How To Clean Walls With Mold

How To Get Rid Of Basement Mold

There are numerous ways to get rid of mold in your home and basement. However, before you start clearing out the mold, make sure you fix the real problem as the mold growth is only a symptom of an underlying problem. This could mean fixing a leak, ensuring that the basement has proper ventilation, and checking that any standing water has dried.

Here are several methods you can use to remove mold from your home and basement.

How To Clean Mold From Bathroom Ceiling

If you see mold spreading across your bathroom ceiling, you need to do two things. First, identify the source. Is there a leak above the bathroom? If so, eliminate the leak before cleaning mold from the bathroom ceiling. If the mold is caused by moisture in the bathroom, consider adding an exhaust fan or running a dehumidifier to reduce heat and dampness.

Related: How to Clean a Bathroom Countertop and Sink

The next step is to clean the mold from the bathroom ceiling. Start by spraying the area with a vinegar solution. If the ceiling is coated with paint or another finish that allows for scrubbing, spray the vinegar directly on the ceiling and wipe with a clean rag. If not, you will need to scrape off and replace the affected ceiling area. Removing a textured ceiling covered in mold is a job better left to mold removal specialists, as it requires special ventilation masks and protective clothing.

Removing Mold From Tiles And Grout

Read Also: How To Clean Black Mold On Shower Grout

How To Treat Mold With Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is an antifungal, antiviral, and anti-bacterial solution found in most medicine cabinets, and its an effective mold treatment. You can use it safely on a range of surfaces such as kitchen appliances and counters, bathroom fixtures and tubs, hard flooring, and even certain wall surfaces.

Pour a 3% concentration of hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Test an inconspicuous area of surfaces first to prevent discoloration or damage. Saturate the moldy surface and leave it for 10 minutes. Next, scrub the area with just enough force to remove black mold and mold stains. Once the surface is free of residual mold and stains, wipe dry.

How To Get Rid Of Mold In Attics

Attics are prone to mold either because of leaks from roofs or window seals, or because poor ventilation is allowing condensation to build up. Therefore treating those problems is always the most important step you can take to avoid getting mold in your attic, or to prevent it from coming back. Once youre sure your attic is watertight and ventilated, discard any stored items that are contaminated, or remove them for cleaning and restoration. Seal off the attic during cleaning and use a wet vacuum to clean as much visible mold as possible. Treat walls, floor, and exposed timbers with a mold removal spray to kill mold quickly and effectively, and install a fan or dehumidifier to dry the attic once the treatment is complete.

You May Like: How To Clean Mold Between Pavers

Best Mold Cleaner For Walls

Destroy, remove and stop black spores from growing back with this Complete Mold Killer and Removal DIY Bundle. The RMR-141 will completely clean and disinfect the walls where the black spores are growing. After you have cleaned the area, use the RMR-86 to remove the stain. Once the area looks clean, spray the RMR-141 on the wall you just cleaned and the RMR-141 will prevent the fungus from returning. This cleaner is designed to clean black, green or any other type of mold that is growing on your walls. No scrubbing is required. Simply spray this cleaner on your wall and within minutes, the site will be completely clean. This fungicide kit is all you need to clean your home of these unwanted organisms. This cleaner is cost efficient when the black spores are in a small area that you can clean yourself. When cost is a factor and you are on a budget, the RMR- 141 and RMR-86 will get the job done.

How To Clean Mold From Bathroom Tiles

Scrubbing with vinegar or a borax solution is a great way to clean mold from bathroom tile. For small applications, mix 2 tablespoons borax into 2 cups warm water and funnel into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on tiles and let it sit for a few minutes. As noted earlier, you can also make a large-batch tile cleaning solution with 1 cup borax and 1 gallon of warm water. Use a mop or sponge to scrub away the mold. Whether you use vinegar or borax, there is no need to rinse the solution. However, you will want to dry the floor so the moisture doesnt encourage the mold to return.

To clean mold from bathroom tile grout, use the same borax or vinegar solution as before. Apply it directly to grout lines and let it sit. Use a toothbrush or another small bristle brush to clean mold from bathroom tile grout. For hard-to-remove stains, mix two parts baking soda with one part vinegar to form a paste. Apply it to the grout and let it sit a few minutes before scrubbing away mold. If desired, you can also use a commercial grout cleaner.

