Does Your Basement Smell Musty?

Musty, mildew odor is usually pretty common in a basement.

If your basement smells damp and must or if you’ve had a flood, Earth Care’s Clear The Air Odor Eliminator will completely eliminate these odors.

Simple and cost effective to use Earth Care is the answer to your basements musty mildew odors. This unique form of Earth Care Products Mineral does not have to come into contact with the odor producer; it will pull the odors from the entire area.

Clear The Air draws in odors like a powerful magnet. The odors are adsorbed, and neutralized without any fragrances. Clear The Air does not cover up odors; it literally “clears the air” leaving the air fresh and clean. Clear The Air is made from an all natural mineral, is non toxic and biodegradable and safe for Planet Earth.

It is also safe around children and pets even if eaten.

Check out a video testimonial  from a pest control professional who used our Odor Eliminator Bags in a basement to eliminate musty mildew odors.

Flooded? Helpful Clean Up Tips

Floods are no fun!

If you have had the unfortunate experience of a flood, you know how destructive they can be and how much effort is needed to clean up the mess.

Clear The Air eliminates musty mildew odor that is a result of a flood. It is extremely important to cleanup and disinfect everything in your home that may have been contaminated. Flood water may contain bacteria that can cause serious illness.

We would like to share some helpful tips to help with cleaning up from a flood:

• Act quickly to avoid mildew and odor by removing all loose dirt and debris. Use a disinfecting solution to wash walls, floors or other surfaces which have been touched by flood waters.
• Hang 1-2 bags of Clear The Air in each room with odors. One bag will cover up to 100 square feet. The bag will continue to eliminate new odors for up to 3 months. In addition to the bags sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Concrete or Carpet and Furniture granules on the floor and furniture, leave down for 24 hours, then sweep or vacuum. Odors will be completely eliminated.
• Clean and disinfect all interior walls, counters and floors. You will also want to clean and disinfect all kitchen items such as dishes, glassware and utensils.
• Wash clothing with chlorine bleach to remove mildew and germs. Make sure the clothing labels mention they are machine washable and colorfast.
• Always remember to wear gloves and protective clothing and avoid touching your face or eyes. Make sure to be thorough and wash and dry everything well.

After Flood Clean Up

Unfortunately many of the Hurricane Sandy victims are forced to clean up their home after the devistation of the storm that has affected so many East Coast residents.

Clear the Air would like to help by providing tips to flood cleanup.  Remember, we are offering a HUGE discount on our products which will help eliminate flood, mildew, and other odors left by a flood.

When your house floods, the water can wreak havoc on the structure of the house, your personal belongings, and the health of the inside environment. Flood waters contain many contaminants and lots of mud. High dollar items can get ruined all at once, even with just an inch of water, for example: carpeting, wallboard, appliances, and furniture. A more severe storm or deeper flood may add damage to even more expensive systems, like: ducts, the heater and air conditioner, roofing, private sewage and well systems, utilities, and the foundation.

After a flood, cleaning up is a long and hard process. Here is a list of common techniques for sanitizing and cleaning flooded items:

