Carpets & Flooring
CRI Articles
IEHA Articles
The Clean Trust Articles
Features
What you can't see can hurt you. Microscopic fragments of mold or other airborne particles can be inhaled causing health impacts, so sampling the air during and after mold cleanup may make sense to determine how effective the process has been at removing or containing these contaminants. [Note: Ad or content links featured on this page are not necessarily affiliated with The Clean Trust and should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by The Clean Trust.]
In contaminated environments, the numbers of particles will be quite high, whereas after cleanup with proper methods, particulates should be significantly reduced.
An optical particle counter measures the total number of particles of a certain size or range (for example, 0.3 micron and larger) without revealing what those contaminants are. Thus, when used with direct mold or fungal detection methods, it can serve as an additional quality-control and post-remediation check by restorers and other indoor environmental professionals (IEPs).
It can also help assess vacuum cleaners and other cleaning equipment to see how well they capture dust. For example, the number of particles at the intake of vacuum cleaners is compared with the particles measured exiting the vacuum to check the effectiveness of filters. HEPA vacuums should effectively capture 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and larger in size.
The knowledge and skills of the professionals you hire will largely determine how successful the restoration outcomes are, including how healthful the indoor environment is after cleaning. Certified technicians best understand how to use scientific measurement tools properly to ensure your home has been effectively restored. Locate a Clean Trust Certified professional or firm by consulting the directory at www.certifiedcleaners.org.
The Housekeeping Channel (HC), a for-profit educational LLC, provides the information on HousekeepingChannel.com as a free service to the public. The intent is to disseminate accurate, verified and science-based information on cleaning and housekeeping.
While an effort is made to ensure the quality of the content and credibility of sources listed on this site, HC provides no warranty - expressed or implied - and assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product or process disclosed on or in conjunction with the site. The views and opinions of the authors or originators expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of HC: its principals, executives, Board members, advisors or affiliates.
