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.
Tips To Get Rid Of Basement Mold
Reducing mold in basement spaces is particularly tough for any of us with poor ventilation and high moisture content.
Generally speaking, basements are dark and temperate areas, have little air-flow and are subject to rapid mold occurence even when kept clean. People with mold allergy should avoid basements with excess moisture.
Many of todays homes provide plenty of organic material for mold to feed on. And, any mold growth seen on concrete walls may be the result of a colony of mold growing behind the walls. Ceiling tiles are another problematic spot. Mold damage is mostly visible on both concrete and drywall.
If youve ever walked into your basement to find unsightly, black spots growing on your walls, floor, or ceiling, youve most likely had a run in with mold spore.
Mold and mildew can show up in any area of the house. And, basement spaces often provide the most favorable living conditions for this fungus to thrive.
As a result, mold in basements can sometimes be difficult to get rid of it without first addressing and correcting the underlying issues allowing the mold to flourish.
How To Get Rid Of Mold In Basement
Mold can grow anywhere. But they specifically love damp, humid, and dark environments. Yes, that means of all the parts of your home, the basement is a perfect spot for mold. For them, your basement is their little heaven. And even if your basement seems dry, mold and mildew can still be lurking behind the walls and carpets, and underneath your furniture. There could be mold on drywall in basements too. Mold in basement is a real problem.
Add the fact that a freshly poured foundation takes five years to completely dry. This means even if there are no leaks or water problems in your basement, the likelihood of mold buildup is incredibly high. And before you know it these nasty fungi have already invaded your home!
The presence of black, green, yellow, or white mold in basements should be dealt with immediately before they get worse.
The problem with mold is that aside from the fact that they look disgusting, they can be highly toxic. If youre like most homeowners and you are using your basement as your kitchen, living room, or entertainment area, you could be exposing yourself and your family to so many health problems associated with molds, such as allergy, asthma, and respiratory diseases.
Basement mold removal is something that is better left in the hands of professionals especially if there is already an infestation. It is common to see mold on basement walls, floors, and ceilings. If these surfaces are infested, mold under houses is very likely too.
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What Are Mold Spores
Mold spores are airborne multi-cellular organisms that reproduce asexually. They undergo chemical reactions which allow them to multiply. These chemical reactions are also the cause of the musty and earthy odor of mold.
Mold forms when mold spores come in contact with moisture. While mold is a fungus, it differs from others because of its ability to grow on most porous surfaces.
Mold can form in fabrics, wood, and plaster. Mold also comes in different colors. Although identifying them via their colors isnt entirely reliable, it may help familiarize yourself with them.
First is green mold, which is typically found in foods. It is pretty typical, and most molds tend to look green at one point.
Next is black mold, which is infamous among all the types of mold. The toxic one is S. chartarum and is found in leaky areas.
Also, the color isnt solely black its greenish-black. Sometimes, they may also look purplish.
Now that you have learned about mold spores, it is time to answer whether they are hazardous to ones health.
Protecting Yourself From Black And White Basement Mold
Mold spores arent something youd want to get in your eyes or mouth, and mold itself isnt something youd like to touch with your bare fingers. This is why you must protect yourself while getting rid of them.
Put on a pair of gloves to keep your fingers from touching the mold, and put on protective goggles to keep mold spores or other cleaning agents from flying into your eyes.
You should also put on a facemask to protect your mouth and nose.
Now youre all set to begin, lets start with the ceiling!
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Different Types Of Basement Mold
Though mold growth on your concrete walls causes a variety of harmful symptoms no matter the strain, its important to know what kind of spores are developing in your home. An essential part of mold remediation is identification. If you know what the growth is, you can tailor the solution accordingly.
Mold On Basement Floor
Black mold can also take over the basement floor. It can be caused by leaking pipes, poor drainage or lack of ventilation. To eliminate it, fill a spray bottle with water and spray the floor, then scrub the floor with a stick scrub brush as much as possible. Then, mix water with ammonia in a bucket, and use a scrub brush to clean the floor. Once done, use water to remove all the remaining soapy water from it. Next, prepare a mix of bleach with water and scrub again. Leave the bleach for several minutes and then clean again with plain water to remove the bleach. Dry the floor ensuring to remove all moisture from it. Finally, use a dehumidifier to keep the area moisture free.
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Should I Install An Hvac Ultraviolet Light
When the entire mold removal process is finished , then installing an HVAC UV light is highly advisable.
Here is an article I wrote on my best picks for HVAC UV lights to kill mold.
An HVAC UV light is a special type of light bulb that is installed inside your furnace, and it shines 24-hours to kill and prevent mold growth. The UV light shines a special light frequency known as UV-C that has been proven to kill mold organisms.
It actually disrupts their cellular DNA. Hospitals have been using UV lights for years to sanitize operating rooms.
How To Kill Mold
Commercial mold-killing products are the most effective and generally offer better stain removal from residue. We suggest Concrobium. This is a popular and well-trusted brand when it comes to mold removal. It comes in various forms to get the job done and works really well for odor removal while also preventing future regrowth. There are other alternatives you can use that you may already have in your home.
