Re: Soda Blasting For Mold Removal???

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I agree with Ryan. People have a tendency to knock the other guys
technology, such as carpet dry cleaners stating that "steam cleaning"
or hot water extraction will rot and ruin the carpet. This is very
untrue (having used both methods) unless the operator is sitting on one
spot, with the vacuum hose removed and TRYING to make this happen.

The point is that it is easy to think something from a point of lacking
in actual knowledge about the other guys approach. For example, it has
been stated in these posts that a 11 ph is caustic and implied is
destructive, "caustic". 11 is a very normal ph in many cleaning
detergents, that are used everyday for normal heavier cleaning needs on
household surfaces. Granted it is a higher ph but not at all uncommon.

Also while I can see how blasting could be possibly a problem in homes
lived in, although if the room is properly prepared and the residue
cleaned and removed, it would seem not to be a problem, but the big use
for this is in New Orleans in homes largely opened to the air and heavy
water contamination for many months and literally have to be gutted and
rebuilt. As stated the blasting process is to REMOVE the mold spores
from the studs and inner structure. There arent going to be wallboard,
floorcovering, furnishings etc to protect.

Once the hard surfaces have been cleaned of mold, then all surfaces
can be cleaned chemically and if the home is not open to the outside
air can have the air filtered by a machine, or otherwise it will just
be carried into the normal air exchange with nature.

As stated, there is mold in the air. The job of remediation is simply
to remove excess mold, eliminate the moisture factor and prevent
regrowth. Testing does not regulate the amount of mold, simply to
determine if it is in excess of outside mold levels indicating a
greater presence of mold inside the structure.

In New Orleans the minor damage was fixed long ago, the heavily damaged
homes from water need massive rebuilding and just need the mold removed
from the studs and surfaces within the wall areas basically.

We need to look at things realistically and not just as portrayed in a
book or most theoretical view, and yes I am certified and have learned
from a book as well.

On 12/07/06, Ryan wrote:
> Lot of misinformation on this post. Soda is very weakly caustic (8 PH
> Ref http://www.chemistryquestion.com/English/Questions/
> ChemistryInDailyLife/4c_baking_soda.html). One of the lowest
> carbonates on the scale. Why would you use something that corrodes
> metal in your moms birthday cake? Your saliva is 6.4 (ref
> http://biomedx.com/pH/page3.html)with 7 being neutral. It will not
> corrode metals. How caustic and environmentally safe are those great
> chemicals? Soda is a first step in remediation. Removal of visible
> mold. Then chemicals are used to treat studs and surfaces. Mold is
> already in the air around you...everywhere. That’s why you set up air
> scrubbers and treat afterward. Baking soda is NATURAL...everyone with
> a chemistry background knows this, not just environmentalists. It is a
> mined mineral crushed to ash and dissolved in water (ref
> http://frugalliving.about.com/od/bakingsodapages/a/bshistory.htm) No
> one ever claims soda is a mold killer. Only a remover. Please do
> research before posting. And state some references to give your belief
> a backbone not just hot air.
>
>
> On 9/27/06, Chad wrote:
>> Soda blasting (using Arm & Hammer baking soda) is effective &
>> harmless. It is the same process that was used in 1987 to clean
>> the Statue of Liberty. Baking soda is also present in many
>> refrigerators, baked goods, toothpaste, deodorant and chewing
>> gums. It is extremely safe, and extremely effective and removing
>> mold without harming wood structures.
>>
>> On 9/01/06, JOE ALEXANDER wrote:
>>> On 5/22/06, RemDude wrote:
>>>> I also agree that soda blasting creates more problems than it
>>>> solves. How anyone can believe that aerosolizing contamination
>>>> is a good thing for contaminated structures is beyond me. The
>>>> only folks pushing this technology are those who sell the
>>>> expensive equipment and soda for the process. It is being
>>>> banned in many areas and IHs won’t touch the process.
>>>>
>>>> Yet another bad idea...
>>>> On 4/03/06, Mold Remover wrote:
>>>>> PD - You are correct in that soda blasting is a new method
>>>>> being employed for mold removal. The environmentalists
>>>>> somehow seem to believe that soda is both natural and
>>>>> environmentally safe. I would not recommend anyone using
>>>>> this method for mold removal. Soda is caustic, eats metal
>>>>> surfaces, and is not an approved mold killer.
>>>>>
>>>>> The only good thing it has going for it, is it’s fast.
>>>>> That’s why you are seeing it used. Considering the other
>>>>> cost effective remediation methods being deployed, soda
>>>>> blasting is NOT the answer. Look into the latest chemical
>>>>> remediation methods being used. This is the cost effective
>>>>> and labor efficient answer for mold remediation.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 3/29/06, P. Davidson wrote:
>>>>>> I have read about soda blasting as a new method being used
>>>>>> in the mold remediation business. Can anyone tell me how
>>>>>> effective the process is in killing mold and what the
>>>>>> dangers are for this type of method? It seems that there
>>>>>> would be a host of issues regarding the caustic nature of
>>>>>> soda, the potential for excessive mold release into the
>>>>>> environment, and the potential to drive spores deeper into
>>>>>> the substrate. Wouldn’t there be significant liability
>>>>>> associated with this method?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Anyone have any practical experience with this?