How Do You Keep Mold From Coming Back?

When it comes to mold, prevention is critical. Here are the steps you should take to keep that ugly stuff away.

If you’ve ever had a leaky pipe or another moisture problem in your home, there’s a good chance you have some mold growing somewhere inside it. Even if the water source has been fixed, returning mold spores can continue to grow indoors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that damp indoor environments contribute to the growth of one-quarter of all allergens present in a typical home.

If you’ve already got mold, don’t worry — it’s easy to wipe out. But the process is different depending on where your mold is growing and whether or not it has spread beyond its initial source. This article takes a look at what you need to do to kill mold in four key places: on porous surfaces, like drywall or insulation; fabrics, such as carpets and curtains; wood surfaces, such as bookshelves or cabinets; and moisture-resistant materials, including tile or metal.

To kill mold on porous surfaces, first, remove any items from the area that can be washed off with water (such as stuffed animals) before cleaning up the mess with detergent and water. Mold spores will be killed if they’re submerged in water for 48 hours, so you can use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up the rest.

If that’s not an option, mix three parts of water with one piece of bleach and then mop it into any remaining mold residue.

To kill mold on fabric materials, the first thing you’ll want to do is remove anything washable (such as curtains or carpeting) before using fans to air out the area thoroughly. If it’s safe, try washing off smaller surfaces with soap and water; otherwise, spray them down simply with products like Mold Armor, which explicitly targets spores. Be sure to wear protective gear when handling these products.

It’s also possible to wipe away mold from wood surfaces with coarse sandpaper.

To kill mold on moisture-resistant surfaces, you’ll need to scrub them down with a 5 percent bleach solution (rather than the 10 percent mixture used for porous materials). It’s also important to note that different types of molds can’t be killed by the same methods — some may be resistant to soap and water, while others won’t succumb even after being wiped down repeatedly with bleach. If you can see “fingerprint” marks where previous efforts have temporarily removed surface mold without killing the underlying spores, try testing an area first using a nonabrasive scrubbing sponge or cloth dipped in distilled vinegar before working through an entire surface.