• First things first: call your insurance agent. If your insurance covers the damage, your agent will tell you when an adjuster will contact you. List damage and take photos or videotape as you clean. You’ll need complete records for insurance claims, applications for disaster assistance and income tax deductions.
• Contaminated mud-Shovel out as much mud as possible, then use a garden sprayer or hose to wash away mud from hard surfaces.
• Clean and disinfect every surface. Scrub surfaces with hot water and a heavy-duty cleaner. Then disinfect with a solution of 1/4 cup chlorine bleach per gallon of water or a product that is labeled as a disinfectant to kill germs.
• In the kitchen–
  • Immerse glass, porcelain, china, plastic dinnerware and enamelware for 10 minutes in a disinfecting solution of 2 tablespoons of chlorine bleach per gallon of hot water. Air-dry dishes. Do not use a towel.
  • Disinfect silverware, metal utensils, and pots and pans by boiling in water for 10 minutes. Chlorine bleach should not be used in this case because it reacts with many metals and causes them to darken.
  • Cupboards and counters need to be cleaned and rinsed with a chlorine bleach solution before storing dishes.
• Furniture and household items–
  • Take furniture, rugs, bedding and clothing outside to dry as soon as possible. Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to remove moisture or open at least two windows to ventilate with outdoor air. Use fans to circulate air in the house. If mold and mildew have already developed, brush off items outdoors to prevent scattering spores in the house. Vacuum floors, ceilings and walls to remove mildew, then wash with disinfectant. Wear a two-strap protective mask to prevent breathing mold spores.
  • Mattresses should be thrown away.
  • Upholstered furniture soaks up contaminants from flood waters and should be cleaned only by a professional.
  • Wood veneered furniture is usually not worth the cost and effort of repair.
    Solid wood furniture can usually be restored, unless damage is severe.
  • Toys and stuffed animals may have to be thrown away if they’ve been contaminated by flood waters.
  • Photographs, books and important papers can be frozen and cleaned later. They should be dried carefully and slowly. Wash the mud off and store the articles in plastic bags and put them in a frost-free freezer to protect from mildew and further damage until you have time to thaw and clean them or take them to a professional.
• Ceilings and walls–
  • Wallboard acts like a sponge when wet. Remove wallboard, plaster and paneling to at least the flood level. If soaked by contaminated floodwater, it can be a permanent health hazard and should be removed. If most of the wallboard was soaked by clean rainwater, consider cutting a 4- to 12-inch-high section from the bottom and top of walls. This creates a “chimney effect” of air movement for faster drying. A reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade works well, but use only the tip of the blade and watch out for pipes, ductwork and wiring.
  • Plaster and paneling can often be saved, but air must be circulated in the wall cavities to dry the studs and sills.
  • The three kinds of insulation must be treated differently. Styrofoam might only need to be hosed off. Fiberglass batts should be thrown out if muddy but may be reused if dried thoroughly. Loose or blown-in cellulose should be replaced since it holds water for a long time and can lose its antifungal and fire retardant abilities.
• Electrical system-The system must be shut off and repaired and inspected by an electrician before it can be turned back on. Wiring must be completely dried out- even behind walls. Switches, convenience outlets, light outlets, entrance panel, and junction boxes that have been under water may be filled with mud.
• Heating and cooling systems and ducts-Will need inspection and cleaning. Flood-soaked insulation should be replaced.
• Appliances-Appliances will get stains, odors, silt deposits, and gritty deposits and need to be serviced, cleaned and sanitized. Running equipment before it is properly cleaned could seriously damage it and/or shock you. Professional cleaning is recommended for electronics, TVs and radios, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners. The hard exterior can be hand cleaned. All metallic appliances that have been flooded should be properly grounded to prevent electric shock. Mud or dirt in a grounded outlet or adapter may prevent the grounding system from working, and you could be electrocuted.
• Pump out the basement-If your basement is full or nearly full of water, pump out just 2 or 3 feet of water each day. If you drain the basement too quickly, the pressure outside the walls will be greater than the pressure inside the walls. That may make the walls and floor crack and collapse.
• Floors-With wood subflooring, the floor covering (vinyl, linoleum, carpet) must be removed so the subflooring can dry thoroughly which may take several months. Open windows and doors to expose the boards to as much air as possible.
  • Carpeting-Clean and dry carpets and rugs as quickly as possible. If sewage-contaminated floodwater covered your carpeting, discard it for health safety reasons. Also discard if the carpet was under water for 24 hours or more. To clean, drape carpets and rugs outdoors and hose them down. Work a disinfecting carpet cleaner into soiled spots with a broom. To discourage mildew and odors, rinse with a solution of 2 tablespoons bleach to 1 gallon water, but don’t use this solution on wool or nylon carpets. Dry the carpet and floor thoroughly before replacing the carpet. Padding is nearly impossible to clean so should be replaced. If the carpet can’t be removed, dry it as quickly as possible using a wet/dry vacuum and dehumidifier. Use a fan to circulate air above the carpet, and if possible, lift the carpet and ventilate with fans underneath.
  • Vinyl flooring and floor tile may need to be removed to allow drying of subfloor.
  • Wood floors-Wooden floors should be dried gradually. Sudden drying could cause cracking or splitting. Some restoration companies can accelerate drying time by forcing air through the fluted underside of hardwood floorboards. Remove hardwood floor boards to prevent buckling. Remove a board every few feet to reduce buckling caused by swelling. Clean and dry wood before attempting repairs.
• Roof damage and leaks–
  • Defective flashing– Flashing is the sheet metal used in waterproofing roof valleys, hips and the angle between a chimney and a roof. Wet spots near a chimney or outside wall may mean the leak is caused by defective flashing, narrow flashing or loose mortar joints. Look for corroded, loose or displaced flashing on sloping roof valleys and at junctions of dormers and roof.
  • Clogged downspouts or eaves– Check for choked downspouts. Accumulated water or snow on the roof above the flashing may cause a leak. Ice accumulations on eaves sometimes form ridges, which cause melting snow to back up under the shingles.
  • Cracks and deterioration– Roofing (especially wood or composition shingles) usually deteriorates first on southern exposures. Check southern slopes for cracking or deterioration.
  • Holes– Missing shingles or holes in the roofing may be causing wet spots. To find holes, check for a drip trail or spot of light coming through in the attic. Stick a nail, straw or wire through the hole to mark the spot on the outside.

