Removing Mold From Cinder Block Walls With Borax
Borax is a trustworthy and effective cleaner thats well-known for its cleansing and deodorizing properties. Since Borax inhibits mold growth, its an excellent cleaning solution for removing mold from cinder block walls and other large areas. You dont even need to clean it off when youre finished.
- Scrub brush or bristle brush
Before you use one of our ways to clean cement of mold or mildew, vacuum all your moldy surfaces with a HEPA-certified vacuum minimize the number of spores that end up airborne. Mix the Borax and water in a bucket to create your cleaning solution.
Scrub any moldy surfaces thoroughly and remove visible mold particles. Let the Borax solution sit on the surface for a little while if you dont wash it off, it will inhibit future mold growth. Use this solution to stop moss from growing on bricks outside, too.
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
How To Remove Mold From Walls
Mold on your interior walls doesnt just look unpleasant it can be a health hazard for your family. Depending on the amount and location, its presence also suggests a larger problem in your housewater infiltration.
For this project, we will focus on solving the mold problem. The remedy is two-fold: 1. Control moisture and 2. Kill the mold. While the former may take a more involved approach, depending on the situation, the latter often can be done with some bleach, water and a bit of elbow grease.
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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.
Common Causes Of Mold In The Basement
As mentioned above, the main cause of mold in the basement is excess moisture, which is not a rare situation in a basement. Whether that moisture comes from the outside or from the inside, it is very important to get to the root of the problem in order to deal with it and prevent any further complications .
So, where does the moisture, or water in a basement come from? Lets dig deeper.
There are two main sources of water in basements:
Basements are below grade spaces in your home, which means that they are prone to water seeping in from the foundation walls, and window wells. Since these are the lowest parts of the home, gravity dictates that if water is present, it will flow towards the lowest area to settle.
Two frequent causes of water in basements are rain and floods. Without proper grading, gutters and downspouts, rain often flows into the basement creating excess moisture for mold to thrive in. Flooding caused by heavy rains or rivers, provides the right environment for mold growth.
When it comes to sources of moisture inside, we can talk about various causes, from ineffective insulation to excess steam that evaporates and raises the level of humidity . A high level of humidity and condensation creates the perfect conditions for both mold and mildew to spread in your basement.
Did you know?
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What You Need To Know About Mold From Basement Flooding
The first thing you need to check for after a flooded basement is mold and fungus growth. Not only can mold cause serious health issues for you and your entire family, but if you let it get out of control and invade your home it can be incredibly difficult to get rid of.
The best way to prevent mold is to avoid leaks, floods and humid and musty air.
Its important to educate yourself about what mold and mildew is, where it grows, why it grows and how you can prevent it from growing in your home and basement.
If you do however find mold in your home you also need to know how to get rid of it effectively, how to sanitize your home properly, and protect your home from future growth.
Weve put together a comprehensive guide to help you understand mold and mildew and how you can prevent them from invading your home.
I Have A Major Moisture Issue Along One Wall In Basement Particularly Behind Furnace Duct
The white, fluffy substance is efflorescence and the black spotting on the wall is mold growth. Efflorescence occurs when moisture moves through the concrete and deposits minerals/salts on the surface. In a basement, this can be a complex issue. First, I recommend looking at your downspouts and ensure they are moving the water far away from your home. Your goal is to reduce the moisture load in the soil near your home.
If this doesnt solve the problem, youll likely need a sump pump and possibly an interior footing drain. While expensive, they are often the only way to completely solve the problem. In most cases this will involved removing the wall in the problem area so the footing drain can be installed at the very edge of the concrete slab.
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Window In The Basement
Take a look at the window sill. Do you see any puddles? If yes, your window may leak when it rains.
How to fix this
Condensation if there is condensation on the windows, it can be due to lack of insulation. You can call a professional to fix this.
Missing or cracked sealant If there is missing or cracked sealant on the windows, then fill in the sealant or re-caulk.
Overhangs divert the overhangs on the outside of the house away from the home. This will help keep water out of the windows.
Fascia the fascia is the board above the window. Make sure it is angled away from the house.
Gutters- unclog the gutters so the water flows through and doesnt back up into the home.
Flashing missing or improperly installed if the flashing is missing or improperly installed, then contact a professional to fix it.
Siding, Chimney, and Roof- Check the siding, chimney, and roof and make sure there are no gaps. Then, seal the areas you find are loose or open.
Weep hole If the weep hole is clogged, clean it out so it doesnt backtrack into the window.
How To Test For Mold In Your Basement
If youre not confident in identifying mold, there are several kits that you can buy to collect a sample and have them sent to a lab for testing including . Simply follow the instructions and place the sample in a pre-addressed envelope to get to the lab.
Though testing is simple, you should immediately take action to stop mold in basement areas even if you just suspect it. Some molds are technically more damaging than others, but the CDC states that all molds should be removed, and the type of mold present in your basement is ultimately irrelevant.
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Dont Ignore The Problem
Molds are not just unsightly they can cause structural damage and might make you sick. Black molds may be Stachybotrys, possibly S. chartarum or S. chlorohalonata. Many molds can take up residence in your home. Not all are black they might be yellow, white or some other color. Its important to understand and identify molds. Prevent them, if you can, and take steps to get rid of them quickly.
