I just found mold: what to do in the first 48 hours

First hour: protect yourself and stop the water

1. Keep people with asthma, allergies, lung disease or a weak immune system out of the room. CDC says they should not help clean up mold.
2. Find the water. Mold grows where it is damp. EPA’s first rule is to fix the leak or moisture problem before you clean.
3. Stay away from wet outlets, cords and appliances. Turn off power at the main breaker only if you can reach it without standing in water.
4. Take photos of the mold and the leak before you touch anything. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) says to document damage before cleanup.
5. If you think mold is inside the air conditioner or ducts, turn the system off. EPA says not to run an HVAC system you suspect is contaminated.

First 24 hours: decide if this is a DIY job

1. Measure the patch. EPA says you can usually handle an area smaller than about 10 square feet, roughly 3 feet by 3 feet. Bigger than that, or mold after sewage or floodwater, is a job for a professional.
2. Skip the test kit. CDC does not recommend mold testing, and EPA says sampling is usually unnecessary when mold is visible. CDC says to remove mold no matter what type it is, so color does not change the plan. Our black mold guide explains why.
3. If a sudden leak caused the mold, call your insurer and ask what to do first. Coverage varies a lot; see does homeowners insurance cover mold.
4. Get the right gear. CDC says wear at least an N95 respirator, non-latex gloves (vinyl, nitrile or rubber) and goggles that fully protect your eyes.

24 to 48 hours: clean small areas and dry everything

1. Open windows or doors before you clean.
2. Scrub hard surfaces with detergent and water. Dry them completely.
3. Bag and throw away soft, absorbent items that are moldy, like carpet and ceiling tiles. EPA says they may not come clean.
4. Do not paint or caulk over mold.
5. Bleach is optional. If you use it, CDC says no more than 1 cup per gallon of water, and never mix it with ammonia or any other cleaner.
6. Dry every wet area within 24 to 48 hours. EPA says to keep indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent.

After 48 hours: what comes next

If the mold is larger than 10 square feet, keeps returning, or you cannot find its source, read how professional mold remediation works and check what mold remediation costs before you get quotes. Our guide to choosing a mold remediation company lists the questions to ask.

In Florida, mold assessment and remediation over 10 square feet is licensed work under state law, with an exemption for owners working on their own home. Look up any license on the Florida DBPR website. DBPR says a mold assessor may not remediate a structure they assessed in the past 12 months.

For everything else about mold, start at our mold hub.