How To Prevent Mold On Concrete Floors In The Future
Even though you know how to remove mold from concrete, you dont want to have to do it again. Thats why you need to take the proper steps to prevent mold from resurfacing.
If you can, keep the affected area dry with direct sunlight. This might mean you have to prune some trees or move patio furniture.
Add proper ventilation to keep the area from collecting moisture. If you need to, create a drain or drainage pathway to avoid standing water.
How To Clean Mold In A Basement
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 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 88,150 times.
Put on protective gear before inspecting or cleaning mold. Find out the size of the affected area, then decide if you prefer to hire a professional. To clean it yourself, apply a mold-killing cleaning agent such as diluted bleach, undiluted vinegar, or 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let the solution sit briefly, then scrub and rinse the area. Eliminate any leaks, condensation and excess humidity, since reducing moisture is the most important way to combat basement mold.
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.
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.
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Basement Mold Removal With Borax
Borax: While perhaps not quite as non-toxic as some of the other aforementioned solutions, borax is still a better alternative than stronger chemical solutions and also deodorizes.
Each cup of Borax should be combined with one gallon of water and applied to mold. Its best to scrub the surface with a sponge or something stiff such as a scrub brush.
Borax does not require rinsing and can be left on surfaces safely.
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Does Vinegar Kill Mold On Concrete
Yes, it does. You can use vinegar to kill mold because it is acidic. White vinegar is recommended for killing mold because scientific studies have shown that it can eliminate up to 82 % of mold spores. It is also advantageous to use vinegar because it is known to have disinfecting properties that will kill the viruses or bacteria on surfaces. You can use vinegar to do away with mold on hard nonporous and porous surfaces since it can seep into surfaces. When dealing with vinegar, be sure to use personal protective gear to prevent it from getting into contact with your body because it irritates. Use a liquid sprayer for a smoother application on the affected area and dry it before cleaning it.
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Why Mold Grows In Basement Walls
Mold of any kind like black mold can grow anywhere there is moisture, oxygen, and organic material. Its especially happy in damp and humid places, but even the slightest bit of moisture can jumpstart growth.
Moisture gets into basements and crawl spaces for a variety of reasons. For one, theres the location: as they are carved directly into the ground, basements require extra care to seal off groundwater and other moisture sources. Plumbing and HVAC systems often run through basements, and condensation and leaks can be a real issue. Plus, basements commonly have high humidity levels.
Many people also keep washing machines, freezers, and other potentially leaky appliances in the basement. With little air circulation and nowhere for evaporated water to go, its an ideal home for spores to flourish. Poor drainage in a backyard or near a basement door can also cause flooding. When flooding occurs and your sump pump stops working, this can also have severe consequences. A sump pump failure will lead to an excessive moisture problem and then lead to mold in your basement and even exterior walls.
Speaking of scrubbing, get a strong enough cleaner to remove mold thats gentle enough not to compromise your walls structural integrity. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends using detergent and water, but there are other options as well.
Scrub The Mold With A Mixture Of Water And Bleach
Now you will want to know, what kills mold? Will bleach help in killing mold? Bleach is the ultimate solution to remove mold. But only bleach might not be enough.
Take an amount of bleach and mix it with water. Then take a scrub brush and scrub the moldy area.
Make sure youre wearing safety glasses to prevent any splashes from the scrubbing.
Dip the scrub brush in the mold and clean the concrete wall. After the mold is gone, you must rinse the area with clean water.
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Why Does Mold Grow On Concrete Block Walls
It may seem like concrete blocks arent hospitable to mold, mainly because there isnt a clear food source. However, the ideal growing conditions for mold can often exist on concrete block walls, particularly if theyre exposed to the elements and arent regularly cleaned.
Concrete block walls readily absorb moisture, creating the somewhat damp environment that mold favors. If the surface is regularly exposed to rain, theres a lack of drainage, the humidity is high, or theres a plumbing leak, water absorption typically occurs.
