Tea Tree Oil Is Also Extremely Effective
Getting rid of black mold with tea tree oil is an extremely effective method. Tea tree is an essential oil that is safe for people and pets. It is more expensive than vinegar, but a few teaspoons go a long way. I’ve used it successfully on a small area of the rug and a moldy shower curtain.
It does have a distinct smell but don’t worry the smell will dissipate over time. Since it has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, aside from killing all types of mold, tea tree oil can be useful for treating lice, dandruff, athlete’s foot, and many other conditions. It is a good idea to buy a small bottle and keep in your house. Remember, a little goes a long way.
TIP: Make sure you buy real tea tree oil, made from the Melaleuca alternifolia.
Combat Mold On Artificial Turf
Artificial turf can be a magnet for mold! The blades of artificial turf are held upright by a silicon sand base. The base traps moisture and the grass provides shade, which are two main ingredients necessary for mold growth. Once mold gets a foothold in the sand, it begins to climb the grass blades. The roots penetrate into the blades and the mold feeds on the plastics. If you dont take care of the problem immediately, the mold problem will only continue to grow and be harder to control.
Thankfully, there is a solution! Because it has a neutral pH balance and biodegrades it is an environmentally friendly option for tough mold problems. The product is safe for use around humans and pets and to use on fragile products like artificial turf, yet cleans better than the other harsh products on the market. It wont cause any dangerous health issues and it is simple to use.
To remove mold from artificial turf, start by taking a broom brush off as much of the growth as possible . Then spray Commercial Strength Mold Off® on the affected surface and let it stand in the sun for 24 hours. You may need to repeat that procedure one more time. Then you should treat your artificial turf once every six months to prevent reoccurrence. Mold Off® is used by many artificial turf dealers around the world for cleaning and mold control.
Time To Identify And Cure Your Lawn Disease
With a firm grasp of the various grass fungi and the diseases they cause, you can now scout your yard effectively and sniff out these diseases. In most cases, quick action is essential, so use this new understanding to get a quick jump on these fungi and diseases before they ruin your gorgeous turf.
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Is Mold On Concrete Dangerous
While mold on the exterior of a home can be unsightly, mold growing on concrete surfaces in the home interior can be a dangerous health hazard. Black mold can cause serious health problems and must be dealt with as soon as it is detected inside the home.
Black mold can aggravate allergies, cause asthma attacks and irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. If left unchecked, it can also cause significant property damage, especially if it spreads beyond concrete to the wood construction.
If removing mold from indoor space, its important to use protective gear. Extensive mold problems discovered indoors require expensive mold mitigation efforts from licensed professionals.
Quick Overview Of What Black Beard Algae Is
Despite its color, Black algae, also known as Black Beard Algae is a member of the red brush algal family in the Rhodophyta division.
In fact, in some cases, it can actually appear bluish or greenish in coloration.
It does not only infest aquariums but also pools, ponds, and other artificially managed bodies of water.
Its very persistent and is often difficult to remove because it has a tendency of returning.
Its soft to the touch and appears like patches of dark hair, hence the name.
With the right approach, permanent removal of beard algae is possible, however.
Algae grazers such as the rubber lip pleco, Siamese algae eater, the American flagfish, and the black molly can help immensely.
The issue, however, should be resolved at its core.
Heres how a heavy black beard algae infestation looks like in an aquarium:
Image by: Grahms
And heres how black algae appears inside of a pool:
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How To Get Rid Of Black Mold On Grass
The sight of black mold on your grass is unpleasant and it can just appear on your lawn leaving patches of black spots. The creation of black mold on your lawn can be a result of fungal activity and in most cases, chemicals may not be the best solution for this particular problem.
Black mold on your lawn is unsightly but the good news is that it is easy to treat. You do not need to spend a fortune on buying chemicals to treat the grass since there are certain steps that you need to follow. There are different types of slime mold and some can be beneficial since it eats dead organic matter. In other words, the slime mold does not damage your grass but it can only affect its appearance.
How To Prevent Moss In Artificial Grass
They say a pound of prevention is worth an ounce of cure And thats certainly the case with moss and mold!
It is vital that you follow regular maintenance routine and keep area swept and free of debris. One of the kept perks of artificial grass is the low maintenance requirements, but you still need to be vigilant about dirt, moisture, and other conditions that could allow moss and mold growth.
Whether youve experienced moss growth in your artificial lawn or not, it is always a good idea to develop practices and maintenance habits that prevent it from growing on your lawn in the first place.