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Remove Mold From Drywall/painted Walls
Mold can often grow on drywall and painted interior walls, especially in areas where moisture and humidity are a factor, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Walls can also be affected if your roof or exterior walls are infiltrated by water. If the drywall remains wet, mold can begin to grow and penetrate the drywall throughout. When this happens, the drywall must be removed and replaced, as you will not be able to get rid of all mold under these circumstances.
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How Do You Remove Mold From Concrete Basement Walls
Concrete walls present slightly different concerns. For starters, they are much lower in cellulose compared to finished walls made from wood and drywall, so mold will have to work harder to access food. Unfortunately, basements usually have plenty of dust to keep them well-fed and reproducing. They also present a sizable obstacle to removing existing infestations.
In a standard mold removal operation, the contaminated materials are removed and replaced with fresh ones. Concrete makes that difficult since you cant just take out a portion of the houses foundation. That doesnt mean that mold cant be removed from concrete walls, but rather that it is a job best left to professional mold removal experts.
How To Remove Black Mold In A Basement
In addition to addressing the causes of moisture in a basement, if you have black mold, it is important to begin the mold removal process.
If the mold is extensive, hiring an experienced contractor is strongly recommended. With a large mold contamination, full hazmat suits, face masks, air blowers, and other equipment may be used to remove and contain the mold.
My recommendations for mold removal are for small areas of mold growth only such as less than 10 square feet.
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Avoid Overloading Your Basement
Both an organic food source and moisture are important for mold to grow. Thats why its very important to cut the food source, along with lowering the humidity level in your basement. There is no better food for mold than the things you keep in your basement such as clothes, books, carpets, food and even the cardboard boxes in which you store all of those things.
Try eliminating everything that you dont need and avoid overstuffing your basement at all costs. Air must be able to flow and it cannot do so if every inch of your basement is covered. If you must use your basement for storage, and you are worried about mold, ensure that everything is properly dried and moved away from the walls. If there is a leak or a flood, take out everything that may have been in touch with water, dry it well and then put it back.
What Is Black Mold
Black mold is often found inside houses with excessive moisture damage to wallboard and other surfaces. Much is made of this type of molds toxicity but the mold itself isnt harmful. It does however have the potential to produce mycotoxins that can cause harm to people and pets, depending on the particular species of mold. A rule of thumb should be use caution when removing all molds, especially when in abundance.
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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.
Proper Ventilation Will Help Get Rid Of Mold In The Basement
The air in the basement becomes stagnant and doesnt move, thus allowing the spores to grow. A properly ventilated basement that doesnt have a lot of stuff stored in it allows air to flow through.
How to fix this
A portable air purifier will work to pull the spores out and circulate the air, allowing it to be clean to breathe in. Also, make sure the basement isnt congested with things that can stop the air flow.
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How To Remove Mold From Your Basement
ByHelen Alexanderpublished 18 October 21
Damp, water leaks and excess moisture in the air can all cause mold to grow. Heres how to remove mold from your basement.
If you want to know how to remove mold from your basement, this article takes you through the tools you need to get rid of it. According to the Environmental Protection Agency , it only takes a little moisture to cause mold spores to grow and this can result in damage to your property and to your health.
We explore the mold-removing solutions that can protect your home in the long term, as well as the preventative measures designed to reduce the risk of mold starting its rapid growth.
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Having successfully removed mold from your basement, its important to consider long-term solutions such as purchasing a dehumidifier that will ensure it doesnt reoccur. For more information on air quality issues relating to mold check out our features on what causes dampness in a house and is condensation on windows bad?
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How To Remove Mold From Painted Wall
Anyone that has a moisture of humidity problem in their home will end up having mold on the walls.
That is unless you took the right steps to fix the moisture problem.
If you have mold growing on your walls, like most people, you probably cleaned it with bleach or some other mold removal product.
However, to your surprise, it came back days later.
If the growth returned, you probably didnt fix the moisture problem correctly the first time around.
Mold growing on painted walls can be resilient.
If you fail to get rid of the moisture source, it will keep coming back no matter how many times you try to clean it or paint over it.
The regrowth happens because chemicals applied often will not penetrate deep below the surface where the roots continue to grow.
When the roots keep getting a constant moisture source, the mold continues to develop.
Applying mold removers is only a temporary measure and only stops mold development when the killing agent stays active.
Once the killing agent evaporates, the regrowth will just happen again and again. That is until you find and stop the moisture source.
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How To Identify And Treat Mold In Your Basement
yavdat / Getty Images
- Working Time: 3 – 4 hrs
- Total Time: 3 – 4 days
- Yield: 80 square feet of basement wall
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Estimated Cost: $30 to $60
If any place in the house will grow mold, it’s the basement. Basements collect and trap moisture, and moisture is one factor that leads to mold growth. And because basements have less natural light and airflow than other parts of the home, that mold will not die off on its own. Some strains of black mold can be a health hazard. Plus, mold can quickly decay organic materials such as wood, leading to structural failure. This means that identifying and treating mold in the basement should be a priority as soon as you believe that you have it.
