Natural Ways To Remove Black Mold
Black mold growth is disgusting and affronts all of our senses from many directions. It smells, looks gosh-awful and mold exposure can potentially make you and the rest of the household sick.
Mold and mildew are so offensive, its no wonder we often reach for the bleach and rubber gloves first! And, advanced mold remediation tasks may require the big guns.
Equally as important, it may be prudent to invest in amold testing kit to get a good idea of the different types of mold spores that may be lurking in your home.
Mold spores will grow unabated in dark areas of a basement. If you have carpet in the basement and it gets wet for any reason , you will have a mold farm in short order.
Here, you can read a more in-depth article that Ive written on removing mold and mildew from wet and musty carpet.
Out of control mold spores can wreak havoc in your attic spaces, and HVAC systems.
Especially, if ventilation systems are not running efficiently. I explain here how to keep the air ducts clean and free of mold. A regularly serviced and maintained HVAC system will allow you and your home to breathe a healthier life!
Many of us live in parts of the country where a year round HVAC system is not practical. Or, we prefer to be more efficient with the energy that we utilize.
If temperature and humidity levels permit, there are a number of ways to reduce the moisture levels in our home naturally. And, I explain here how to exactly do that!
How To Remove Mold From Drywall
Removing mold from drywall can be tricky because if drywall gets too wet, it is ruined. In fact, its often easier to cut out the infected section of drywall and replace it, rather than trying to treat the mold directly. If the drywall feels soft, its beyond saving. However if you do want to clean the drywall without removing it, heres what to do.
Youll need:
Method:
Step 1: Brush the mold off the drywall using the scrubbing brush. Try to remove as much as possible without getting the wall wet.
Step 2: Make a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Spray it onto the area until it is damp, but not soaked.
Step 3: Wait 10 minutes then use a medium-bristled brush to clean the wall using circular motions. Dont scrub too hard or youll damage the drywall.
Step 4: Wipe down the wall using household disinfectant wipes.
Step 5: Allow the wall to dry. In high-humidity environments, set up a box fan directed toward the wall to dry it as quickly as possible.
If the drywall is stained when dry, use a primer or stain block before repainting. Consider a mold-resistant paint to provide extra protection, and reduce humidity in the room to stop mold from returning.
Pro Tip: Learn How To Remove Humidity from Your Furniture and Textiles for Proper Moisture Control
Tips To Prevent Maggots And Flies
Read the below tips to prevent the infestation of annoying maggots in the first place.
- Keep your food and supplies in airtight sealed containers.
- Wipe the spilled food immediately.
- Seal the compost present in your yard properly.
- Make sure to keep all your trash cans clean.
- Discard your pets poop and other animal feces from the yard quickly.
- Clean your pets food bowl daily and cover it when not in use.
- Install sticky fly strips to catch and trap flies near garbage bins and wherever they tend to accumulate.
- Set up screens on all your windows and doors.
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Top Tips For Removing Mold From Your Car
Weve all been there. Your toddler throws a cup full of juice or milk in the floorboard, and it spills without you even knowing it. Or maybe you left the window down, it rained over the weekend, and you didnt get back until Monday morning. In either of these situations, you see it: The mold. If you need help dealing with this type of mess, then check out these three top tips for removing mold from your car.
Does Baking Soda Kill Mold
Baking soda has an excellent reputation as a cleaner. You can use it to clean your kitchen, bathroom, and even your teeth. Not surprisingly, then, baking soda is also an effective mold killer. Thanks to its mildly basic pH, it breaks down mold and absorbs any moisture that could help new spores grow into a plume of mold.
Best of all, baking soda leaves behind no harsh smell. In fact, it helps absorb odor! This makes baking soda a wonderful finishing touch and using vinegar, which can leave behind a tangy acidic smell.
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What Kills Mold 6 Household Items That Get Rid Of Black Mold
A mold infestation is a serious problem that must never be overlooked by home owners. The following write-up provides information on what kills mold along with steps that should be followed to prevent an infestation.
A mold infestation is a serious problem that must never be overlooked by home owners. The following write-up provides information on what kills mold along with steps that should be followed to prevent an infestation.
Commonly known as black mold, Stachybotrys chartarum is one of the species of fungi that grows as unsightly blackish-green patches on walls, damp surfaces or decaying organic matter. Certain species release biologically active compounds called mycotoxins. Exposure to these chemicals can make you vulnerable to several diseases. If you spot such patches in your home, you must use mold detection kits and follow certain tried-and-tested remedies for removing mold from your home or call professionals for the same.
