How To Get Rid Of Basement Mold: A Step
Before diving into the steps necessary to get rid of the current mold in your place, youll need to ensure that you have all the supplies necessary. If you are dealing with black mold, your safety gear will be essential to doing any DIY work.
- Scrub brush
- Dish Soap
- Primer
With your supplies in hand, youre ready to tackle the spore issue thats making it impossible to enjoy your lower floor. Though there are a variety of fungus strains that could be sitting in your basement, the steps are pretty much the same to combat the issue.
Here are the steps you need to know:
Fix Any Fixtures Damaged By Mold
With that said, there are some occasions where you might be able to save and restore items affected by mold. Some items that are considered to be prime restoration options include:
- Furniture. Wooden furniture can be restored if you are willing to sand away the portion eaten away by mold. You will need wood filler and a wood stain, but its still possible.
- Ceramic. Soaking ceramic in white vinegar will remove the mold and the stains.
- Plastic. Most plastics will be easy to wipe down. Just make sure its not porous!
- Sheetrock/Walls. If you have mold-damaged walls, you will need to call professional mold remediation crews to fix this. Either way, you will need to address this to prevent mold from re-entering your room.
Note: You still need to remove the restorable items from the room and treat them to continue your clean-up. When theyre mold-free, you can re-introduce them to the room.
Basement Mold And Mildew Removal: A Guide
- Written by Rina Magallanes on Oct 19, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by Lindani Chirambadare on Mar 18, 2020
Mold and mildew removal can greatly improve the atmosphere inside a home. These organisms are highly hazardous to health if left to flourish in any part of the house. Moreover, they may contribute to the deterioration of building structures and materials. These organisms can grow anywhere in your household and your basement is one of their most probable breeding grounds.
There are several contractors that offer services on mold and mildew removal. These professionals use proven techniques and methods to ensure that infected areas are thoroughly cleaned. However, you may find that they also ask exorbitant amounts in exchange for their services. Fortunately, you may not need the help of these professionals to remove the mold and mildew that are accumulating in your basement. You can do the task yourself.
Scrub the Basement Floor and Walls
Getting rid of mold and mildew may require scrubbing the infected areas with a heavy duty brush. You may also need to purchase certain types of mold and mildew removal products. There are many commercial products out there that you can use in cleaning and disinfecting your basement walls and floors.
Get Rid of Moisture
Regulate the Basement Temperature
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How To Prevent Mold Growth In The First Place
According to the Environmental Protection Agency , There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. Even if you clean the mold, it will still come back if the room is humid and poorly ventilated or there is excess moisture from a leak, even a small one. Humidity levels should never exceed 50% to control mold growth.
That means prevention is the only permanent remedy for mold. After youâve repaired the leaks and gotten rid of any moisture problems, moving forward, create an environment where mold cant grow with these tips:
- Add a dehumidifier or two to your home. Its best to keep indoor humidity levels between 30-50% to stop build-up make sure to buy one thats sized for the area you are treating.
- Open bathroom doors and windows or turn on the exhaust fan during and after showering to let moisture escape.
- Leave your shower curtain or liner spread open after showering to help keep it dry.
- Vent moisture generating sources, such as bathrooms and clothes dryers, to the outside.
- Avoid storing items in damp rooms, which may mean keepinglinens, books, or furniture our of your basement or attic.
- Seal bathroom grout lines every year if you have tiling. This will help waterproof your walls and floors.
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Remove Drywall And Carpet
If you have black mold growing on drywall or carpet, and you can’t just wipe it off , then you really should just cut it out.
Mildew is usually powdery and just surface coats drywall and carpet which can be easily wiped off. Mold however will grow deeper into drywall and you can’t just clean it or paint it over.
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Mold Is Annoying But Treatable
Having mold in your basement is one of the most common issues homeowners face everywhere. Dealing with it is demanding and time-consuming. Luckily, once you remove it entirely from the wall, it can take a while until it appears again, even if you dont control the humidity in your basement.
For example, if you used borax or vinegar, it will stay in the wall for a while and prevent new regrowth.
However, it isnt a permanent solution.
The only solution for mold in the basement is controlling the humidity and consistent inspection for leaks and damage control as soon as they happen.
Did you find the article useful? If you answered yes, dont forget to like and share it!
Also, share your experience with mold in the comments.
