PPE for mold cleanup: N95, gloves, goggles and who should stay out

What PPE do you need to clean mold?

CDC’s cleanup guidance sets the basic kit for anyone cleaning mold at home:

EPA uses the same minimum, an N95 with gloves and eye protection, for areas under about 10 square feet. CDC adds that a half-face or full-face respirator makes sense when you spend a long time removing moldy belongings or drywall.

This gear is for small jobs. For the cleaning steps themselves, see how to get rid of mold yourself. If you are deciding between bleach and other cleaners, see what actually kills mold.

How do you know an N95 is NIOSH approved?

Counterfeit and mislabeled respirators are common online. NIOSH’s fact sheet lists what a real N95 shows:

• “NIOSH” in capital block letters. A misspelling is a warning sign.
• A testing and certification (TC) approval number, for example TC-84A-XXXX.
• The approval holder’s business name and a part number.
• The filter rating, N95.

Search the TC number on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List. If no result comes up, the number is not valid and the mask is not NIOSH approved.

Fit matters too. A respirator only filters the air that passes through it. Facial hair and gaps at the nose let air leak around the edges. Check the seal each time you put it on, following the maker’s instructions.

Who should not clean up mold?

CDC says these people should not take part in mold cleanup:

• People with allergies.
• People with immune suppression or underlying lung disease.
• People with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma or COPD.

CDC’s “what to wear” guidance adds that children should not enter buildings with mold damage.

If the only people available to clean fall into one of these groups, hire a professional. Keep anyone in these groups out of the room while work is going on, and out of the area until it is cleaned and dry.

How should you set up the room?

Good setup keeps mold dust in the work area.

1. Fix the water first. EPA says mold will come back if the moisture source isn’t fixed. Dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours.
2. Ventilate. CDC advises opening windows or doors for fresh air when using any cleaning products.
3. Keep it contained. Close interior doors. Turn off forced-air heating or cooling that serves the room so dust isn’t spread through the ducts.
4. Bag as you go. Put moldy materials that can’t be cleaned, like soaked drywall or carpet pad, into heavy plastic bags inside the work area before carrying them out.
5. Clean, don’t just kill. EPA recommends scrubbing hard surfaces with detergent and water and does not recommend bleach as a routine practice. If you use bleach, CDC says no more than 1 cup per gallon of water, and never mix it with ammonia or any other cleaner.
6. Clean up yourself. Remove gloves and clothing in the work area, wash work clothes separately, and wash your hands and face.

When is PPE not enough?

Personal protective gear doesn’t make a large or dangerous job safe for a homeowner. Stop and call a professional if the mold follows sewage or floodwater, covers more than about 10 square feet, or is inside the HVAC system.

Older homes add their own risks. If your home was built before 1978, sanding or cutting painted surfaces can release lead dust. EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting rule requires anyone paid to disturb that paint to be certified. Old ceiling texture, floor tiles and pipe wrap may contain asbestos. Do not cut or demolish them, and check your state’s asbestos program.

For sewage or Category 3 water, use our DIY sewage cleanup guide to decide whether it’s safe to start at all. If you just found mold and aren’t sure what to do first, start with what to do in the first 48 hours. For everything else, see the mold hub.