Odors From Floods

Our hearts and prayers go out to those on the East Coast affected by Hurricane Sandy.  May the damage, if any, be minimal.

We would like to share some helpful tips to eliminating  flood odors from your home.  When a home is cleaned up and returned to normal after a flood, a lot of times there is that remaining mildew and moldy smell.  Your home can get back to new with our amazing product!

Once the water recedes and your home or building has been dried out you are often left with a musty mildew smell that permeates the walls, carpets, furniture and window coverings. Earth Care’s Clear The Air Odor Eliminators will completely eliminate these odors.

Simple to use and cost effective Earth Care is the answer to your flood odors. This unique form of Earth Care Products Mineral does not have to come into contact with the odor producer; it will pull the odors from the entire area. Clear The Air draws in odors like a powerful magnet. The odors are adsorbed, and neutralized without any fragrances. Clear The Air does not cover up odors; it literally “clears the air” leaving the air fresh and clean. Clear The Air is made from an all natural mineral, is non toxic and biodegradable and safe for Planet Earth. It is safe around children and pets even if eaten.

Directions to Eliminate Musty Mildew Odors from Previously Flooded Areas

• Hang 1-2 bags in each room with odors. One bag cover up to 100 square feet.
• Bag will continue to eliminate new odors for up to 3 months.
• In addition to the bags sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Concrete or Carpet and Furniture granules on floor and furniture, leave down 24 hours and sweep or vacuum. Odors will be completely eliminated.
• One canister of Clear The Air Odor Eliminator For Concrete or Carpet and Furniture granules covers approximately 100 square feet.
• One Clear The Air Bucket of granules covers 900 square feet.
• Clear The Air can also be sprinkled outside on concrete, decks, lawns and shrubbery to remove musty odors. It is not necessary to remove from lawns and shrubbery as Clear The Air will act as a natural time release nitrogen fertilizer.

Flood Prevention

Flood prevention tips for homeowners.

If you have ever experienced a flood in your home, you know it is not only a nuisance but can also be extremely costly and dangerous.  Clear the Air would like to share some helpful flood prevention tips.  If you have experienced a flood in your home, Clear the Air guarantees to eliminate that musty mildew smell that is most often left behind after a flood. It is simple to use and the answer to your flood odor problems.

Flood Prevention Tips

• Keep drainage areas (ditches, swales, small channels) free of debris accumulation.
• Consult an engineer to design a permanent water/flood debris control device, if needed.
• Ensure that drainage facilities are functioning properly
• Landscape slope areas with plants suitable for fire retardant and erosion control.
• Report clogged catch basins.
• Report water in streets over topping the curb.
• Review your insurance coverage. Homeowner’s insurance does not cover flood damage.

Insurance premiums are reduced ten percent if the building is located within your city’s 100-year floodplain. Areas outside the 100-year floodplain receive a five percent discount. However, there is a 30-day waiting period for the flood insurance to become effective.

Tips for Personal Safety During a Flood

• Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number-one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure that the ground is still there.
• Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their car than anywhere else. Do not drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out.
• Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. The number-two flood killer after drowning is electrocution. Electrical currents can travel through water. Report downed power lines.
• Have your electricity turned off. Some appliances, such as televisions, keep electrical charges even after they have been unplugged. Do not use appliances or motors that have gotten wet unless they have been taken apart, cleaned and dried.
• Look out for animals, especially snakes. Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may seek shelter in your home. Use a pole or a stick to poke and turn things over and scare away small animals
• Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris including broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be very slippery
• Be alert for gas leaks. Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Do not smoke or use candles, lanterns, or open flames unless you know that gas had been turned off and the area has ventilation.