Editor’s Tip: Check your tile material before using one of these solutions. Vinegar can be damaging to some tile materials avoid if you have marble, slate, granite, or stone tiles.

You May Like: How To Clean Mold Between Pavers

Remove Mold From Cinder Block Walls

If it is growing on the surface of painted cider block in the basement or cinder block in the crawlspace, simply clean it using a good bathroom cleaner. Once the cinder block has been thoroughly cleaned, repaint cinder block using a paint that has an antimicrobial additive added to the paint. Since cinder block is often used in basements, so it the most important thing to do is to stop the moisture from seeping through the cinder block by using a waterproofing system on the walls.

Where Youll Find It Growing

Mold on your basement or exterior walls occurs when water vapor in the air meets a cold surface and turns the vapor into a liquid. Bathrooms and laundry rooms develop mold because theyre typically very humid. Other humid areas include the walls and ceiling near humidifiers and any room with a hot tub or jacuzzi improperly installed indoors.

Mold also grows where there is a water leak. Places like the cupboards under sinks are prone to mold. Once a pipe has leaked, theres a good chance mold will grow unnoticed within the wall until the problem requires expert removal.

Recommended Reading: How To Remove Mildew From Canvas Boat Cover

Possible Symptoms And Health Effects

When there is black mold inside of the walls, it often causes allergy-like symptoms, including watery eyes, sneezing and running nose. If anyone in your home has respiratory problems, such as asthma and those with a weakened immune system may have a higher risk of infections from exposure to the mold. Black mold can also cause more serious illness, such as sleep disorders, memory loss, bleeding lungs in infants and sudden infant death syndrome.

Act Now and Remove Mold from your HomeCall a Professional Mold Remediation Specialist or Get Up to 4 Quotes Now.

How To Remove Mold From Brick Walls

Timely removal of mold from brick walls to eliminate the risk of all types of dangers that come with its existence. Thankfully, the majority of mold situations can be settled at home by DIY methods using different types of solutions. If you suspect mold on brick walls in your house then here is what you need to do in order to get rid of it.

Here are a few things that you need to keep in mind.

• Use a ladder for areas that are beyond your reach.
• Discard the sponge, brush, and plastic sheet once you are done. We are saying this because the toxins might have settled on these items.
• No mold removal should be carried out by sick and weak individuals.
• Children and pets should be away while you are removing mold.

Also Check: How To Clean Mildew From Canvas

How Does A Dehumidifier Work

What do dehumidifiers do to reduce humidity at home? The process is fairly simple:

Removing Mold From Wallpaper

Use the natural mold remover spray on finished, painted, or wallpapered surfaces. Spray the area well, then immediately scrub it with a clean cloth or brush to remove the surface layer of mold. Then lightly respray the area, using only enough to dampen the spot you dont want it dripping. Wait 10 minutes and wipe it with a clean, fresh cloth. Let it dry overnight without rinsing the remaining acetic acid from the vinegar will work overnight to finish killing mold you cant see.

Recommended Reading: Mold In The Bathroom Ceiling

In The Rest Of Your Home

Inspect your interior hoses. You should replace flexible hoses on washing machines and kitchen sink sprayers immediately if you see a leak or condensation, and every five years, even if you dont spot problems. If you dont replace them on time, your homeowners or renters insurance wont pay if they burst and cause water damage. Inspect your roof after storms. Look for loose shingles or other damage that could allow water to enter your attic or home. Keep your foundation clear. Dont stack firewood or other items against your homes foundation, or youll encourage water collection there that will seep into your basement walls.

Fix cracks promptly. Whether you find cracks in your foundation or siding, fix them immediately to keep water out of your home. Clean your gutters in the Spring and Fall. Clogged gutters lead to water pooling near your foundation or along your walls, and that leads to water damage that causes mold.