While the material in concrete block walls doesnt act as a food source for mold, dust and contaminants that rest on the surface can fill that role. As a result, mold can spread surprisingly quickly on concrete block walls.
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There are few settings more ripe for mold growth than a basement. Dark, damp and humid, basements provide the ideal conditions for mold to grow. Concrete walls become mildewed when spores grow on dust, dirt, or painted surfaces. Thankfully, basement mold removal doesnt have to be a struggle, and you can do it yourself with basic supplies and a little patience. You can effectively kill mold with a lot of household supplies like vinegar along with other cleaning solutions commonly found in stores to get rid of any mold stains.
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How To Remove Mold From Concrete Basement Walls In 4 Easy Steps
There are few settings more ripe for mold growth than a basement. Dark, damp and humid, basements provide the ideal conditions for mold to grow. Concrete walls become mildewed when spores grow on dust, dirt, or painted surfaces. Thankfully, basement mold removal doesnt have to be a struggle, and you can do it yourself with basic supplies and a little patience. You can effectively kill mold with a lot of household supplies like vinegar along with other cleaning solutions commonly found in stores to get rid of any mold stains.
Kill Mold Safely With Vinegar
One of the safest DIY cleaners for killing mold is vinegar. Vinegar is a mild acid that doesnt smell particularly pleasant, but it does its job with mildew. However, vinegar does not kill 100% of mold types, so do your research or test a small area before committing to it.
- Baking soda and water solution
To clean mold with vinegar, liberally spray moldy areas with the undiluted white vinegar. Leave it on the moldy areas for at least an hour to penetrate and kill any roots embedded in the walls or floor.
Optionally, you may spray a solution of baking soda and water onto the vinegar-saturated areas to up its mold-killing power. Wipe down the surface with clean water to finish the job. White vinegar is an excellent , too!
If your basement smells like sewage, you may have a clog in the drain in the floor or in the toilet in the bathroom. Pour a mixture of vinegar, water, and baking soda into the drain to release the clog and quickly eliminate that sewage smell in the basement.
Repeat applications may be necessary if the clog does not break up the first time. However, after the clog clears, your basement will smell fresh and clean again.
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Dry Out The Affected Area
Mold thrives on moisture, so you need to make sure the area is dry. If you dont, the mold can spread its spores in the air. This will make it harder for you to clean, and it might cause an allergic reaction.
Try to expose the area to direct sunlight to dry it out. If you cant, use a fan or heater thats made for the outdoors.
Can Mold Grow On Concrete
Wet conditions can cause mold and mildew growth on outdoor concrete like driveways, patios and steps. This growth usually occurs in damp or shaded areas that don’t receive a lot of sun or heat. Concrete, with all its nooks, crannies and pores, is actually a great incubator for mold. Wet, humid weather with warm temperatures only improves the growing conditions.
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Black Mold On Concrete In Basement
For black mold on concrete in a basement, start by ventilating the area well. Because youll be using bleach indoors, open a window and escape the fumes when possible. Create a cleaning solution thats one part bleach to four parts water and apply it to the concrete. Allow this solution to sit for fifteen minutes before using a wire scrub brush to clean the mold off the surface. Make sure you leave the area while the bleach is soaking to prevent breathing in fumes. Its important to wear protective gear during this process, including rubber gloves and a respirator. After youve scrubbed the area, soak up the cleaning solution and apply clean water. Scrub once more and remove all surface water. Allow the area to dry completely. If your basement area is relatively damp, use a fan to dry the floor quickly.
Get Your Solution Ready
There are three ways to get rid of mold:
The first and least damaging way is to use vinegar. Mix white vinegar and water to treat the affected area. This will also help you kill weeds, but wont harm the grass on your lawn or flower beds. Spray the vinegar mixture on the mold, and after a few minutes, you can start scrubbing.
The second and most common way of treating mold is with bleach. Fill a one-gallon bucket with warm water and 3/4 cup of liquid bleach. Make sure you ventilate the area where youre working. Then start scrubbing with the liquid bleach mixture.
