Mold & Mildew Cleanup in Holiday, FL

Is Gulf air the reason my Holiday home keeps getting mildew?

It's part of it. Holiday runs along the Gulf of Mexico between New Port Richey and the Pinellas County line, with shoreline parks at Anclote River Park, Gulf Park and Key Vista Park. Air off the water is humid most of the year, so a house has to work to stay dry inside. Mildew forms wherever that work falls short: bathrooms without strong exhaust, closets on the west-facing walls, sliding door tracks and any room where the AC vent is closed. Keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, the target EPA recommends, does more than any spray.

We had water from Helene. Is it too late to clean the mildew myself?

It depends on how much water came in. After Helene's 2024 surge, Pasco County delivered supplies to affected coastal neighborhoods from Holiday to Hudson. If your home took water and couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours, EPA says to assume mold is growing, and growth on cabinets, baseboards and lower drywall usually extends inside the wall. That is past the scope of a homeowner scrub. DOH-Pasco's post-flood guidance is to discard soaked items that can't be cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours, ventilate while removing wet or moldy materials, and remove visible mold before painting or caulking.

What can I safely do on my own?

• Scrub small patches on tile, tubs, glass and sealed trim with detergent and water, then dry
• Wear gloves, goggles and an N-95 respirator
• Throw out moldy cushions, rugs and cardboard
• Replace moldy caulk instead of sealing over it
• Leave growth larger than about 3 feet by 3 feet, or on drywall, to a professional

If someone in the house has asthma or a weakened immune system, EPA says they should stay away from moldy areas, so let someone else handle even small jobs.

Holiday permits and lookups

Unincorporated Holiday is permitted by Pasco County Building Construction Services, which posts post-storm permit information and has its central office on Citizens Drive in New Port Richey. Pasco's Find My Flood Zone tool shows a property's FEMA zone and base flood elevation by address.