Remember, mold wont go away on its own. If you find signs of it growing on your walls, you need to take prompt action to get rid of it with these easy homemade mold-killing sprays. Then keep it from coming back by controlling your homes humidity levels, promoting good air circulation, and regularly cleaning to remove mold spores.

Where to Next?

Cleaning Mold Off Painted Walls

Mold is common in rooms that have a lot of moisture like your bathroom or basement. Ideally, these rooms should be painted with water-resistant wash-and-wear type paint that will prevent mold from growing deeper than the surface. It also makes it easier to clean when you do spot growing mold.

If you plan to use store-bought mold remover, make sure the formula is mild enough to minimize any damage to your paint. Its possible, based on the severity of the mold, that you may have to repaint or even replace part of the wall. With the mold remover and a rag or towel, spray the affected area and scrub the mold. You may have to do this multiple times. Afterwards, spray water on the area and wipe it with a new towel or rag to clear the surface of any remaining mold remover.

You May Like: Cleaning Canvas Awnings Mold

Preventing A Reoccurrence Of Mold

As important as it is to clean mold on basement walls, it is equally important to take steps to keep the mold from returning. As mentioned, most mold problems in basements are due to a lack of ventilation and the presence of high humidity. You can alleviate the humidity in your basement by using a dehumidifier. These units can be found for under $300. I recommend a model that will self-empty, having pump-out capability or by continuously draining through a garden hose that can be directed down a drain. Here is more on selecting the right dehumidifier.

Another preventative step you can take is to primer/paint the concrete walls with a mold resistant product after the removal process. An excellent choice is . These mold resistant products will range in price from $30-$50 per gallon. Most of these mold resistant primers and paints contain antimicrobial ingredients that help prevent mold re-growth in areas of high moisture content. Warning I never recommend attempting to cover, seal, or paint over mold in any situation.

The goal is not to kill the mold but to completely remove it.

Consider the following example: If you have a skunk living under your front porch, you have a problem. If you kill the skunk you havent solved your problem, you have just created a different problem. Now you have a dead skunk under your porch. The same goes for mold. Dont be happy with just killing it it needs to be removed.

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.

Also Check: How To Clean Mold Between Pavers

How To Prevent Mold On Walls

If you discover mold growing on walls that are painted or covered with wallpaper, then you can use natural ingredients to eliminate the fungus.

When it comes to mold prevention, limiting moisture is key, because moisture is a crucial component for mold growth. Without moisture, mold cannot grow. Knowing this, do what you can to prevent any excess moisture from accumulating.

In your bathroom, always allow the exhaust fan to run during your bath or shower and for at least 10 minutes afterwards. If there are any leaks from appliances, your roof, foundation, or elsewhere, get it fixed right away. Promptly clean up any excess water and moisture, too. Otherwise, water will likely accumulate and encourage mold growth.

How To Clean Mold From Wood

Mold loves wooden surfaces. Whether its your window sills, flooring, wall framing, or furniture, the high cellulose content of wood provides mold with lots of food. Because wood is also very absorbent, its easy to create a perfect environment for mold with very little moisture. If you do find mold growing on wood in your house, heres how to get rid of it.

Youll need:

100-grit sandpaper

Method:

Step 1: Begin by vacuuming up as much of the mold as possible using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. You can also use a soft-bristled brush to dislodge the mold and make this easier. Remember to wear a dust mask to prevent breathing in mold spores while you do this.

Step 2: Add a teaspoon of soap to two cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake to combine and spray the mold and surrounding surface.

Step 3: Use a soft-bristled brush to scrub away the mold and mildew. Use paper towels to soak up any excess water.

Step 4: To kill the roots, add 1 tablespoon of borax to a cup of water and use a soft-bristled brush to apply the solution to the area. Allow it to absorb into the wood.

Step 5: Run a fan or dehumidifier in the room to quickly dry the wood.

Step 6: If the mold is very stubborn, use 100-grit sandpaper to remove the affected area.

Pro Tip: Is the wood still stained? This is usually a result of mildew the discoloration mold leaves behind. While bleach doesnt kill mildew, it can help remove the stains. Try scrubbing a small area with a dilute bleach solution.

Don’t Miss: Remove Mildew From Boat Seats