Mold on bread is an inconvenience. Mold in an apartment is downright disgusting, not to mention a health hazard. Don't even get us started on airborne spores. Shudder.
You probably already know that mold is a fungus that grows in a wet or damp environment. Left to their own devices, mold spores reproduce and form ugly black spots anywhere they can find purchase. Mold loves places like tile grout, shower curtains and even the ceiling. When left untreated, mold gradually destroys the look, smell and even the structural integrity of your home.
Surface mold can cause health problems, too, such as allergy symptoms like runny noses, cough or even full-blown allergic reactions. If it's not removed immediately, mold exposure can result in asthma or lung infections!
By keeping surfaces dry and clean, you'll stop mold in its tracks and prevent damage to your home, save money and avoid potential health problems.
Before we learn exactly how to get rid of mold, it's important to understand some basic safety protocols. Mold spores can make a person pretty sick, so protective clothing and gear are a must.
Plus, some of the cleaning products involved are pretty strong, as well, so it pays to protect the skin, eyes and respiratory system. To that end, when removing mold, follow these safety protocols to the letter:
Now that you know what to wear to do the job safely, let's find out exactly how to get rid of mold!
If you find mold, how do you kill it safely? Fortunately, all it really takes is a spray bottle filled with some choice mold remediation agents to get the job done.
Many of the most powerful mold cleaners are just lying around your house already, like baking soda or hydrogen peroxide. Here's a rundown of the best and how to use them.
Before you break out the big guns for mold removal, start off using the basics. Sometimes, it doesn't take harsh chemicals to get rid of surface mold!
Hard surfaces like tile, wall framing and baseboards can probably be handled using only warm water, mild detergent and some elbow grease. Apply the water and detergent to a clean rag, then scrub the affected area. Repeat as needed. Once the mold remediation is complete, dry the surface with another clean towel.
Walls are another story, though. They're more porous than harder surfaces, so try to use only warm water and a rag to get rid of the mold. Even mild cleaners can leave a mark on a permeable surface like that.
Because of its non-toxic nature, distilled white vinegar is a preferred product to clean mold. Plus, it's cheap, so you can cover a lot of square feet for not much cost. White vinegar works best on surfaces like those non-porous surfaces found in bathrooms and kitchen counters, though.
Don't use vinegar to clean marble or granite because it can eat away at the surface and cause discoloration. There's no sense turning a mold problem into a decorative problem, too.
Vinegar is a mild acid that's effective for killing mold and can actually help prevent future mold growth. While not as strong as bleach, you can use vinegar to clean mold from porous surfaces like concrete, wood, drywall and unsealed tile.
To use, fill up a spray bottle, then spray the moldy surface and let it air dry. Repeat this every few days to prevent mold from growing back. This cleaning solution should also stop mold growing in the future.
Another natural cleaner for black mold removal is baking soda, which is safe for pets and people, alike. To use baking soda to remove mold, simply fill a spray bottle up with warm water. Add one-quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda to the bottle and shake well.
Spray the mold growth, then go at it with a scrubbing brush or scouring pad. Rinse the surface and allow it to air dry. Lastly, prevent mold growth in the future by lightly spritzing the area with the baking soda mixture once more.
Ammonia is another effective cleaning solvent for mold remediation. To remove mold, simply fill a spray bottle up with equal parts of water and ammonia. Then, spray the solution on the affected area and allow it to soak into the mold for a few hours.
Rinse and wipe dry and the dangerous mold is a threat no more! Whatever you do, never mix ammonia with any other type of cleaner. The result is toxic! The idea is to kill mold, not cause a serious health event.
Bleach is only effective on the mold that's growing on non-porous materials, such as tile and glass. Even the best chlorine bleach solution can't remove mold that's growing on surfaces like concrete, wood, drywall and unsealed tile.
To remove mold with bleach, use a ratio of one cup of chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Like ammonia, never mix bleach with other household cleaners, as it will produce dangerous, toxic fumes.
Fill up a spray bottle with a bleach solution, then liberally spritz the mold-affected area. Leave the bleach and water solution alone to air dry and kill all the mold.
Don't forget to don those rubber gloves and crack a window for ventilation! Chlorine bleach will make you dizzy in a hurry, otherwise.
That's right, the same stuff mom applied to your scraped knees is great at removing mold. Simply put some three-percent hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Spritz the affected area until the mold is nice and soaked. Allow the hydrogen peroxide to bubble and fiz and otherwise do its thing for 10 minutes.
Using a soft-bristled brush or soft cloth, carefully scrub the area. If the surface can take it, increase scrubbing intensity to get rid of mold. Once done, dry with a towel. If needed, spray again with more hydrogen peroxide and repeat the process.
There are products out there designed specifically to remove mold. If less abrasive measures have failed, it's probably time to turn to such a product to get the job done. Even better, these mold cleaners tackle specific issues, like mold on fabric, wood mold and so on. Choose the correct one and watch annoying black mold simply disappear!
Wooden surfaces (especially unfinished pieces) love to attract black mold. It's so porous that water sneaks in and the conditions cause mold to form from there. Get rid of mold on wood by scrubbing gently with a cloth dipped in a combo of dish detergent and water.
If that doesn't work, spray mold down with diluted cleaning vinegar for good measure. You may have to sand unfinished wood again in order to really clean mold stains.
With any of these cleaning methods, be sure to dispose of nonreusable mold-contaminated items in heavy-duty plastic bags, and wash cleaning rags/cloths in the washing machine, preferably with bleach. If it's a really tough mold stain, try loading the cleaner into a garden sprayer for extra oomph.
The best way to fight mold growth is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some things you can do to control moisture and keep your home free of all the mold.
Prevent spores from forming by stopping water buildup. Fix leaky faucets, showers or household appliances that use water (dishwashers, refrigerators, water heaters, etc.), and therefore encourage mold growth.
Vent bathrooms, clothes dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside. If mold is an ongoing problem, discuss this option with property management.
Use air conditioners and dehumidifiers to dry out damp rooms. Since mold spores flourish in humid places, it's vital to keep humidity levels in the home no higher than 50 percent. These tools really help with that. Don't have an air conditioner? Use a box fan to keep air circulating. A HEPA filter is also a good idea.
Use an exhaust fan whenever cooking, cleaning and bathing to prevent mold from forming. Run ventilation fans for at least 10 minutes after you're done with any of these tasks.
Fix leaks in your home's roof or walls. Clean out gutters to prevent leaking. Again, talk to management if you think this is necessary to get rid of mold, once and for all.
Clean bathrooms regularly and dry them completely. Run the ventilation fans, if necessary. This should really cut down on mold.
Keep an eye on mold growth in laundry rooms, especially if you have a front-loading washing machine. Mold loves to form behind that rubber door seal.
Use a grout sealer to keep moisture from permeating the grout lines. Clean grout lines, then reseal shower grout once per year.
Check windows for condensation and keep them clean and dry. You want to see the view, not the mold.
Don't leave things lying around that encourage mold growth, like damp towels.
Mold prevention isn't rocket science. A little bit of diligence goes a long way toward keeping large mold colonies from forming.
Clean large quantities of the mold with specialized equipment by a professional. If you're renting and find mold in your apartment, contact your landlord immediately, take photos and keep records of any health problems that you encounter.
Mold is one of those houseguests that can't leave fast enough. So, take back your home and get the mold removal process started, already!