How to Get Rid of Mold on Playground Mulch

It is estimated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission that there have been more than 156,000 emergency-level injuries per year on playgrounds in the United States (Reference 1, page 1). The American Society for Testing and Materials has set up guidelines for playground surfacing that will lower injury rates and comply with the American Disability Act (Reference 1, page 8). However, one problem with the mulch playground surfacing is that it can become moldy. Get rid of the mold by removing it, killing it and protecting against it.

Things You'll Need

• Pitch forks
• Garden rakes
• Allergy masks
• Gloves
• EPA-approved mold-killing spray

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Instructions

• 1

  Put on gloves and masks. Use garden rakes and pitch forks to stir the mulch. Molded mulch will come to the top of the pile as you sift through it. Large clumps of molded mulch will be brought to the surface. Remove these clumps and put them in a dumpster.

• 2

  Spread the remaining wood mulch back out. Spray it with an EPA-approved mold-killing spray. Move the wood mulch around so that all parts are treated. Follow manufacturer’s instructions on how long the spray must be allowed to dry before it is safe for children to play on it again. Keep the playground taped off and closed until that time.

• 3

  Dispose of the gloves and masks. Clean and disinfect the rakes and pitchforks with bleach. Have the dumpster emptied as soon as possible so that the mold cannot spread back onto the playground.

• 4

  Find the reason for the mold formation. Look for a clogged drain somewhere near the playground. If you cannot find the drain, probe around the edges of the playground for perforated tubing at the lower sides of the playground. Make sure these drains are open.

• 5

  If no drainage system is in place, one needs to be put in immediately. Contact the person in charge of the playground funding. It may be a park board or school board administrator or a PTA leader. Ask that person to talk to the playground company about their drainage issues and how to resolve them.