Can a washing machine leak through floor become a mold problem?

Hello. We just had a washing machine leak in our first floor bathroom (tile floor) and there was briefly a lot of water pouring into our basement storage room (the ceiling in there is unfinished and therefore not sealed) I’ve gotten everything cleaned up and drying off as best I can, but I can’t get everywhere behind the washer/dryer- is there a danger of mold developing in the floor? Thanks.

dougj99

in Flooring 13 years ago

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slopemope | 13 years ago

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Well, yes.  A one-time leak isn’t nearly as bad as a hidden continuous leak – IF you can dry it out in a timely way.  “Behind the washer” i’m not sure what that implies, is it behind a gypsum wall with insulation?  If you’re getting the moisture up and using a dehumidifier (see if you can rent a big one – might be tough after sandy) its a good step.  A little mold won’t kill you if you get as much moisture up as fast as possible.  Speed is king when it comes to drying out most organic materials.  A few small blotches of mold in a house is not the end of the world for an accident that was one time and dried out, and probabally encapsulated a little.