How To Remove Mold From Concrete Basement Walls
- Written by Cameron Sherber on Apr 09, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by
If your concrete basement walls have recently fallen victim to mold infestation, you may be wondering how to go about getting rid of it. Below are the necessary steps to remove such an infestation from your home.
Step 1 – Clean Your Basement Walls
Before you can begin the mold removal process, you must give your concrete basement walls a thorough cleaning. Begin this step by combining warm water with a mild brand of soap. Next, pour the newly formed cleaning solution into an empty spray bottle and proceed to vigorously apply it to your mold-laden basement walls. You’ll now need to use a sponge or scrub brush to wipe the walls clean, taking care to fully purge any caked-on dirt deposits. Any remaining dirt or debris stands to cause problems when the mold removal process is underway, so when performing this step, take your time. Once your walls have been sufficiently cleaned, you’ll be ready to move on.
Step 2 – Apply Your Bleach
Step 3 – Apply Your Finishing Touches
Removing Mold From Cinder Block Walls With Borax
Borax is a trustworthy and effective cleaner thats well-known for its cleansing and deodorizing properties. Since Borax inhibits mold growth, its an excellent cleaning solution for removing mold from cinder block walls and other large areas. You dont even need to clean it off when youre finished.
- Scrub brush or bristle brush
Before you use one of our ways to clean cement of mold or mildew, vacuum all your moldy surfaces with a HEPA-certified vacuum minimize the number of spores that end up airborne. Mix the Borax and water in a bucket to create your cleaning solution.
Scrub any moldy surfaces thoroughly and remove visible mold particles. Let the Borax solution sit on the surface for a little while if you dont wash it off, it will inhibit future mold growth. Use this solution to stop moss from growing on bricks outside, too.
Tips To Keep Mold From Growing
Since mold prefers a dark, humid environment, opening your windows daily to circulate fresh air is an easy way to discourage mold growth. If someone in your family has allergies, do this very early in the morning or late in the afternoon times when pollen counts are at their lowest. If opening your windows isnt possible, at least open your curtains during daylight hours.
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Rinse The Concrete Walls
If possible and practical, rinse the solution off the walls using a water hose. Some household owners have even looked into using high-pressure washers to help remove mildew and get rid of mold from basement walls. Warm water from your sink will also do the trick. Rinsing helps remove any lingering spores that are clinging onto the wall.
Dry the rinsed surfaces with a towel to minimize the risk of further mold spores. You can also use a negative air pressure machine to filter the dirty air in your basement.
Homemade Mold Remover Spray Recipes
Use the spray suggested for the type of surface youre cleaning. Do not use these sprays at the same time or immediately after each other since their ingredients should not be combined. Do not store unused portions theyll lose effectiveness after 2-3 hours. Keep the sprays away from children and pets, and use proper ventilation at all times.
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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.
My House Was Flooded From A Broken Water Pipe Resulting From A Freeze Is The White Snow Like Substance On Concrete Mold Or The Beginning Of Mold And I’ve Been Putting Rubber Mats On The Floor So That I Don’t Have To Walk On The Huge Amounts Of Dust From Replacing Drywall Please Tell Me How I Should Be Handling This Situation Ive Also Been Rnning Fans Thinking I Was Drying Out The Surface Of Concrete But I Turned Off The Fans After Reading The Fema Pamphlet
White growth on concrete is nearly always efflorescence, not mold growth. You can verify this by spraying a bit of water on the suspected growth. If its efflorescence, it will disappear as the crystals are dissolved by the water. If its mold, it will flatten, but remain visible.
I recommend removing the rubber mats for now. The impervious nature of the mats will prevent the concrete from releasing the moisture. After a week or so, put a couple of mats back down. Peel them back a few days later and look for signs of moisture on the underside of the rubber. If you see moisture, pull them off and allow the concrete more time to dry.
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How To Remove Mold From Painted Wall
Anyone that has a moisture of humidity problem in their home will end up having mold on the walls.
That is unless you took the right steps to fix the moisture problem.
If you have mold growing on your walls, like most people, you probably cleaned it with bleach or some other mold removal product.