Organic Mold Removal Products
One of the best options for an organic DIY mold killer solution is vinegar and baking soda. Cleaning vinegar is recommended. A mixture of vinegar and baking soda will eradicate black mold without releasing harsh fumes in the air. To create a solution you will need 1 cup of vinegar and a couple tablespoons of baking soda.
Borax can also be used to remove mold and mildew stains from porous surfaces and inhibits future mold growth. Borax is a natural mineral powder that is commonly used in cleaning and also makes a good deodorizer. It can be used with vinegar and water as a more effective method. To make a solution with Borax powder follow a ratio of 1 cup of powder with 1 gallon of water. Mix until the powder is completely dissolved. Hot water is recommended to ensure the powder dissolves. This mixture can be used as a spray simply by adding to a spray bottle or applying by using a rag or cloth.
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Banish Mold Infestations With Professional Help
What gets rid of black mold? Most of the cleaners weve mentioned can snuff out black mold infestations, but we recommend getting professional help for significant black mold growth. This is because Stachybotrys chartarum, or black mold, can be harmful if breathed in large quantities.
If a basement mold problem is really severe, mold removal specialists might turn to fumigation to eradicate the infestation. Whichever method they choose to take care of your mold problem, you can rest assured that a professional will do a thorough job to prevent the black mold areas from returning.
If you dont eradicate the source of the moisture that caused the mold, you could see more mold, but a professional will eradicate all mold spores and roots from an infestation so that the same colony cannot grow back, particularly in the same area.
Dehumidifiers and waterproofing paint can be useful for helping to stave off future mold issues. Wet, moldy surfaces like carpeting and drywall are often too far gone to be salvaged and need a replacement instead.
How To Get Rid Of Mold In Walls
If the wall is made from a non-porous surface, such as finished wood or stone, it must be thoroughly dried. A dehumidifier, proper ventilation or a wet vacuum can be used. Then, a damp wipe down of the area should remove most of the mold. Cleaning products designed for mold removal are helpful, however it is not necessary to bleach moldy areas or use other biocides. If the wall is made from a porous material such as gypsum drywall, wallpaper or unfinished wood, it is not possible to remove all of the mold from the tiny nooks and holes in the wall. The affected section of the wall must be cut out and replaced. This can be very expensive. However, the mold will almost certainly come back otherwise.
Finish the mold removal by using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. A non-HEPA vacuum may not contain the mold spores and can actually spread them into the air. Vacuum the entire area and surrounding areas, even if no mold is visible.
Do not just paint or caulk over mold without removing it. According to the EPA, this will cause the paint to flake and peel, and when the paint comes off, you will still have mold on the wall.
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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.
How Far Can Mold Spores Travel In The Air
Mold spores will remain airborne for as long as there is an air current to carry them. They are microscopic and extremely lightweight, and so are predisposed to spreading in this manner.
There is always some level of mold present in your home, so you shouldnt worry too much about the spread of mold spores in your property. Instead, concentrate on keeping your home dry and well-ventilated, and dont give the mold spores a moist home to land on!
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Where Does Mold Come From
Mold spores can get into your home through open doorways, windows, air conditioning and heating systems and any other open spaces that lead into your home. It is also possible for spores to attach themselves to clothing, shoes and pets.
Once these spores settle into a space where there is extensive moisture, such as in a leaky basement, they will grow and they will grow very quickly.
Wet materials including paper, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood and various other products encourage many different types of mold to grow. Other materials such as paint, wallpaper, drywall, carpet, insulation and upholstery also easily support mold growth if there is moisture and humidity in the area.
Some of the most common indoor molds include:
- Penicillium
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.
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Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Mold: Non
Molds naturally occur as a result of humid environments. The most common places for molds to grow and spread are your basement, kitchen, and bathroom because they are always exposed to moisture.
However, that doesnt mean that you have to share your house with them. Rather than using toxic chemicals, such as borax or bleach to get rid of mold, there are natural ways to banish mold thatll not cause harm to your family, pets, or the environment.
Leaving mold untreated can cause dangerous respiratory illnesses and can make asthma and allergies worsen. The ability of molds to grow quickly and their negative effect on health is why you should keep an eye out and stop its growth before it spreads.
There are several misconceptions on the ways to get rid of mold in the household. Some of these include the use of bleach and other chemicals which can be toxic to humans. Since molds are already harmful themselves, it is advisable to avoid cleaning them with items that may cause even more harm.
In this article, you will find some of the best natural ways to get rid of molds including the use of common items like hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and natural fruits. These methods are highly effective and have no adverse health effects on individuals.
Citrus Seed Extract And Water Mixture
The citrus seed extract is much preferred for cleaning molds because of its sweet smell.
Citrus fruits are natural deodorizers and great for giving the home an appealing fragrance. So besides helping you to get rid of tough olds, citrus seed will also lavish your space with amazing scents.
To get rid of molds with citrus seed extract, combine about 20 drops of citrus seed extract and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle and mix thoroughly.
Then spray directly on the moldy area. Unlike cleaning molds with hydrogen peroxide or baking soda, leave the citrus solution on the mold without rinsing. You can repeat the process as many times as you like until the area is free from molds and stains.
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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.