The first thing you should do is inspect the area where your artificial lawn is located. Look for things that could trap moisture, such as underneath lawn furniture and sprinkler heads.
On a hot summers day, these areas can provide the perfect environment for moss to thrive.
Once you have inspected the yard, be sure to trim and clear overgrowth and overhanging plants. This might need to be done every so often as you see fit.
Another part of your routine should be to rinse the lawn down with a garden hose. This will wash away into the ground any dust, as well as microbes, bacteria and pet urine.
Once again, it is wise to do this on a hot, sunny day. Your lawn will dry off quicker this way.
If you notice persistent pooling and puddles after rainfall, there could be a drainage issue. This can also encourage moss growth, and can even a breeding ground for mosquitos.
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Common Lawn Fungal Diseases
There are quite a few fungal diseases that can impact lawns, but theyre usually pretty specialized, targeting specific lawn types, at certain times of year, under certain conditions. For example:
- Brown patch strikes during hot, humid weather.
- Fusarium blight prefers hot, drought conditions.
- Dollar spot tends to spring up when nights are cool and dew is heavy.
Before treating your lawn, its important to identify not only whether your lawn indeed has a fungal disease, but to identify the fungus itself. All fungicides arent the same, and some diseases can be easily treated by making changes in your lawn care.
Knowing your grass type and recent weather conditions can make it easier to narrow down, but you may need help in figuring out exactly whats going on. Your local cooperative extension center is your best resource for determining which diseases are most common in your area, or you can take a small baggie of the infected grass to your local garden center for help.
Black Mold On Top Of Soil
DeepGreenLawn said:I have had two customers so far with this problem and it seems to be more and more an issue. There is a black mold that grows on the soil surface under the grass, not on the grass, in areas that seem a little more damp and thinner maybe due to shade. Bermuda lawns. It seems to be a side problem to the thinning grass as the grass is thin so it then allows the mold to grow. Two questions, what is it? and How do I get rid of it and not have it come back. I believe one cause is the areas being more damp. I believe I stopped it in one area but not sure what stopped it as I threw some organics and synthetics at it trying to get it to stop. SO, any help would be appreciated. I believe I took pics of it in a earlier thread.
ted putnam said:Just an idea I’ll throw out here. I have a couple of zoysia lawns that have it in full sun. both are areas where a swimming pool was installed. The soil was dug out then the red clay was spread around the perimeter and a poor grade of sod was installed. Of course they have an irrigation system and we’ve had a wet year as well so there has been ample moisture. Enough that the soil doesn’t dry out and the extremely poor clay soil won’t drain at all. I’m going to recommend aeration and topdressing to my customers. I’m thinking if we can get the very top layer to dry after rain and irrigation the mold will be a thing of the past.
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Black Mold Removal Using Vinegar
White vinegar is a mildly acidic product that cleans, deodorizes, and disinfects. It can also kill 82% of mold species, including black mold, on porous and non-porous surfaces. You can use it safely on most surfaces, and its offensive odor goes away quickly.
Pour undiluted white vinegar into a spray bottle. Because white vinegar contains only about 20% acetic acid, adding water makes it less effective. Spray the vinegar onto the moldy surface and leave for an hour. Finally, wipe the area clean with water and allow the surface to dry. Any smell from the vinegar should clear within a few hours.
How To Permanently Get Rid Of Black Algae In Your Aquarium
Heres a scenario for you: You take care of your aquarium by the book but suddenly theres a strange black fuzzy growth thats now covering everything.
Scrubbing it removes the stuff for a while but it keeps coming back.
At first, it appears as black mold, often, in a freshwater aquarium environment and it later develops to a beard-like growth. Its progressively attaching itself to plants, decor, and rockwork.
Is it there to stay?
Are black algae in the fish tank bad for aquatic life there?
After months of fighting it, I really got to know it and finally, I found the cure.
Or cures.
Lets cut to the chase here.
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Scrub The Affected Area
After youve sprayed on your chosen cleaning solution, you need to allow it to sink in and do its work.
To help with this process, scrub the area with a sponge to soak the grass blades with the solution.
With artificial grass, there is no need to worry about pulling out grass. Scrub with a good amount of pressure to make sure the solution penetrates the deeper thatch layer of the lawn.
Both the moss killer and the vinegar solution are also safe for the soil. In fact, vinegar can work to prevent weeds from growing underneath the grass backing as well.
Why Does Moss Grow In Artificial Grass
Synthetic grass is a great alternative to natural grass or concrete. It doesnt experience many of the issues present in a natural lawn, and only needs very little maintenance.
