How to Eliminate Mold Spore in Food Processing Plants

Mold is a microscopic fungus. Mold spores can cause such severe health issues as asthma and allergies. Installing air purifiers and dehumidifiers and using various mixtures of cleaning solutions are among the ways to reduce mold in food-handling areas, but eliminating mold requires a plan of remediation. A HEPA air filter traps mold spores, capturing nearly 100 percent of the airborne pollutants in a food processing plant. Food processing plants are a playground for mold. The air in a food processing plant is cool and the humidity is high. Eliminating mold spores from a food processing plant requires more than one type of remedy.

Things You'll Need

• Scrub brush
• Bleach
• Water
• HEPA filters
• Shock treatment
• Purifying solution
• Tea tree oil
• Clean towels

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Instructions

• 1

  Throw out containers, shelving and utensils in the food processing plant that are cracked or chipped or have black dots because mold thrives in porous areas.

• 2

  Scrub remaining containers, shelving and utensils with a bleach solution made of 1/2 cup bleach to 1 quart of warm water. The equipment, walls, ceilings and floors need to be scrubbed with the bleach-water mixture and thoroughly rinsed.

• 3

  Remove HEPA filters from the plant's air system. Clean the inside of the system with the bleach-water solution before you put in new filters. Use a shock treatment to help clean out the air system, if necessary. Shock contains extremely high levels of bleach. Purifying solutions that stymie growth of mold at low levels can go into an air purifying system to reduce the growth of airborne mold spores. Purifying solutions prevent mold from growing but do not eliminate the mold.

• 4

  Design a cleaning plan that uses a bleach solution. Bleach can be harsh on the skin; for daily cleaning, use a tea tree oil solution. Mix 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil with 2 cups of water. Put the solution in a spray bottle and clean all surfaces throughout the day.