Removing Mold From Drywall Or Ceilings
Drywall and ceiling materials are porous, so the mold you see on the surface most likely has threaded its way below the surface, too. Spray the surface with the homemade bleach-based mold remover until damp but not dripping, and let the area air-dry.
Then, respray it, wipe away any residue with a fresh cloth, and reapply a final light round of spray. Let this dry overnight, and the spray will continue killing mold as it dries.
Read Also: Removing Mold From Leather Jacket
The First Step In Learning How To Get Rid Of Musty Smell Is To Find The Culprit
No matter how much sweeping, mopping and spraying you do, that musty basement smell just wont go away. Youve come to realize its just the way your below-ground floor prefers it. But dont give up so fast! That damp scent reminiscent of a wet dog can be eliminated!
The first step in learning how to get rid of that musty smell is to find the culprit. Its not enough to clean, because the reality is that musty smell is not a build up of dust or dirt at all. Basements are the ideal environment for harboring moisture, which is why youll need to do some investigative work to determine what is causing the smell and develop a basement odor eliminator plan.
Underground living spaces cant hold moisture like the upper levels of your home. When the warmer air from above seeps into your basement, the moisture in the air condenses, and ends up on your dark basement walls and cold water pipes. Mold begins to form, and the unpleasant smell you cant seem to shake is born.
Its important to find out if moisture is entering your basement in other ways, as well. If you notice a broken seal on a window or a crack in the foundation wall, you may have found your musty culprit. You should also check to see if you have clogged rain gutters, French drains, sewer backups, leaky pipes or even a broken seal on your laundry dryer vent as these problems can all contribute to a musty basement.
Should You Paint Over Mold On Concrete
Painting over mold is never a good idea on any surface. You will spread mold spores while introducing more moisture into the colony, providing further growth. It will look as if it was covered for a few days, and afterward, it will return to an area bigger than before it was painted. Remediation is the correct way to get rid of mold on concrete.
Recommended Reading: How To Clean Bathroom Ceiling Mildew
Dry Out The Damp Space
Fungus grows in places with a lot of moisture. Now is where your dehumidifier comes into the picture. The device will help to pull the excess liquid out of the air, making it harder for new spores to grow. If you can, open up the windows in the space and run the exhaust fan to help get a good air flow.
Mold On Basement Walls
Basements are the preferred spots for black mold to grow. Almost no ventilation, plenty of moisture, and a vast amount of organic material to feed on, make the process of keeping the area clean difficult. If the wall is made of concrete and has black patches, it means theres organic material nearby that keeps feeding it. That material could be carpets, newspapers, cardboard boxes, and even furniture. Get rid of all contaminated items at once before attempting to remove the fungi from the walls.
Remember to use a safety mask, goggles, rubber gloves, and other protective gear to reduce exposure to the toxic spores that are released by it and the chemicals used to remove it. The next step is scrubbing. Scrubbing with water and soap will prepare the wall for the later application of specialized fungi removal products. After using the water and soap mixture, its time to use the chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide or borax. Hydrogen peroxide and water can make a safe and effective solution to eliminate the fungi. Borax, when mixed with water, can also be used to scrub the walls, and it doesnt even need to be rinsed. Once you are done, dry the walls to keep moisture away. A dehumidifier or an open window can help keep the air moving. If the task seems too daunting, get a free quote and hire a professional.
Also Check: How To Clean Mold From Ceiling
What Causes Mold In A Basement
In order to know what causes mold to grow in a basement, we need to explore a little bit more about what mold is. Mold is a type of fungus that loves damp, dark environments and reproduces by sending spores through the air. Mold spores are naturally occurring in the environment. You bring them in from outside on your clothes, your shoes, and your hair, and when they are presented with an environment that lets them grow- they flourish and make thousands of spores every day. It is important that you pay attention to the most common signs of mold, including the quality of the air in your house.
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.