The third way to treat mold is the most extreme. You can add trisodium phosphate to your bleach water. You should only add one-half cup to every two gallons of water and bleach. Trisodium phosphate will work on tougher mold. But because of the solutions strength, you should handle it with care.
While youre treating the mold, using whatever mixture you have, make sure to keep it as dry as possible. You can use a vacuum to suck away any extra water or sponge it up yourself.
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Basement Mold Growth Inhibitors
Mold Fogging Products: There are numerous mold removing foggers on the market. Foggers are designed to remove mold, reduce mold odors, and prevent mold from growing in the future.
Foggers kill most types of mold including aspergillus, Cladosporium, and fusarium. Foggers can also be used in a variety of different locations, and are especially useful in hard to get to areas such as crawl spaces, basements, and attics.
Here is a short video using Conrobium and Fogging Techniques to Remove Basement Mold
When compared to other commercial mold removing products, mold foggers can be an excellent choice for mold treatment of a large area at one time.
They can also be more cost-efficient and labor proficient in terms of dollars and time saved in handling large mold infested areas.
What Tools Are Needed To Remove Mold From Walls
If you are still thinking about removing mold from your basement walls, it is helpful to gather together the supplies you will need. Use this list to get yourself organized:
Safety equipment: N95 respirator, rubber gloves, safety glasses or goggles and a fan for ventilation
Cleaning Tools: Your chosen cleaning solution, paintbrushes , a scrub brush, rags, 6-mil trash bags, a shop-vac, plastic sheeting and tape
Remember that the more safety precaution you take, the less contamination will escape into the rest of your home. If you want to ensure the mold is removed the correct way, Mold Remediation can help. Our trained technicians can determine what type of mold is present in your basement, how far it has penetrated the walls and the most effective removal strategy. Contact us today to learn more about our basement mold removal services.
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How To Prevent Mold On Cinder Block Walls
If you want to prevent mold on cinder block walls, cleanliness is often the key. By washing the concrete block walls with a liquid dish soap and warm water mixture, you can remove dust and particles that would serve as a food source for mold. As a result, it wont have the nutrients it needs to grow.
Otherwise, you can use a mold-inhibiting sealant or paint to prevent mold growth. With this, your first step is to thoroughly clean the cinder blocks, ensuring proper adhesion. The dish soap option above can work well, though you can also go with hydrogen peroxide or vinegar.
After cleaning the walls, make sure they dry completely. Then, apply the sealant or paint following the manufacturers directions.
If your cinder block walls are in a high-humidity space, such as a damp basement, you may want to bring a dehumidifier during the painting or sealing process. Have it running while you clean the walls, and leave it going until you finish sealing or painting and the coating is dry.
In some cases, keeping the dehumidifier going long term may also be wise if dampness is an ongoing problem. Just make sure to read the manufacturers directions regarding use, including how to clean and empty the machine. That way, it can work correctly without becoming a new potential source of mold or mildew.
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.
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What Is The Best Product To Remove Mold From Walls
There are multiple products on the market to remove mold, and some are more effective than others. A popular pick is RMR Complete Mold Killer and Disinfectant. Its EPA-registered formula works to kill mold, clean stains and eliminate odors in one simple step. It also serves as a household disinfectant that can kill bacteria and virus particles so that you can find other uses for any leftover product.
Homeowners should always use caution when selecting a product since they may require special protective equipment or ventilation support. Also, some are specifically designed for outdoor mold problems and should not be used in indoor areas. That is especially true of basements, which often have low ceilings and a lack of natural ventilation.
Some families choose a more natural solution, which can also be effective. For example, high-potency vinegar can effectively kill mold even deep inside of porous materials like your basement walls. However, its high acidity can damage some surfaces, making it a poor choice for removing mold on waxed wood, natural stone, waxed wood, aluminum or cast iron.