However, to your surprise, it came back days later.
If the growth returned, you probably didnt fix the moisture problem correctly the first time around.
Mold growing on painted walls can be resilient.
If you fail to get rid of the moisture source, it will keep coming back no matter how many times you try to clean it or paint over it.
The regrowth happens because chemicals applied often will not penetrate deep below the surface where the roots continue to grow.
When the roots keep getting a constant moisture source, the mold continues to develop.
Applying mold removers is only a temporary measure and only stops mold development when the killing agent stays active.
Once the killing agent evaporates, the regrowth will just happen again and again. That is until you find and stop the moisture source.
Clean Moldy Material That Cant Be Replaced
For walls, floors, and other hard surfaces, use a bleach solution and/or commercial cleaners to wash and kill the mold while wearing the same protective gear mentioned in step two. Use disposable sponges and other cleaning materials so you can throw them away and keep them from spreading spores to other places in the house.
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My Basement Wall Has Developed This In Recent Months This Is A Shared Wall Of A Twin Home But This Part Of The Wall Extends Past The Neighbor’s House And I Believe There Is Water Sitting On The Side Of The House Is This Mold
This is likely a combination of mold and efflorescence. Efflorescence occurs when moisture migrates through the concrete, picking up minerals along the way. Once the moisture reaches the surface, the water evaporates, leaving behind the mineral deposits. Because this is a product of water movement, often a small amount of mold growth is present as well. If the concrete wall is unfinished/uncovered, it will typically dry out on its own. However, youll need to fix the issue if you plan on finishing out this wall with framing, insulation, etc. The wall will inhibit dry out and lead to mold and rot damage to the framing.
Preventing moisture migration through a concrete foundation wall is accomplished by a combination of the following. 1.) redirecting downspouts away from the home. 2.) Installing a waterproof membrane on the interior side of the foundation wall. 3.) Installing an interior footing drain and sump pump at the base of the foundation wall.
How To Remove Mold From Walls For Good
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Get rid of mold on your walls with these easy homemade sprays, then keep it from coming back for good.
Just about every home develops mold at some point. Surprisingly, newer homes get it more often than older ones. Thats because mold occurs in higher humidity areas, and the tighter seals around windows and doors in new home construction keep in more moisture than drafty old homes.
What’s below:
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Why Does Mold Grow On Concrete
Two main reasons trigger mold growth: moisture and food. The dust particles and other organic material on the wall can act as a nutrient source for molds and mildew. If your house is often cleaned and there is only a minimal amount of dust in the atmosphere, it lowers the risk of mold growth.
On the other hand, moisture is harder to deal with. There are two ways in how it can foster molds in your concrete block walls.
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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How To Keep Concrete From Sticking To Wood Forms
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.
How To Remove Mold From Concrete Walls
The best way to remove mold from concrete walls is to clean and scrub the surface with mold-killing detergent, rinse the walls with clean water. Dry inside walls with a towel or rag, let a cool breeze dry outside walls. Voilà, all mold removed. Follow our detailed 4 steps removal guide below for the best result and lasting effect.
- Step 1: Select a cleaning agentYou may use diluted bleach, fungi-killing detergent, and a regular cleaner all mixed into water. It shouldnt be too abrasive to avoid causing damage.
- Step 2: Apply the solutionUse a mild-abrasive brush to scrub the affected area until all the visible black mold is clear. If you are using a fungi-killing detergent, you may consider applying to the molded areas directly and follow with a good scrub.
- Step 3: RinseOnce the fungi are off, empty the bucket with fungi residue and refill with clean water. You may also use a hot water pressure washer for easier rinsing. The regular hose may also help with the rinsing. Ensure that all the fungi residue falls off the wall.
- Step 4: Dry the wallsDry the wall with a clean towel and let it rest. Sweep all the fungi residue to prevent re-growth.
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The Bottom Line On Getting Rid Of Mold In Your Basement
Mold can be scary, especially if you or a loved one have allergies or sensitivities. However, you can get rid of mold in your basement by fixing the moisture issue, removing unsalvageable material, and putting a little elbow grease into cleaning the affected area. Just remember to be safe, watch for cross-contamination, and never hesitate to call a professional if the problem becomes more than you can handle.