Our Basement Cellar Has A Substance Growing On It Is This Mold
Yes, this looks like mold growth. It is quite common for cellars to suffer from mold growth. This is due to the cool temperatures and high humidity. Regularly cleaning the concrete can help . Also, painting the concrete with semi-gloss, mold resistant paint will make it easier to clean. Depending on your climate, a long term solution might involve a dehumidifier or increased ventilation.
Read Also: What If I Have Black Mold In My House
How To Remove Household Mold
Achieving your dream of owning a home means you can provide a place to relax, have fun and be comfortable with your family and friends. But with that freedom comes responsibility. Keeping up with maintenance, including mold inspection, testing and removal, is crucial to providing an inviting and healthy space.
Kill Mold Naturally With Tea Tree Oil
Believe it or not, one of the uses for tea tree oil is a fungicide thats surprisingly effective at killing molds and mildews on many different surfaces, from clothes to walls to shower stalls. If youre looking for a healthy, holistic, pleasant-smelling way to kill mold in your home, tea tree oil might be just the ticket.
- Scrub brush, sponge, or rag
If youre cleaning mold in a shower or other well-traveled area, you may be able to spray the area with the tea tree oil solution and leave it. Since youre only using one part tea tree oil for every 48 parts water, theres no need to rinse!
If the area is visibly moldy, you may want to scrub the mold away with a sponge or rag soaked in the tea tree solution instead. In both scenarios, leave the cleaner on the surface without rinsing to help discourage future mold growth. Watch tea tree oil use around pets, as it can be harmful to them if ingested.
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Basement Mold Removal Methods
Basement Mold Removal through Negative Air Pressure: A negative air pressure machine can be used to prevent the spread of mold to other areas in your home.
Negative air pressures use a process called ducting to suck the air out of a room and filter it outside of the area with mold.
Negative air pressure machines are a good way to ensure that an area is free of mold spores.
Removing Basement Mold with HEPA Vacuuming: HEPA vacuums can be used for mold removal and are often a great way to ensure that all mold spores and particles have been removed from your basement.
Furthermore, if an area of your basement is highly susceptible to mold, vacuuming with a HEPA vacuum on a semi-regular basis can also help prevent future mold growth.
Why Is Mold An Issue
Mold, mildew, and fungus are a problem because they grow quickly in dark, damp areas, especially those with poor ventilation that lead to a moisture problem and suboptimal indoor air quality. They reproduce via spores that spread easily from one moist area to another. The spores can stay viable for years until conditions are right to make mold grow again.
Mold can cause a number of health problems, specifically respiratory problems such as asthma, coughing, and wheezing. Skin and eye irritation, such as a rash or an allergic reaction, and nausea and vomiting are also possible. Some people have a compromised respiratory system and are more sensitive to mold than others and thus may experience more severe allergic reactions.
Also Check: How To Treat Black Mold Sickness
Cleaning Mold On Basement Walls
Basements are usually dark areas, with poor ventilation, and tend to have higher than normal humidity. Under these favorable living conditions, mold will grow rapidly and thrive. Mold can come in a variety of colors, from black to white, and from blue to green. Molds color and type are not too important. What is important is getting rid of it. Successful cleaning of mold on basement walls can be difficult unless the causes allowing for mold growth are first addressed. Foundation leaks, caused by years of wear and cracks in walls and floors, along with condensation on plumbing and HVAC pipes and vents, tend to help maintain humidity levels that are higher than those normally found in above ground areas of the home. Another reason that cleaning mold on basement walls is difficult is due to the porous, rough surface of concrete. Its hard to reach deep into all the tiny crevices and pores.
When you see mold on basement walls, the mold is not growing on the concrete or the concrete blocks. Mold cannot eat concrete because concrete is not an organic substance. Organics, along with moisture, are some of molds requirements to grow to survive. Usually the mold is growing on dirt and dust or paint and wall coverings that contain organic components. Many paints are latex-based and latex is an organic compound.
Note: This article discusses how to remove mold on concrete walls. If you have mold on other surfaces like sheetrock or wood, read our mold removal guide.
How To Kill Mold In Basements
- Spray mold-killing chemicals on surfaces affected by mold. Wear gloves, mask, and proper clothing when handling chemical products.
- Remove items that are heavily infested by mold. Discard them immediately. For objects that can still be recovered, make sure you clean them thoroughly.
