Mold & Mildew Cleanup in Osprey, FL

Why does the house smell musty when I get back?

Osprey is a small Gulf coast community in southern Sarasota County with an older population and a median age over 60. If you spend part of the year elsewhere, a house closed for months, with the AC off or set high, holds humid air against cool walls, closets and furniture. Mildew can form on leather, wood, mattresses, closet walls and the inside of cabinets without any leak at all. The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County recommends using air conditioning to keep indoor humidity below 60 percent, so the AC should keep running at a reasonable setting while you're away, with someone checking the house after storms.

What can I clean myself, and what should I leave?

Light mildew on hard surfaces such as tile, glass, sealed wood and plastic usually comes off with detergent and water; dry the surface completely afterward. Wear gloves, goggles and an N-95 respirator. Washable fabric can often be laundered. EPA says porous items that stay moldy, such as mattresses or upholstered cushions, may need to be thrown away. Leave it to a company when growth covers more than about 10 square feet, appears in several rooms, sits on soft drywall, or shows up on the AC vents. EPA also says people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas.

Does living on the water change anything?

It can. Osprey sits on the Intracoastal Waterway, crossed by the historic Blackburn Point Bridge, and Sarasota County calls flooding its most common and recurring natural disaster, from heavy rain, storms and surge. If water has come inside, mildew at the base of walls is a sign of wet material rather than a surface problem, and EPA's 24-to-48-hour drying rule applies. The county's Community Rating System coordinator can answer flood map questions for your address.

One local note

The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County has an environmental health specialist who advises residents on indoor air problems, including mold. If cleanup turns into rebuilding, Osprey is unincorporated, so permits come from the Sarasota County Building Division, with offices in Sarasota and at the R.L. Anderson Administration Center in Venice.