What Is White Mold
White mold is often found in cool, damp environments such as in basements on walls and other structures. It is often confused with efflorescence, which is a mineral deposit that forms on foundation walls and other masonry surfaces due to water seepage. You can test to see if its mold by spraying it with water. If it dissolves, it is a mineral deposit if it does not, then its most likely white mold.
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Understanding The Different Types Of Mold
The three most common types of mold can be identified by their color black, white, and green.
Black Mold
Many types of mold are black and harmless. However, one of the most dangerous types of black mold is Stachybotrys chartarum.
Because it releases mycotoxins, exposure to this black mold can cause serious health issues. This includes respiratory problems, headaches, and more .
Black mold needs more moisture than other types of mold in order to grow. As a result, its more likely to be found in damp places or in areas where theres been a flood or water leak .
Unfortunately, this type of mold has deeper roots than the other types of mold. Naturally, this makes it harder to get rid of, especially if it has infested porous surfaces like wood.
White Mold
White mold has a powdery, stringy appearance and is not toxic. However, a moldy environment within the home can still cause health issues for you and your family.
White mold grows on organic materials, such as wood, fabric, food, and carpet. Mold growth on a wooden structure can cause rot and destroy it if not dealt with.
Green Mold
The term green mold applies to various species and usually has a soft and fuzzy texture. This type of mold grows on spoiled food like bread and fruit. Youll also find it in areas of your home with a water problem.
How To Use Vinegar To Remove Mold Or Mildew In Your Home
Before you clean the mold, its important to address the moisture problem that led to the mold growth in the first place. If you get rid of the mold without targeting the moisture, it will almost certainly grow back.
Once youve fixed the moisture problem, heres how you can use vinegar to remove the mold.
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Does Vinegar Kill Black Mold
Vinegar can kill up to 80% of mold varieties, including Stachybotrys chartarum, or black mold. For greater effectiveness, consider mixing together a solution of vinegar, water and a powder-based antifungal or abrasive cleaner, such as Borax or baking soda, both of which are sold at grocery and home improvement stores.
Preventing Mold Growth With Vinegar
You dont have to wait until you spot mold growth to use vinegar against it. For warm, damp areas prone to mold, like the bathroom or laundry room, add vinegar to your cleaning routine to stop an infestation before it starts. Store a spray bottle of vinegar in the bathroom and mist it over the shower stall after taking a shower, or add vinegar to your mopping solution to prevent mold growth on the floor.
Looking for a clean you can see and feel? Reach out to Merry Maids® for an estimate on house cleaning services and take back your time.
DIY
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Benefits Of Hiring Professional Mold Remediators
- They discover all of the mold in your place visible and hidden mold
- They have the proper equipment to remove all of the mold and mold spores in a speedy and efficient manner.
- They can find and eliminate the source of mold even in porous materials.
- They can make sure the future growth of mold is prevented.
- They repair any damage and thoroughly clean the contaminated space.
- They are quick and efficient they can also save you time and money but making sure all of the mold is removed the first time
If you have mold in your home and dont want to take the time to try and do it yourself or simply want to make sure it is done correctly the first time, give Home Healthy Homes a call for your mold remediation needs.
How To Kill Black Mold With Vinegar
No need to mix anything here white distilled vinegar can be used to clean away black mold as is and right out of the bottle.
- Evenly spray white vinegar onto the mold stains or you can make your own mixture of a vinegar borax-water solution
- No spray bottle! Just pour the vinegar or borax solution onto a disposable towel and generously wipe onto the mold covered area and allow to dry for an hour or so.
- Get a damp towel and wipe clean again, allow to air-dry .
- If staining persists, then give the hydrogen peroxide or baking soda and vinegar combo a shot. The borax-water combo may work for you here as well on any lasting discoloration.
- Add a little elbow grease with an old toothbrush and you should be good-to-go!
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Vinegar Is Less Harsh Than Bleach
Bleach is caustic and can cause eye, skin and respiratory irritation, even when diluted. Vinegar is a mild solution of acetic acid in water that is less likely to cause irritation or wear down wall surfaces.
Vinegar has a pungent sour odor immediately after application. If you want to mask the smell of vinegar, consider adding a few drops of essential oil to a cleaning solution. Many people prefer to use citrus essential oils for this purpose.
You should still wear personal protective equipment, such as gloves, when working with vinegar. A mold-rated mask or respirator can also provide protection from fumes as well as spores, microbial volatile organic compounds and mycotoxins.