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.
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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.
Use Borax To Prevent Mold Regrowth
If youre hoping to prevent mold from returning to your basement, you may also want to pick up some Borax. Borax repels mold, and a thin layer applied after cleaning can ensure your walls arent harboring any lingering spore growth.
With regards to mistakes to avoid, sometimes people opt to paint over their concrete basement walls after removing mold. Painting over mold wont kill any lingering spores or get rid of mold spots on the walls. Instead, spores become trapped under the layer of paint and will continue to be released even if you cant see the growth through the paint.
Mold remediation takes time. While the actual removal may only require a bit of hardwork and relatively little time, youll want to monitor your walls for a few weeks after cleaning. Spores are invisible to the naked eye. So, while you might have thought you did a thorough job in the removal process, you never know what might be lingering. . Keep an eye out for mold on concrete before you decide to paint. Otherwise, follow the steps above to clean mold effectively.
If in doubt, call on the Pros. Its easy to get in over your head when it comes to mold removal. When in doubt, turn to the professionals for guidance.
About the author
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Best Concrete Mold Cleaner
Complete Mold Killer & Remover DIY Bundle Kill, Clean and Prevent Fungi & Mildew This product comes a two in one package. The first product, cleaner RMR-141 RTU is a certified fungicide that kills and prevents re-growth of black fungi. The second product, cleaner RMR-86 black fungi stain remover clears all fungi stains. When paired together, the two products will wash all your fungi worries away.
I Found A Hard Black Coating Under Painted Concrete In My Basement If After Cleaning Can I Paint Over It It Did Not All Scrub Up Does Mold Get Imbedded In The Cement
Based on your description, this does not sound like mold. On concrete, mold will appear in either a fuzzy format or a stain like appearance. It would not feel like a hard coating. In either scenario, it is fine to paint the concrete after youve thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned the area. Anything remaining is simply the pigment from the prior mold growth, which cannot regrow.
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Fallback On Commercial Cleaning Products
If vinegar or bleach do not work, or you would prefer to move directly to a commercial solution, you should have no trouble finding effective products at your local garden center or home improvement store.
You can opt for a simple patio or deck wash-type of product that is used for general cleaning if your mold or algae problem is mild. If your hardscape has been stained from the mold or algae, you may need to opt for a mold stain remover. For example, if you just purchased a home where mold or algae has been allowed to flourish for an extended period of time on concrete, brick or paving stones, there may be stains that require a product specifically designed for mold and algae stain removal.
With most of these products, you will spray the area, allow it to work its magic for a few minutes, scrub with a deck brush or push broom, and then rinse the area with water.
Products And Tools Youll Need To Get Rid Of Mold In Basement Areas
- Dusk mask or respirator: You dont need a medical-grade mask or a professional reusable respirator, but some sort of mask will protect you from the damaging effects of mold while working around it.
- Eye protection: When disturbing mold spores during cleaning or simply using harsh chemicals like bleach, youll want to keep your eyes protected.
- Disposable gloves: Handling mold and moldy material is reason enough to wear gloves, but it can also protect your skin from irritation when using cleaning products.
- Stiff-bristled brush: To effectively remove mold stains on porous or rough surfaces, you will need a brush that can scrub away mold without the bristles collapsing.
- Sponge: On softer or smoother surfaces, a disposable sponge may be all thats needed to stop mold spots from becoming more significant problems.
- Mold stain remover: Though not essential for actually removing mold, youll likely find a dark stain on the material that the mold was growing on and youll want a product to remove it. Plus, removing the old stains can make sure that you recognize new mold growth later.
- Bleach: A solution of 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water is enough to kill mold on surfaces, according to the CDC.
- Cleaning bucket with measuring marks: Ensure the right measurements for your bleach solution with a good cleaning bucket.
- Spray bottles: Whether for bleach or one of the more natural solutions discussed below, a spray bottle will help you treat mold spots.
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