That being said, certain conditions can still give rise to the growth of moss and mold in artificial grass.
It is easy to recognize when you have a moss problem on your hands. This strange plant appears as clumps of green mush in the fibers of your artificial grass.
On the other hand, mold is a fungi that can appear as smaller black dots and specks on the grass blades.
Both of these can be found growing on all sorts of surfaces, including on trees and along walls. All that is required are favorable conditions for them to grow on.
Moss and mold tend to grow in damp, shaded, and warm areas where moisture is trapped. You can usually find it under organic debris like fallen leaves and branches, which tend to gather under overhanging trees and plants.
On an artificial lawn, moss and mold growth can also happen due to poor drainage. The accumulation of still water, combined with heat from the sun, provides the perfect environment for both to grow.
Thankfully, getting rid of either is not difficult, and follows the same procedure
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Dip All Of The Affected Decor In Hydrogen Peroxide
This can be done with a regular over-the-counter peroxide .
This method is often used for fungi treatment on new seeds right before their germination.
Bear in mind that the more gentle live plants may take damage as well.
For more sensitive plants, I recommend using a 1:3 solution of Hydrogen Peroxide to water.
This way the solution will be weaker and spare your plants, but it could take more than one dip to rid them of the hair algae.
Anyway, its worth taking the risk considering youll get rid of that black beard algae.
If you only have plastic plants you can even use bleach in a 1 to 20 ratio, although peroxide will work too.
Soak all other the decor that is visibly affected for 2 to 3 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.
The nice thing about peroxide is that it leaves virtually no residue and you can instantly put your plants and rock back in the aquarium.
I know that soaking in pure peroxide might seem a little radical, but in my experience, black algae are really hard to banish.
Simply dosing teaspoons of peroxide in your fish tank water wont cut it.
Preventing Mold From Growing On Outdoor Surfaces
To keep mold from returning or to make your yard less mold-friendly, try the below:
Mow and rake your lawn regularly
Keep gutters clear to drain away from the house
Trim plants away from siding and trees from roof so sunlight can find its way to these surfaces and kill mold
Keep windows and siding caulked to prevent moisture from finding its way in
Keep shingles and flashing maintained
Promptly repair and seal leaky pipes and roofs
Do yearly roof inspections to catch any issues before they bloom into mold infestations
Clear leaves and debris from drainage areas around your home and yard
Store firewood away from the house
Use materials like treated lumber, stainless steel, galvanized fasteners, and stucco siding outdoors because they are commonly resistant to mildew
Clean and dry water damaged upholstered furniture
For initial small mold infiltrations, scrub surfaces with a mild detergent solution and then apply mixture of one-fourth cup bleach to one quart of water
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How Often To Clean Black Mold Growth
As soon as any type of mold is spotted on any surface, the area should be cleaned immediately. Small colonies of black mold can become large colonies in just a few days. Since bathrooms, basements, and any area subjected to high humidity are likely locations for mold growth, they should be checked at least weekly for signs of mold.
- Dishwashing detergent
How To Get Rid Of Black Mold
- Pin
- Working Time: 15 mins – 2 hrs
- Total Time: 15 mins – 2 hrs
- Skill Level: Intermediate
Mold spores can be found nearly everywhere on earth. But finding black mold is unnerving because of its potential danger, so you want to get rid of black mold as soon as possible. When the spores are exposed to moderate temperatures and moisture, they begin to grow and multiply. Our homes, especially bathrooms and damp basements, can provide nearly ideal environments for mold to thrive.
The good news is that not all mold, even the ones that appear to be black in color, are dangerous. There are three categories of common molds found in households that can have health effects:
- Allergenic molds that can be safely removed by using disinfecting products
- Pathogenic molds that can be controlled with disinfectants
- Toxic molds that require professional treatment and disposal of all affected materials
What has become known as the dangerous black mold is Stachybotrys chartarum, a colony with a dark green or black slimy surface. It is most often found in homes or buildings that have been exposed to excessive amounts of water and humidity for an extended period of time, especially after a flood. S. chartarum produces trichothecenes, a type of mycotoxin. Exposure to S. chartarum could potentially lead to a wide range of respiratory health effects, though this has not yet been proven.
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How To Treat Snow Mold
The good news: Snow mold usually takes care of itself because it dies as temperatures increase. Gray mold dies at about 45 degrees F, and pink mold at about 60 degrees F. And the effects of snow mold arent particularly extreme.
If you want to get rid of it faster:
