.	Wash in laundry.
Absorbs water but not washable.	Beds, sofas and other furniture.	These items may have to be discarded. Or, try to save by vacuuming well and allowing to air out. If there is no odor it may be okay. Mold can come back, so watch for any mold growth or mold related health problems. Discard the item if you suspect mold is growing inside or outside the item.

Should I paint over mold?

No. Don't paint or caulk over mold. The mold will grow under the paint and the paint will peel.