How Is Mold Removed?

Although mold usually grows in damp areas, sometimes it forms on non-porous surfaces. This is because microscopic spores can float through the air and attach to any flat surface. The mold needs moisture to grow, but it leaves behind a strong, musty odor even when it dies.

There are many ways you can remove mold from nonporous surfaces, including pressure washing; vacuuming; bleach, hydrogen peroxide; vinegar; borax, or baking soda paste. If you need to use bleach, wear rubber gloves and follow all warnings on the label. Never mix bleach with ammonia unless using a commercial cleaning product that contains this combination as an ingredient. As toxic fumes are released when these two combine.

Mold tends to grow in hard-to-reach places, so a scrub brush and wallpaper scraper may be helpful tools. For decay removed from flooring or wall surfaces, use a stiff broom or brush to loosen the dried-up mold from the surface. Add some soap and water, then start scrubbing. It’s best not to rinse at this point to reduce contamination of other areas.

Soak up as much moisture as possible with old towels, newspaper, and paper bags (which can be easily disposed of) before cleaning surfaces. Porous materials like drywall should be removed and replaced if they become too contaminated. You cannot clean them entirely without adding chemicals that make them unsuitable for human habitation. Replacing these types of materials means following building codes and following safety precautions.

If you are doing most of the work yourself, be sure to follow the product label instructions. Applying a more robust solution than what is called for is never a good idea – instead, it can cause discoloration or other damage that may require painting. It’s also important to note that overkill with cleaners can help mold grow faster in certain circumstances since it will be starved for nutrients. Again, this differentiates between molds by having completely different needs to survive. Cleaners containing bleach should not be used on porous surfaces unless labeled explicitly for this purpose or there’s apparent mold growth on them already. Bleach is off-limits when dealing with items like wood paneling or ceiling tiles, even with mold growing on them.

Leave any porous materials like drywall or ceiling panels to a professional if more than a small amount of mold is on their surface. As mentioned earlier, these types of materials must be removed and replaced according to building codes requirements and safety measures that need to be taken into consideration before starting the job. In many cases, it’s simply not possible for an amateur to complete this type of repair work safely without assistance from a knowledgeable professional.