Mold can be an annoyance in humid climates regularly and can affect you and your home. Mold is a fungus that grows in excess humidity and can spread if it has prolonged exposure to moisture. It is possible to prevent mold by ensuring proper humidity levels inside the house (between 30-50%). If you have mold growth, cleaning it and ensuring that the moisture level is back to normal should be your first step.
Mold requires certain conditions to thrive. You can check these places for mold–
- Houses in humid climates, near big water bodies, etc., usually fall prey to excess humidity and mold as a result. Mold requires dampness to thrive.
- Any leaky pipes in the house, dripping water onto the surface below or over the walls, can create a wet area for the mold to grow.
- Places like the kitchen or bathroom, where humidity accumulates, can be affected.
- Places like the basement or crawl space can also be affected. If the rainwater collects somewhere on the roof or around the house perimeter, it can slowly seep into the walls and affect the structure.
- In case of flooding, resting water can create mold problems, among others.
- If you’re using a humidifier and overly humidifying the space, mold can find its way onto surfaces.
- Any piece of clothing, curtains, carpets, etc., that have been wet for a while is the perfect breeding place for mold.
- Mold can present as stains on the walls, on food items, documents, and it can also affect wood. With mold growth, various smells can also present.
Cleaning the Mold
Once you identify the problem, the next step is to identify the affected area, and fix the problem. If you’re experiencing mold to a moderate degree, you can clean it yourself. Before cleaning, however, make sure you have all the necessary protective gear.
Here are a few ways to clean mold off the walls and other surfaces.
- When removing mold from walls and ceilings, if it is porous, absorbent material such as ceiling tiles, you might need to replace it altogether. Mold can get inside the pores and spread and is very hard to clean, so it’s a better idea to remove the porous material. To clean the mold off the walls, you will need detergent and water, and using the sponge and a brush, clean the wall and let it dry. Then, mix 3/4 cup of chlorine bleach with a gallon of warm water. Apply this mix to visible spots with a brush or sponge. After letting it sit for five-ten minutes, clean and rinse the area. Then dry the complete area completely using fans or a dehumidifier.
- Vinegar is also great for removing mold. It is a more natural, effective, and safer way than using bleach. Bleach usually cleans the surface but can leave the mold underneath undisturbed. In such cases, mold can create the problem once again. You can spray undiluted white vinegar on the wall and let it dry thoroughly. Doing this will take care of the mold, and the smell will also disappear once the vinegar is dry. After about an hour, you can clean the wall using warm water and a brush or sponge. Afterward, you need to apply baking soda to the affected area. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda into two cups of water, and spray it on the wall. You can use a brush to remove the mold. Additional spraying will kill any remaining mold. Hydrogen peroxide, along with vinegar, is also very effective in removing mold. You can spray undiluted vinegar and 3 percent hydrogen peroxide separately on the wall to get better results. However, mixing the two is not recommended, especially in household environments, as the resulting peracetic acid can emit harmful fumes.
- You can also use a cup of Borax mixed with a gallon of water and use the mixture to clean the moldy areas. You can use a brush or sponge to clean the mold, and after wiping the surface, allow it to dry well.
- If you have mold on the wallpaper, you can use tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract to clean.
- If your wooden surfaces are moldy, you can begin by vacuuming the loose spores off (using a vacuum with a HEPA filter). Then, you can clean the mold with a few drops of dish detergent with a gallon of water using a rag without saturating. Afterward, you can use a wet cloth to wipe the surface and dry it out completely.
These are few methods you can use to clean mold off walls, keeping the inside of your home clean and mold-free.
While you’re cleaning, here are a few things to keep in mind.
- Do not start cleaning without proper protective gear. Stay safe.
- Clear out the standing water and wet things and make sure to clear the affected area.
- If the affected area is porous and shows considerable damage, you can remove it and save yourself some time. Mold can seep into porous materials and is usually impossible to remove entirely.
- If the cracked area in the wall already has mold, it is better to clean it before fixing the crack. Similarly, simply painting over the moldy area will only hide the mold, and the problem stays intact behind the paint coating until it peels the paint away and presents itself again.
- If the damage is severe, such as in flooding, it is better to hire professionals as it can be difficult and time-consuming.
Preventing Mold Growth
Although it is quite troublesome to deal with mold, it is quite possible to prevent mold growth. You can see a few things to make sure that there’s no excess humidity for mold.
- If there are any structural flaws like faulty window wells, improper ventilation, uneven surfaces around the house, you can get that fixed to avoid further damage.
- While using a humidifier, always keep the humidity set within ideal levels (30-50%). Don’t keep the humidifier on unnecessarily.
- If there’s leakage through cracks or leaky pipes, get the water cleaned and the problem fixed before it becomes a mold colony.
- Remove any wet clothing that’s been lying around for a while and has started to smell. Additionally, You can dry the clothes outside and take quick showers.
- Ensuring proper ventilation will keep the airflow steady and stop too much moisture from staying in for long.
- In highly humid areas, installing a heat recovery ventilator is also a good idea. Using heat exchange, the HRV heats or cools the incoming fresh air and reduces the energy consumption of the ventilating system by more than 50 percent.
- You can use dehumidifiers for mold in the affected areas to remove the excess moisture.
- In case of flooding, if you can clear the water and remove the affected rooms, you can use heavy-duty dehumidifiers and fans to clear away the excess moisture and dry the area before it is affected by mold. You can also contact professionals cleaners in case it’s messy for you to handle yourself.
You can use a dehumidifier to prevent mold growth, and these devices also come in handy while cleaning the mold-affected areas. However, choosing the right dehumidifier is essential. Dehumidifiers bring the humidity levels inside the house under control. By drying the air of excess moisture, dehumidifiers ensure a cleaner, healthier life for you.
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