You May Like: Remove Mold From Leather Couch
Don’t Miss: How To Get Mildew Off Bathroom Ceiling
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.
Types Of Basement Mold
Various types of mold will infest your basement. While they are all hideous, not all of them are toxic to humans.
Molds can be divided into two categories:
- Allergenic
- Mycotoxin/black
Allergenic molds usually pose no health risk unless you are extremely sensitive to molds or asthmatic. Black molds, on the other hand, produce a toxic chemical called mycotoxins and are particularly harmful to humans and pets.
Here are the common types of molds that can infest your basement.
Aspergillus
Aspergillus is one of the most common household mold species. There are different types of Aspergillus, and most of them thrive well indoors. Some of the Aspergillus molds are allergenic, but some are mycotoxin and should be removed by a specialist, especially if it is something like black mold.
This fungus is dark green and found on damp walls, ceilings, and even furniture. It flourishes in humid environments, but can also grow in areas that are dry with high levels of humidity or condensation.
You May Like: Mold Off Bathroom Ceiling
What Does Mold On Concrete Look Like
Mold on concrete can look like any number of different things. It depends on what classification of mold is growing on the surface of your concrete. It could be white, black or green.
Mold can be harmless or harmful regardless of color, so you should have a professional from Mold Busters visit your property for an expert inspection.
If you mistake black mold for mildew and try to clean it off, you could spread it to the rest of your home. Certain black molds grow in circular formations and are easy to spot however, this is not always the case.
This mold should be treated in the same way as any mold colony growing inside your home.
If Necessary Sand The Wood
These cleaning solutions should take care of your mold problem, but if youve got some stubborn traces left under the surface, you have one last resort: sanding.
- Use 100-grit sandpaper to rub out the affected portion, taking care not to sand away too much of the surrounding areas.
- Repeat Step 2 to remove the dust and any loosened mold spores.
Recommended Reading: Mold In My Bathroom Ceiling
Concrobium 27400 Mold Control Aerosol
The best part is that this aerosol is entirely safe to use. The formula avoids toxic ammonia, bleach, or any other volatile organic compounds . It also works on a wide array of surfaces, from drywall and wood to stone and tile.
The cleaner is ideal for basements and any other room of your home. You could even use this aerosol in your car.
Killing Black Mold With Sanitizing Spray
If there is no rotted wood, then the first step is to kill the mold by spraying it with a bleach and water solution — however, if spraying a large area bleach can irritate your lungs. A 1 part bleach to 9 parts water solution is recommended .
For larger areas, you may want to purchase a specialized sanitizing spray made for killing mold.
Let the cleaning solution soak the mold for at least 15 minutes, then dry it off.
You May Like: Black Mold Bathroom Ceiling
How To Get Rid Of Mold In The Basement / Crawl Space
You walk into your basement and find a patch of mold growing! What do you do? Mold growth can be a serious issue, but knowing how to get rid of mold in the basement will help you avoid hazardous conditions it may bring. A mold outbreak isnt just unsightly, it can slowly damage the structure of your home and pose serious health risks to you and your family.
It isnt difficult to recognize when you have a mold problem. One of the first signs is a strong, musty odor. Mold can have a slimy, fuzzy, or powdery appearance and different varieties present with different color variations. In homes with a crawl space you may notice a musty smell or find mold along the baseboards. The crawl space is not likely a place you regularly visit so mold growth may go unnoticed until it starts to permeate through the floorboards.
How To Clean Mold From Concrete Basement Walls With Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a versatile and effective cleaner thats a fungicide, virucide, and bactericide. There are dozens of peroxide uses for around the home, both inside and out.
Disinfecting with hydrogen peroxide will kill virtually anything thats growing on your basement walls, including mold! Its also ideal to clean concrete basement floors, too.
If youre wondering how to clean mold from concrete basement walls or need to start cleaning brick walls in the basement or carport with this concrete cleaner, heres how.