Keep in mind that any cleaning solution can cause a chemical reaction that discolors or causes the premature wear of wall finishes. For this reason, you may want to test full-strength or diluted vinegar cleaning solutions in a small area that is unlikely to draw notice. If vinegar kills the mold to which it is applied while preserving the appearance of the wall underneath, it should be effective for a full mold cleanup.
Should full-strength white vinegar also be too harsh for cleaning certain wall materials, consider a diluted mixture of one part vinegar to two parts water, a solution of one cup of Borax or baking soda dissolved in one gallon of water or a mixture of one part hydrogen peroxide to two parts water.
Flood Response Understands Mold Removal
Flood Response specializes in mold. We are mold removal experts and do not cut corners because we understand why mold grows and how to prevent mold from growing back. Because of our training and knowledge, we understand why bleach is not a viable mold removal or prevention solution.
You might think that all mold removal contractors understand why bleach is not effective. However, this is not the case, adding further to consumer confusion.
Because of the lack of regulation in the mold remediation industry, some contractors still believe that killing mold is valid. These contractors are poorly trained, do not understand mold and do not follow the IICRC S520 standards for mold remediation
There is no magical fix for mold contamination situations. As a consumer, you need to be cautious about hiring contractors that recommend spraying a chemical to try to kill the mold dead. The price of the service may be very appealing, but if it sounds too good to be true, it is.
If a mold removal contractor claims that they can get rid of all the mold in your home simply by spraying or fogging the area, you should not hire this contractor and do further due diligence and research.
In the words of Christa Upton, a mold survivor whose health suffered after she tried to kill mold with bleach:
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How To Remove Mold From Painted Wood
Just because a wooden surface has been painted doesnt mean its immune to mold. Interior doors, window frames, and baseboards can all get moldy. The good news is the paint can form a protective barrier that prevents mold from getting into the wood, making cleanup faster and easier.
Youll need:
Paper towels
Method:
Step 1: Use damp paper towels to wipe away the visible mold. A soft-bristled brush will help dislodge any stubborn parts.
Step 2: Make a solution of 1 teaspoon dish soap to 2 cups water and use the spray bottle to apply it to the wood.
Step 3: Scrub the surface gently with the soft-bristled brush to remove any remaining stains. Wipe clean with paper towels.
Step 4: Combine one part white vinegar with one part 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and spritz the surface. Do not soak the wood, just get it damp. Allow to air dry.
Mold is rarely a big problem on painted wooden surfaces, because of the protective barrier the paint creates. Vinegar and peroxide will prevent it from returning, but make sure to address the underlying cause. Painted wood isnt molds first choice for a home, so its likely theres an issue with damp in that area.
Removing Mold From Household Appliances
Appliances like washers, refrigerators, and coffee makers that combine moisture, heat, or food to feed mold need frequent cleaning.
Clean washers by running a hot water cycle with chlorine bleach at least monthly. Inspect every nook and cranny of front-load washer door seals to be sure no mold is growing that can leave clothes smelling moldy.
Distilled white vinegar helps inhibit mold growth and does a great job cleaning refrigerators and coffee makers.
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Coffee Mold & Mycotoxins
Coffee is especially vulnerable to mold and mycotoxins. One study9 that examined the quality of several raw coffee samples uncovered residue from 117 different kinds of pesticides, as well as 30 mycotoxins. Raw coffee isnt the only kind of coffee that is at high-risk for contamination. Research found that Arabica and Robusta coffee can easily become contaminated by the mycotoxin OTA10 post-harvest and that green coffee beans often contain mycotoxins.
Due to its prevalence, pay a lot of attention to choosing coffee with low OTA. Eliminating the OTA stops jitters, headaches, stomach aches, and the crash that moldy coffee can cause. Consider a keto coffeemethod to also slow the absorption of caffeine into your system.
Water In The Foundation
Look out for a build-up of water around your homes base. This can lead to foundational problems for your home if there is a lot of water. At your homes foundation, gathering rainwater can be prevented by sloping your yard outwards from your foundation. In the same line of thought, damp basements are another culprit. Usually, there is no good ventilation in basements. This is an indication that basements could contain higher humidity or moisture amounts compared to other rooms in the home. Also, basements are often colder which means more condensation occurs which leads to humidity and basement.
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Why You Should Not Use Bleach On Mold
Bleach and mold.
In some cases, bleach will encourage toxic mold to grow where it was not present before. Bleach will only remove the green stain from mold. The surface will appear clean but internal roots will continue to grow. OSHA and the EPA have specifically advised against the use of bleach for mold remediation.
How To Get Rid Of Black Mold
Manuel Sousa/ iStock/ Getty Images Plus
- Working Time: 15 mins â 2 hrs
- Total Time: 15 mins â 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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