SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/home-a-mold-porous

Which moldy items may have to be thrown away, according to EPA?

Porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet.

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  1. Hard glass and metal items
  2. Only things that are still dry
  3. Porous items like ceiling tiles and carpet ✔

Why: Mold can grow into the empty spaces and crevices of absorbent or porous materials, so it may be difficult or impossible to remove completely. Hard surfaces can usually be scrubbed with detergent and water.

Huh, didn't know that: Mold may also cause staining and cosmetic damage that cleaning cannot fully fix.

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What is full of holes but can still hold water? A sponge!
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References

Answer: Porous items like ceiling tiles and carpet. Mold can grow into the empty spaces and crevices of absorbent or porous materials, so it may be difficult or impossible to remove completely. Hard surfaces can usually be scrubbed with detergent and water.

  1. EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home www.epa.gov/mold/mold-cleanup-your-home
    Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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