- Bristle brush
To kill mold on concrete basement walls or for an ideal DIY mildew remover, pour 3% hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Saturate the walls with the peroxide, then let it sit for up to 30 minutes. Clean mold off walls by scrubbing the area thoroughly with a bristle brush after about ten minutes to help to lift any residual mold out of the pores in the concrete.
If you can, hose off the walls or scrub them down with warm water to remove any cling-on spores when you finish and leave the walls clean and shiny. Dry with a clean towel to eliminate water spots that could encourage more mold to grow.
Peroxide is an excellent option not only for mold removal but to get rid of other types of stains, as well, especially for how to clean white walls that may have mold or mildew.
You May Like: Black Mold In Shower Ceiling
Get Rid Of Black Mold In The Basement Safely And Call The Experts
For over 60 years, 58 Foundations has been in the business of keeping basements and crawlspaces dry with effective and long-lasting solutions! Damp basements are the perfect place for black mold to grow. But with our experts and quality products, well clear your basement of that nasty black mold, and make your basement a safe and dry place once again. Give us a call today to schedule for a free mold inspection and receive a detailed estimatewith our long-historied expertise, you can count on us to make your basement mold-free!
How To Remove Ceiling Mold
This article was co-authored by Mike Kapur. Mike Kapur is a home inspector and the owner of Sonic Home Inspections, a home inspection company in Westchester, New York. With over 15 years of experience in pre-inspecting properties, Mike specializes in mold, radon, asbestos, lead, water, and air quality testing as well as hazardous materials, pest, infrared, and general home inspections. Prior to founding Sonic Home Inspections, Mike worked pre-inspecting apartments. Mike holds a BS in Accounting from Queens College and is a Certified Mold Assessor in the state of New York.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 15 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 738,276 times.
Ceiling mold is unsightly, unhealthy and a bit of a challenge to clean. It can also cause permanent damage to your home and must always be treated as soon as possible. Following a few simple steps can help you on your way to a clean and healthy ceiling.
Read Also: How To Clean Mold Off Bathroom Ceiling
Also Check: How To Get Mold Off The Ceiling
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:
How To Remove Mold Outside The House
External mold is just as serious as mold inside the home. Youll want to remove mold from the outside of your house, on siding or on your deck, as soon as possible. External mold can do significant damage to exterior surfaces over time, eating away at wood, stucco and other materials. In addition, exterior mold can easily work its way into the house if left unchecked.
- Don gloves and eye protection and liberally spray a 1-to-10 solution of bleach and water on the surface.
- Scrub tough stains with a stiff bristle brush dipped in the solution.
- Let sit for 10 to 20 minutes and rinse with a garden hose.
Read Also: How To Get Mold Off Of Ceiling
Causes For Black Mold In Basement
Molds are fungi. They thrive in environments with a high humidity level and put off a musty smell. They are beneficial in nature, helping leaves and other vegetation decompose and enrich the soil. Molds are everywhere and come in many colors green, blue, yellow, white, gray and black. Molds reproduce by putting off tiny spores seed-like organisms that travel through the air. The spores settle on organic materials including food, cardboard, carpeting, fabric, plants, insulation, wood, ceiling tile, drywall, and even cinder blocks and grow if conditions are right, they grow. If you dont get rid of them, you can have significant problems!
Act Now and Remove Mold from your HomeCall a Professional Mold Remediation Specialist or Get Up to 4 Quotes Now.
Is Mold Common In Mobile Homes
Any home can be prone to mold infestation, but trailers are usually at higher risk. This risk is especially true in areas that flood during storms.
A flood may not reach inside the first floors of houses, but trailer floors are built a little lower and become more susceptible to water damage. This kind of water damage can make conditions just right for mold growth.
When installing a trailer, you have to make sure you get a licensed installer to handle it. If you didnt install it the right way, such as installing it on an unlevelled ground, mold could manifest under the floor, and you could have a lot of mold to clean.
You May Like: Remove Mildew From Leather