- Dry the surfaces. Ensure proper ventilation after cleaning the mold to ensure it doesnt grow back. Use air movers, fans, or simply open doors and windows to facilitate faster drying of your basement.
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The Path Of Resistance
Initially, Mikes landlord tried to fix the problem himself, bleaching the moldy walls. We call that spray nâ pray, said Scott Armour of the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, a global industry body for remediators. They, along with the EPA, advise against bleach for a variety of reasons, namely that fumes can be dangerous and its usually ineffective.
Bleach only works for non-porous surfaces. It cant touch the mold that has burrowed into surfaces like wood or drywall . But the most important reason bleach fails is that people dont stop the molds water supply.
First thing I do is check for leaks, in the bathroom or roof or a crack in the foundation, said Greg Bukowski, who runs the Chicago-based remediation company Moldman USA. Theres always a leak. If you dont fix that, dont bother with bleach or vinegar. Then kill and remove the mold with detergent and water, then prevent its return with mold-resistant paint like Kilz .
When bleach didnt work, Mike paid for an indoor airborne mold test, which raised more questions than it answered. We had no idea how to interpret the results. I just couldnt find any information out there that isnt written by remediation guys, he said. They told him he had the dreaded black mold, and needed professional remediation.
Black Mold Can Form In Dark Damp Corners Of Your Basement Without You Ever Knowing It
Worse, it spreads very quickly. Not only does mold rot drywall, but it can also lead to serious health issues. If you have asthma or allergies, mold can cause eye irritation, cough, congestion, and skin irritation. More serious health issues from mold exposure include fever, coughing up blood, nose bleeds, vomiting, and even liver damage. If you spot mold spores, you need to act quickly while taking proper safety precautions. Here well cover 5 steps for removing black mold in your basement.
Before you get to work in the basement, strap on a face mask and gloves to protect yourself. Without touching it, inspect the damaged area. Black mold will look like soot and may be dusty. If the job is too big, or you have health issues that could be exacerbated from addressing the mold issue, contact a professional cleaning service or mold remediation company, such as Woodard, and stay as far away from the area as possible.
Read Also: How Quickly Does Mold Spread
Getting Rid Of Mold Smell In Basement
Mold in basement can often leave behind a moldy, musty smell in your basement that can be difficult to get rid. Below are a few methods that may help get rid of any unwanted mold odors.
Resources:
What Causes Mold To Grow In Basements
Mold loves temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees F, a little bit of moisture, some tasty surfaces to feed on, and plenty of room to growall of which the average basement supplies readily.
You can have issues with mold after a small leak, say, from a water heater or bathroom, rain coming in a basement window after a big storm, a major flood event, an overwatered plant pot, or even just due to an excess of indoor humidity.
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There Has Been A Wet Smell In Our Newly Purchased Home Since We Got Here The Previous Owners Did Not Heat The Home In The Winter Months And There Is Very Poor Ventilation In The Basement We Removed Some Gyproc Todaydoes It Look Like We Will Have To Remove It All
Yes, the sheet rock should be removed. This is necessary not only to clean up the existing mold, but to implement the prevention measures.
First, you need to identify the source of the moisture. Three possibilities exist. 1.) Condensation from the warm interior air hitting the cold concrete wall. This typically does not happen behind a well sealed wall , but its possible.
2.) Vapor emissions through the concrete. This occurs when moisture moves through the concrete in vapor form, creating high humidity and saturation on the surface. In an uncovered wall, the water would simply evaporate into the air without causing an issue. The installation of the sheet rock traps the moisture, leading to mold growth. There are two solutions either keep the concrete exposed or install dimple board with a interior footing drain.
3.) Liquid water intrusion. Its possible youre having liquid water enter through the cold joint at the bottom of the wall. If this is the case, youll see more damage at the bottom plate/framing than higher up the studs. In most cases, the solution is an interior footing drain.
Remove Any Items Damaged By Mold
Mold is a living organism that feasts on the stuff in our homesfood, furniture, books, everything. If you have small items or papers that have been affected by the mold, you should remove them immediately. In most cases, you will be best off clearing out the entire room affected by mold.
When youre cleaning out the room, its best to sort items into three piles: destroyed, salvageable, untouched. Anything that is destroyed should be taken to the local dump or recycling center. Salvageable items can be fixed or tossed on a case-by-case basis.
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